Role of gastric irradiation in management of peptic ulceration and oesophagitis.

Twenty-four patients with peptic oesophagitis or ulceration of the stomach or duodenum have been treated with irradiation of the stomach. They were selected on the grounds of their unsuitability for surgery because of associated medical conditions or because of failure of repeated gastric surgery. Twenty of the patients (83%) were 60 years of age or over. Of those treated 19 (79%) obtained complete symptomatic relief. Endoscopic improvement occurred in most cases. Acid reduction to an average of 30% of the pretreatment levels was noted at 11 months and 58% at 30 months. No morbidity was observed attributable to the irradiation.