Awan A M, Weichselbaum R R
Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Illinois.
Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 1990 Dec;4(6):1169-81.
We have reviewed the role of radiation therapy in the palliative treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The use of radiation treatment results in effective palliation of chest symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and chest pain. In addition, the pain and suffering associated with skeletal and hepatic metastases are effectively alleviated by radiation therapy with minimal morbidity. Devastating neurologic complications can be avoided or alleviated in a great proportion of patients undergoing radiation therapy for cerebral metastases and spinal cord compression. Therefore, radiation therapy is a potent modality in relieving or reducing the suffering of patients with lung cancer. This is also a modality that has wide applicability; very few patients are not suitable candidates for that has wide applicability; very few patients are not suitable candidates for treatment regardless of their performance status. The aim of the treatments should always be prompt intervention using radiation therapy schedules that will minimize treatment time yet produce the desired results in a high proportion of patients. Protracted radiation schedules are not warranted in such patients except in special clinical situations. Palliation with radiation therapy is achieved quite promptly, with minimal side effects and a very small risk of any long-term consequences in patients who have a limited life expectancy.
我们回顾了放射治疗在非小细胞肺癌患者姑息治疗中的作用。放射治疗可有效缓解胸部症状，如呼吸困难、咳嗽、咯血和胸痛。此外，放射治疗能有效减轻与骨骼和肝转移相关的疼痛和痛苦，且发病率极低。对于因脑转移和脊髓压迫接受放射治疗的大部分患者，可避免或减轻严重的神经并发症。因此，放射治疗是缓解或减轻肺癌患者痛苦的有效方式。这也是一种具有广泛适用性的方式；无论患者的身体状况如何，很少有患者不适合接受治疗。治疗的目标应始终是采用放射治疗方案进行及时干预，以尽量缩短治疗时间，同时在大部分患者中取得预期效果。除特殊临床情况外，此类患者无需采用长时间的放射治疗方案。对于预期寿命有限的患者，放射治疗能迅速实现姑息治疗效果，副作用极小，且产生任何长期后果的风险非常小。
