[Treatment of inoperable small-cell bronchial carcinoma with local radiotherapy and supplementary high-dosage one-time upper and lower half-body irradiation].

37 patients with histologically verified inoperable small-cell bronchial carcinomas were treated with local tumor irradiation (40 Gy), combined with upper and lower half-body irradiation. Continuous analysis of the treatment results led to modification of therapy, from which two groups of patients resulted. In group I the whole-body treatment consisted of an irradiation of the upper, and six weeks later, of the lower half of the body with a dose of 8.8 Gy. In group 2 the half-body dose of 8.8 Gy was applied in 2 fractions on the same day (6.0 Gy, break of 5 hours, 2.0 Gy). The critical organ was the lung: the pneumonitis rate and the effect on tumor and metastases and survival times are reported.