[The influence of quality of irradiation on survival in inoperable bronchial carcinoma (author's transl)].

Irradiation of inoperable bronchial carcinoma with constant ortho-volt technique has worse results than with mobile irradiation, since the individual dosage in several fields can be raised without damaging the skin. With mega-voltage limits of skin tolerance, changed absorption or protection of healthy tissues are absent, so that it is easier to deliver doses affective on the tumor. Survival-rates can be related to dosage. During the first few years similar doses of mega-voltage lead to more frequent survival. In part such results depend on differences in standard dosage with the various techniques. More important for the worse results of orthovoltage treatment are the higher doses, the greater volume of irradiation and scatter which may cause greater damage to immunity. 5 years survival of patients with a central inoperable bronchial carcinoma is hardly altered but during the first 2-3 years megavolt therapy is clearly more effective.