[Preoperative radiotherapy and ultrastructural pathology of lung cancer]

The results of 26 patients with lung cancer treated by preoperative radiotherapy from March 1978 to October 1983 are reported. The pathological and ultrastructural findings as well as the reduction rate on the roentgenograph before and after radiation are observed in 8 patients. These 26 patients comprised 14 squamous cell carcinomas, 7 adenocarcinomas and 5 small cell carcinomas. The total tumor dose was 3,500-4,008 rad. The treatment results of 26 patients show that surgical resection rate was 92.3% and there were no operative mortality or death due to complications. The improvement in 1 year survival rate was 3.9% and 3 year survival rate was 17.5% as compared with resection alone in the same period. In pathology and ultrastructural studies, the preoperative radiation injuries directly the cancer cells in the tumor mass and also its surrounding tissues. Preoperative radiation is of benefit in the radical resection and the prevention of spread and metastasis of lung cancer.