title: [The irradiated volume in stage III non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung. Comparison of outdated and new techniques].
abstract: March 1988 through April 1992, three hundred and ninety-six patients affected with bronchogenic carcinoma were treated at the Department of Radiation Oncology of the S. Anna Hospital, Como, Italy. A hundred and ten patients presenting stage-III non-small-cell lung carcinoma were evaluable. All evaluable patients underwent radiation therapy alone, with either palliative or curative purposes. Two main periods can be distinguished: in period A, before June 30th, 1990, treatment planning included conventional techniques, with no simulators; the patients were treated with opposing anteroposterior fields only. In period B, after July 1st, 1990, either the simulator alone was used or a simulator, a CT unit and a treatment planning computer system were combined; anteroposterior opposing fields or multiportal technique were used. Median overall survival was 10 months. Independent of treatment goals, the irradiated volume was markedly different in the patients treated in period A than in those treated in period B. A marked and statistically significant increase in survival was observed in group B. Survival also increased in patients treated with doses > 40 Gy, but only if treatment planning had used adequate technology and accuracy. To conclude, better survival can be achieved only by improving treatment accuracy and quality.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Radioterapia Oncologica, Ospedale S. Anna, Como.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Cazzaniga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bossi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scandolaro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cagna
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Valli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015996:Survival Rate
vernacular_title: Il volume irradiato nel carcinoma non-microcitoma del polmone allo stadio III. Confronto tra vecchie e nuove metodiche.