title: [Therapeutic effect of three dimensional conformal radiotherapy in patients aged 65 years and older with non-small cell lung cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Three dimensional conformal radiotherapy is one of the important treatment methods for patients aged 65 and older with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of three dimensional conformal radiotherapy in elderly patients with inoperable NSCLC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients aged 65 and older with stage II and III NSCLC were treated by three dimensional conformal radiotherapy. Clinical effects, survival rates and pulmonary toxicity were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate (CR+PR) was 87.1% (27/31). The 1, 2 and 3-year survival rates were 83.9% (26/31), 51.6% (16/31), and 25.8% (8/31) respectively. The relation of treatment efficacy and tumor size was observed. Acute radiation pneumonitis occurred in 3.2% (1/31) of the patients. Radiation pulmonary fibrosis occurred in 19.4% (6/31) of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three dimensional conformal radiotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for elderly patients with inoperable NSCLC and has a high survival rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The 304th Clinical Division of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100037, P.R.China.
authors.forename: Tianxing
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yongmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang