En-bloc irradiation of unresectable bronchogenic carcinomas and their regional lymphatics

Patients with unresectable or inoperable bronchial carcinoma were treated with en-bloc irradiation of the tumour and the mediastinal lymph nodes to a total target absorbed dose of 40 Gy in 20 fractions. The first 52 patients were treated in one series and the last 45 patients in two series (split-course). Radiation adverse effects were only mild. The two regimens gave the same palliative results. The median survival was the same for the 2 groups (8 months). Most patients died in disseminated disease.