From 1983 to 1987, 59 patients with lung cancer were IreaLcd by postoperative radiotherapy, including 48 males and 11 females. Among them, 21 cases were in stage I, 18 in stage II, 19 in stage III and 1 in stage IV. Radiation therapy was administered through parallel opposed AP-PA portals. The treatment volume included the entire width of the mediastinum, homolalcral hili and the region of residual cancer. The tumor dose was mostly around 5000-5500 cGy. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5- year survival rates were 71.20%, 37.28% and 28.89% respectively. The 5- year survival rates for potients with involvement of resection margins and regional nodes were 28.57% and 20.00% respectively, and were compared with 40.00% for patients without nodes metastases. The 5-year survival rate of squamous cell careinoma and small cell anaplastic carcinoma was significantly better (P