Prophylactic cranial irradiation in small cell lung cancer--an update

The role of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in the management of patients with small cell lung cancer is reviewed, with emphasis on 11 randomised trials. Several interpretive and methodological problems related to PCI investigations are identified, and it is argued that given the current data PCI should be considered as an optional treatment component in CR patients, that these authors do not recommend, while other investigators do.