Abstract
The efficacy of palliative radiotherapy of NSCLC was evaluated. Seventy patients with histologically and cytologically confirmed advanced NSCLC were palliatively irradiated in the Department of Oncology I Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, in the period 1/93–12/94. Forty-six patients were evaluable for response (32 men, 14 women, median age 66.1, range 46−82). Median survival was 24.5 weeks. The most frequent intrathoracal symptoms were: cough 54%, chest pain 41%, dyspnoe 54%, hemoptysis 13%, VCS sy 7%. Palliation of the main symptoms have been achieved in 68% for cough, in 83% for hemoptysis, in 89% for chest pain, in 60% for dyspnoe and in 100% for VCS sy (in combination with chemotherapy). The median duration of palliation was 14.7 weeks for all the main symptoms. Two fractionations schedules for the chest radiotherapy were used: 30 Gy/l0 fr/2 wks (67%) or short regimens 8–20 Gy/1–2 fr/1–2wks (33%). The results of palliation and survival are similar for both treatment schedules. Side effects have been infrequent, only 6 patients (13%) had dysphagia during the treatment. Radiation myelopathy has been not observed in any case.
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