Patterns of care for lung cancer in radiation oncology departments of Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the patterns of care for lung cancer in Turkish radiation oncology centers.


METHODS
Questionnaire forms from 21 of 24 (87.5%) centers that responded were evaluated.


RESULTS
The most frequent histology was non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (81%). The most common postoperative radiotherapy (RT) indications were close/(+) surgical margins (95%) and presence of pN2 disease (91%). The most common indications for postoperative chemotherapy (CHT) were ">/= IB" disease (19%) and the presence of pN2 disease (19%). In Stage IIIA potentially resectable NSCLC, the most frequent treatment approach was neoadjuvant concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CHRT) (57%). In Stage IIIA unresectable and Stage IIIB disease, the most frequent approach was definitive concomitant CHRT (91%). In limited SCLC, the most common treatment approach was concomitant CHRT with cisplatin+etoposide for cycles 1-3, completion of CHT to cycles 4-6, and finally prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with complete response (71%). Six cycles of cisplatin + etoposide CHT and palliative thoracic RT, when required, was the most commonly used treatment (81%) in extensive SCLC. Sixty-two percent of centers did not have endobronchial brachytherapy (EBB) facilities.


CONCLUSIONS
There is great variation in diagnostic testing, treatment strategies, indications for postoperative RT and CHT, RT features, and EBB availability for LC cases. To establish standards, national guidelines should be prepared using a multidisciplinary approach.
Demiral
Ayşe Nur
AN
Dokuz Eylul University Medical School, Department of Radiation Oncology, Izmir, Turkey.
Alicikus
Zümre Arican
ZA
Işil Ugur
Vahide
V
Karadogan
Ilker
I
Yöney
Adnan
A
Andrieu
Meltem Nalça
MN
Yalman
Deniz
D
Pak
Yücel
Y
Aksu
Gamze
G
Ozyigit
Gökhan
G
Ozkan
Lütfi
L
Kilçiksiz
Sevil
S
Koca
Sedat
S
Caloğlu
Murat
M
Yavuz
Ali Aydin
AA
Başak Cağlar
Hale
H
Beyzadeoğlu
Murat
M
Iğdem
Sefik
S
Serin
Meltem
M
Kaplan
Bünyamin
B
Koç
Mehmet
M
Korkmaz
Esra
E
Karakoyun-Celik
Omür
O
Dinçer
Selvi
S
Kinay
Münir
M
D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D000078329:Workforce