Improved accuracy and outcome in radiotherapy of lung cancer.

摘要

The present issue of Radiotherapy and Oncology includes eight papers all in radiotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer {NSCLC). Even though surgical resection is performed in an increasing number of patients with limited stage NSCLC, a large proportion of patients cannot go through surgery due to considerable co-morbidity. Radiotherapy is an alternative for these patients.In recent years, radiotherapy technology has improved. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy {IMRT) is now widely used and in many tumour types such as carcinoma of head and neck and prostate cancer it has replaced conformal beam radiotherapy. IMRT is also widely used in the treatment of NSCLC. Image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) and respiration-controlled radiotherapy are now closely following IMRT.