Radical irradiation with the split-course technique in carcinoma of the lung.
The possible advantages of a split-course of irradiation in the treatment of patients with locally advanced and/or inoperable carcinoma of the lung were explored in over 200 cases. The patients were separated into two groups with different prognostic factors: Group A, patients with well-differentiated tumors confined to the lung and mediastinum; and Group B, cases with anaplastic tumors and/or supraclavicular metastases, bone erosion, or superior venal caval syndrome. The treatment consisted of 5500-6000 rads tumor dose in 20 to 24 fractions over a period of 7 to 8 weeks with a rest interval of 2 to 4 weeks in the middle. The 3- and 5-year survival figures, 19% and 16%, respectively, in Group A cases, along with the excellent tolerance, suggest that the split-course approach has definite advantages.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008722:Methods; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local