Abstract
Forty-five cases of stage I and II lung cancer in an inoperable condition were treated with radiation over the past ten years. All patients were diagnosed histologically and received a total dose of more than 4500 rad in four weeks.
Relative 5-year survival rate of the present series were 29% for stage I squamous cell carcinoma cases, 11% for stage II squamous cell carcinoma cases, and 0% for either adenocarcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma, respectively. The survival curve obtained by the combined use of radiotherapy and cancer chemotherapy was not significantly better than that obtained by radiation therapy alone. Regarding the radiation dose, a dose ranging from 1700 to 1950 ret resulted in most favorable prognosis. However, to prevent the occurence of radiation myelopathy, the radiation dose to the spinal cord should not exceed 1500 ret.
