Complications of combined intraoperative radiation (IORT) and external radiation (ERT) of the upper abdomen: an experimental model

An experimental model in the rabbit is presented which is suitable for analysis of clinically relevant, early side-effects of combined upper abdominal IORT and ERT. Fractionated ERT alone given through an upper abdominal a.-p. field including the entire stomach caused gastric ulcerations within ≤ 58 days. Latent times decreased with increasing dose and the ED50 for occurrence of ulcers was 39 ± 3.3 Gy. Single doses of IORT of 20–40 Gy alone...