The role of radiation therapy in thoracic tumors

Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America. 2006 Apr;20(2):363-400. [Link]

Kong FM, Zhao L, Hayman JA.

Department of Radiation Therapy, University of Michigan, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; VA Ann Arbor Health Care Systems, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA.

Abstract

Although surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment for thoracic tumors, radiation therapy plays an important role in their management. Radiation therapy is the definitive local treatment for patients who have surgically resectable but medically inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is an important part of the multimodality regimen for unresectable NSCLC, limited-stage small cell lung cancer, esophageal cancer, invasive thymoma, and mesothelioma. This article briefly reviews indications, evidence, and new advances in radiation therapy for the treatment of these thoracic tumors.