RADIOTHERAPY AND LUNG-CANCER (NONSMALL CE LL-CARCINOMA) - WHICH INDICATIONS IN 1994

Although irradiation therapy of bronchial tumors has benefited from re cent technical advances (volumic scanners, high-energy linear accelera tors, computerized three-dimensional dosimetry), the high dose require d to treat these tumors effectively is limited by the risk of damage t o healthy intrathoracic tissues. Surgical excision is the mainstay of curative treatment. Postoperative irradiation therapy should be given in advanced forms. Although the effect of irradiation therapy alone on long-term survival is disappointing, a number of methods currently be ing testing hold promise, including hyperfractionated irradiation ther apy or combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. High dose-rate endobron chial brachytherapy is useful for the treatment of symptomatic tumoral stricture in selected cases.