X-ray therapy of primary bone tumors.

Radiotherapy of bone tumors can now be performed exclusively by megavolt therapy. Giant cell tumors hsould be resected. If the lesion is not completely resectable, surgery should be followed by the administration of a target dose of 3000 rads in 4-6 weeks. Inoperable giant cell tumors are irradiated to a tumor dose of 5000 rads, inoperable giant cell tumors of grade III receive a dose of 8000 rads as do osteosarcomas. Ewing's sarcoma and reticulum cell sarcoma can be totally destroyed by a tumor dose of 6000 rad with sufficient reliability. Combination with chemotherapy may offer a chance of improvement. Osteosarcoma should be resected. If surgery is too late (early distant metastases), a tumor dose of 8000 to 10000 rads would be able to destroy the tumor cells. Histologic control investigations have proved this.