For which types of cancer in children and adolescents is radiotherapy indicated?

This text provides information about possible indications for radiation therapy in solid tumours as well as in leukaemia and lymphoma.

Author:  Dr. med. Gesche Riabowol (geb. Tallen), Editor:  Ingrid Grüneberg, English Translation:  Dr. med. Gesche Riabowol (geb. Tallen), Last modification: 2025/11/26 https://kinderkrebsinfo.de/doi/e211252

The indication‎ for radiation‎ therapy, i.e. whether, when and how intensively a child or adolescent with cancer should be irradiated, depends on many circumstances. The following factors play a role:

  • type and stage of the disease
  • radiation sensitivity of the cancer
  • patient's age
  • extent of the (individual) risk that healthy organs located near the tumour region and thus close to the radiation field may be damaged by radiation

Important: There are special treatment protocols and guidelines for every type of cancer in children and adolescents, in which, among other things, the details for the indications for radiation therapy are defined. According to these protocols and guidelines, more than 90% of children and adolescents with cancer are currently being treated in Germany and internationally.

The therapy plans (protocols) and guidelines are developed by specific task-forces within cooperating professional societies and regularly updated according to the latest research results. These include the following professional societies:

  • German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO)
  • Working Group for Paediatric Radiation Oncology (APRO)
  • the study commissions of the German Society for Paediatric Oncology and Haematology (GPOH)

For more information on protocols and guidelines, please visit: