Palliative radiation therapy in the United States.

In fact that radiation therapy is often the most effective means of palliating symptoms caused by cancer is well recognized in the United States. Estimates of the proportion of patients treated in the US with radiation therapy who are treated for palliative rather than curative intent range from 15% to 50% and depend on the geographic location, cancer incidence, referral patterns, etc. All radiation oncologists in the United States have had significant experience with the use of palliative radiation therapy during their residency and in their practice. Estimates from patterns of care studies indicate that over 250,000 patients were treated with palliative radiation therapy at a cost of between $1.0 and $1.8 billion in 1994. The scope of this presentation will cover four aspects of palliative radiation therapy in the United States: 1. existing practice patterns; 2. factors affecting treatment patterns; 3. the cost of palliative radiation therapy; and 4. present research and guidelines developments efforts.