BACKGROUNDTo investigate the effect and complication of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for elderly patients with stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODSThirty elderly patients with stage I-III NSCLC who were treated with 3D-CRT from January, 1998 to January, 2002 were retrospectively analyzed. In the 30 patients, 46 targets were treated with 3-5 Gy per fraction to a total dose of 42-66 Gy. The effect and complication were analysed.

RESULTSThe overall 1-, 2-, 3-year survival rates and the median survival time were 65.8%, 41.2%, 20.6%, and 23 months respectively. The overall 1-, 2-, 3-year local control rates were 59.8%, 31.1%, and 28.3%. The overall incidence of radiation pneumonitis was 16.7% (15/30) with grade≥3 of 6.7%, and one case was died from rediation pneumonitis. The incidence of radiation pulmonary fibrosis was 10.0% (3/30), and the incidence of radiation esophagistis was 43.3% (13/30), but both two side effects were slight.

CONCLUSIONS3D-CRT can improved the survival in elderly patients with stage I-III non-small cell lung cancer by escalating radiotherapy doses.