The role of prophylactic cranial radiation in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Patients with lung cancer face a substantial risk of developing brain metastases. Prophylactic cranial irradiation therapy has been demonstrated to significantly decrease the incidence of central nervous system metastasis and improve overall survival in patients with small-cell lung cancer. In non-small-cell lung cancer, the central nervous system is a common site of systemic failure and frequently represents the only focus of extra-thoracic disease. However, the role of prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer is less well defined. As treatment modalities improve and patients live longer their risk of developing central nervous system recurrence increases, and methods to prevent this demand exploration.