Palliative thoracic radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer. An analysis of 1250 patients. Palliation of symptoms, tolerance and toxicity.
Lung Cancer
; 71(3): 344-9, 2011 Mar.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20674068
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
To present our experience with short-time, split-course palliative thoracic radiotherapy (PTR) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with special regard to palliation of symptoms, tolerance and toxicity of PTR treatment. PATIENTS ANDMETHODS:
Between 1980 and 2005, a group of 1250 patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC was treated with PTR in our Center. All patients presented with moderate or severe symptoms related to local cancer growth.RESULTS:
The response rate defined as palliation of NSCLC symptoms after PTR was 54.1% for cough, 68% for haemoptysis, 51.1% for thoracic pain, 38.3% for dyspnoea, 12% for hoarseness, and 8% for dysphagia. Tolerance of PTR, expressed in terms of patient compliance to the treatment, was good in 92% of patients (i.e., 2 series of radiotherapy were given at the planned dose and time). Early treatment toxicity was observed in 4.6% of patients and included pneumonitis in 2.3%, intense nausea and vomiting in 0.6%, lung hemorrhage in 0.6%, and severe oesophagitis in 0.5% of patients. Lhermitte's syndrome and broncho-oesophageal fistula were observed in 0.4% and 0.2%, respectively. Six out of 70 patients who survived longer than 2 years developed chronic pulmonary fibrosis with respiratory insufficiency and one patient presented symptoms of radiation-induced myelopathy.CONCLUSIONS:
The analysis of our results and data from the literature show that short-time, split-course PTR is a safe and effective method of palliative treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC.
Texto completo:
1
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Cuidados Paliativos
/
Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas
/
Neoplasias Pulmonares
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Lung Cancer
Asunto de la revista:
NEOPLASIAS
Año:
2011
Tipo del documento:
Article