An evaluation of the palliative role of radiotherapy in inoperable carcinoma of the bronchus

Ninety-six patients with inoperable carcinoma of the bronchus were entered into a prospective study of the effectiveness of palliative radiotherapy. The median survival of the group as a whole was 38 weeks. Major symptoms such as cough, dyspnoea and haemoptysis were well controlled at 3 months and 6 months follow-up. There was no significant effect on performance status. Dysphagia and tiredness occurred in 81% of patients, but were classed as mild in 41% and 47% respectively, lasting less than 4 weeks in 86%. There was no correlation between the radiotherapy dose received and symptom control. Fourteen per cent of patients were dead within approximately 3 months of treatment and were unlikely to have benefited from therapy. Careful selection of patients for palliative radiotherapy is recommended.