[Fractionated postoperative irradiation in combined therapy of lung cancer]

The authors provide their data on the combined treatment of 50 lung cancer patients aged 40 to 70 using irregular postoperative irradiation. There were 47 men and 3 women; 5 patients had Stage I, 33 Stage II, and 12 Stage III. Histologically, 80% had squamous cell carcinoma of various degree of differentiation, 20% had differentiated bronchogenic adenocarcinoma. Central cancer was found in 26, peripheral in 24 patients. Postoperative irradiation of the mediastinal lymph nodes and primary tumor bed was given in case of an uneventful postoperative course 3-4 weeks after surgical intervention. gamma-Beam therapy was performed under the conditions of a static regimen using a lead perforated filter C-2; the average single focal dose was 3 Gy, with the daily irradiation rhythm, the summary focal dose was 36 Gy. Radiation therapy was adequately tolerated by the patients, no radiation complications were observed. The duration of life was: 1 year 90%, over 1 year 88.9%, over 2 years 64.9% and over 3 years 50%. In the course of 2-3 years recurrences were detected in 3 patients.