[Postoperative irradiation in the combined treatment of lung cancer patients]

The end results of surgical and combination therapy of lung cancer are compared on the basis of rates of survival for 5 years and longer. Extended resection of lung including the removal of lymph nodes and mediastinal fat tissue was performed in all cases. Such megavolt radiation sources as Lootch, Rokus, Lu-4, 3 Mev were used in postoperative radiation treatment. No significant differences in the end results of the two schemes of treatment were found in cases of stage I-II tumors. Survival for 5 years and longer were registered in 30.2% of patients with stage III tumor after combination therapy and 25.9% of patients treated by surgery alone. Surgical treatment of extensive stage III tumor should be followed by radiation.