Postoperative Radiotherapy (PORT) refers to the administration of radiation therapy after surgical resection of a tumor to eliminate residual microscopic disease and reduce the risk of local recurrence.
Purpose
To improve local control by eradicating microscopic tumor remnants.
To reduce the risk of recurrence, especially in cases with:
Incomplete (subtotal) resection
High-grade or aggressive histology
Positive surgical margins
Known radiosensitive tumors
Timing
Typically initiated within weeks after surgery, once wound healing is adequate.
Can be part of a multimodal treatment plan alongside chemotherapy and systemic therapies.
Common Indications
High-grade gliomas
Brain metastases (after resection)
Meningiomas with atypical or malignant features
Solitary fibrous tumors (SFT/HPC), especially WHO Grade II–III
Head and neck, breast, and rectal cancers
Techniques
External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT)
Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) or Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT) for focal lesions
Dose and fractionation depend on tumor type, location, and resection extent.
Risks and Side Effects
Fatigue, alopecia, dermatitis
Cognitive effects (especially with brain irradiation)
Radiation necrosis (rare but serious)
Long-term endocrine or vascular effects (in specific regions)