The Late Effect of Radical Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer on Pulmonary Function

At the Peter MacCallum Hospital it is the policy to treat patients with non‐small cell carcinoma of the lung with radical intent if there are no adverse prognostic factors. Spirometric testing was carried out before and at least three months after the completion of radiotherapy in 25 patients who were so treated. The results indicate that high dose radiotherapy (50–60 Gy) to the primary site and mediastinum is well tolerated: although 64% of patients experienced a decrease in vital capacity, this was usually of acceptable degree and in the remaining 36% the vital capacity actually increased.