[Use of metronidazole in the preoperative irradiation of stomach cancer patients].

Altogether 70 patients received combined therapy for stomach cancer. A course of gamma-beam therapy (a summary focal dose of 20 Gy) combined with metronidazole was given at the first stage. Three-five days after the discontinuation of radiation therapy the patients were operated upon. Forty-nine (70%) patients were subjected to radical operation. The area of surgical intervention ranged from subtotal resection of the stomach to combined gastrectomy. Lethality after radical operations was 7.5%. Pronounced and extensive dystrophic changes were found in tumors at microscopic examination of resected specimens.