Short-Course Radiation Therapy in Carcinoma of the Lung

Two schedules of radiation therapy for carcinoma of the lung with regional metastases were compared in two groups of 42 patients each. One group received 6,000 R (tumor dose) in 30 fractions over six weeks, while another group received 2,000 R over five days, repeated after a three-week interval. A significant increase in one-year survival was noted in the second group. No increase in the amount of complications secondary to irradiation was noted. The short-course method is seen as a superior program for carcinoma of the lung with regional metastases.