Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2143905 | Lung Cancer | 2007 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
To investigate the practice process of postoperative radiation therapy for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Japan. Between April 2002 and March 2004, the Patterns of Care Study conducted an extramural audit survey for 76 of 556 institutions using a stratified two-stage cluster sampling. Data on treatment process of 627 patients with NSCLC who received radiation therapy were collected. Ninety-nine (16%) patients received postoperative radiation therapy between 1999 and 2001 (median age, 65 years). Pathological stage was stage I in 8%, II in 17%, IIIA in 44%, and IIIB in 20%. The median field size was 9 cm Ã 11 cm, and median total dose was 50 Gy. Photon energies of 6 MV or higher were used for 64 patients, whereas a cobalt-60 unit was used for five patients. Three-dimensional conformal treatment was used infrequently. Institutional stratification influenced several radiotherapy parameters such as photon energy and planning target volume. Smaller non-academic institutions provided worse quality of care. The study confirmed continuing variation in the practice of radiotherapy according to stratified institutions. Outdated equipment such as Cobalt-60 units was used, especially in non-academic institutions treating only a small number of patients per year.
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Authors
Takashi Uno, Minako Sumi, Ayaka Kihara, Hodaka Numasaki, Hiroyuki Kawakami, Hiroshi Ikeda, Michihide Mitsumori, Teruki Teshima, Japanese PCS Working Subgroup of Lung Cancer Japanese PCS Working Subgroup of Lung Cancer,