[Radiotherapy as a one of the three standard methods of oncological treatment in children. Assesment based on 6 years activity of the first department of paediatric radiotherapy in Poland, localized in the paediatric hospital].

INTRODUCTION: In November 1999, the first Radiotherapy Department localized in pediatric center in Poland and aimed at treating paediatric patients, was opened in the University Children's Hospital of Cracow.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper was to evaluate activity of the Radiotherapy Department by measuring quality of delivered therapy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between November 1999 and November 2005, 305 patients, including 172 boys and 133 girls from 2 to 18-years-old, underwent irradiation in the Radiotherapy Department, University Children's Hospital of Cracow.162 patients were treated because of proliferative diseases of the hematopoietic system--96 children were diagnosed with leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 66 children suffered from Hodgkin's disease. 67 children had CNS tumors, 35 had soft tissue or bone sarcomas, 20--neuroblastoma, 12--Wilm's tumor, and 9 were diagnosed with other malignancies.

RESULTS: 293 children (96%) received radical treatment, and 12 paediatric patients (4%) underwent palliative irradiation. During these 6 years, a systematic increase in the share of conformal techniques in all therapeutic methods used in the Radiotherapy Department was observed. Currently, the conformal techniques are used for every patient treated radically. Severe post-radiation reaction (G3, G4) was observed in 3 children, who were receiving chemotherapy with radio-sensitizers at the same time. 2 children "suffered radiological pneumonitis".

CONCLUSIONS: Oncological treatment for children provided in the one centre is a good option for paediatric patients. There is no possibility to treat children with TBI because of lack of second linear accelerator.