Single high dose-large field irradiation for palliation of advanced malignancies

Single high dose-large field irradiation (SHD-LFI) has been used for palliation of symptoms secondary to widely disseminated malignancy. Fifty patients with various malignancies were treated with this technique in a private free-standing radiation therapy center between May 1982 and December 1984. Sixty-four treatments were delivered to the 50 patients. Thirty-two treatments were delivered to upper half-body fields, 15 to midbody, and 17 to thoracic fields. The most frequently used dose was 6 Gy which was used for 55 treatments. Thirty-nine patients had favorable response to treatment. All 22 patients with performance status (PS) 1-2 improved following treatment and 17 of 28 PS 3-4 improved. Only mild hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity was seen. One case of possible radiation pneumonitis developed. It is concluded that SHD-LFI is a valuable palliative technique for general clinical use.