PALLIATIVE RADIOTHERAPY IN CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG: RADIATION THERAPY M THE TREATMENT OF METASTATIC DISEASE AND INTRATHORACIC ADVANCED DISEASE

Results of radiotherapy in patients with carcinoma of the lung with metastatic or inthrathoracic advanced disease treated during the period of 1978 and 1982 were reported. 264 cases with metastatic disease were treated with palliative radiotherapy. The palliation of pain was obtained in 79 % of patients with bone metastases. Eighty - six percent of patients with brain metastasis showed improvement in neurological symptoms and signs. An improvement from palliative radiotherapy was obtained in 93 % of patients with hemoptysis, in 73 % with cough and in 76% of dyspnea in 45 patients with intrathoracic advanced disease. These results show that radiation therapy is an important method in palliation of symptoms, and in improvement of the general condition in patients with advanced intrathoracic or metastatic disease.