Radiotherapy of non-oat cell lung cancer of old patients: An analysis of 45 cases

We treated 45 cases of non-oat cell lung cancer between 1970—1986. The ages of the patients were 60—81 years, the maximum diamaters of the cancer were 1—3cm. In 16 cases the tumors located centrally and 29, peripherally. 20 cases were treated by surgery combined with radiotherapy. 15 cases by surgery alone and 10 cases by radiotherapy alone. The 5-year survival rate were 57.1%, 66.6% and 42.8% respectively. It is suggestef that the diagnosis should be establishied as early as possible, by through detailed medical histoey, regular physical examination and sophisticated analysis of chest films. Surgery sould be done first in the early stage of tumor, pre-or postoperation radiotherapy given according to the local-regional situation. Radiotherapy is able to bring down the chance of recurrency, to raise the rate of tumor resection and to improve the quality of life in the survival. The radical radiotherapy should be chosen for the old aged case and the case refusing operation, and also for the case of tracheal or subcarina and recurrent case after operation.