Cranial irradiation in small cell lung cancer
1991
Cranial Irradiation in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Editorial
Evidence: low
Author Information
Author(s): A. Gregor
Primary Institution: Department of Clinical Oncology, Western General Hospital
Conclusion
Cranial irradiation may reduce the incidence of brain relapse in small cell lung cancer, but its impact on overall survival remains unclear.
Supporting Evidence
- Majority of published trials confirm that prophylactic cranial irradiation reduces brain relapse incidence.
- Late neurotoxicity has been reported in long-term survivors of small cell lung cancer.
- Current data cannot predict individual relapse risk for patients.
Takeaway
Doctors are trying to figure out if giving radiation to the brain helps people with lung cancer live longer or just keeps their brains healthier for a while.
Potential Biases
Individual experiences of investigators may bias the overall assessment.
Limitations
The individual trials are too small to convincingly show a survival benefit, and there is a lack of prospective data on neurofunctional impairment.
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