The role of fast neutron therapy in unresectable pelvic osteosarcoma: preliminary report.

Primary osteosarcoma of the pelvic bones represents less than 10% of all osteosarcoma. despite mutilating surgical procedures or high-dose radiotherapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy, local failures and distant metastases remain common. the 2-year actuarial survival rate is less than 50% and the disease-free survival is under 20% at 2 years. we report 4 cases of pelvic osteosarcoma treated by a combination of chemotherapy, photon beam and neutron beam radiotherapy. after a median follow-up of 24 months, all 4 patients are alive and disease free. © 1994 wiley-liss, inc.