[Radiation therapy of pulmonary metastases]

A retrospective study was performed on 140 patients with pulmonary metastases mostly from breast and head and neck cancers, to assess the efficacy of small-field irradiation. Of 140 patients, 88 patients received radiation therapy and remaining 52 patients served as control. The relative death rates of the irradiated and control groups were calculated and compared statistically in each prognostically homogeneous subgroups divided through retrospective stratification. Survival gain due to radiation therapy was recognized with a statistical significance in such patients having pulmonary metastases with diameter less than 4 cm, multiplicity less than 5 foci, and without coexistent tumor in other sites including primary site.