Results of the first national Patterns of Care Study (PCS) in radiation oncology
for non-metastatic lung cancer reported that treatment strategies varied
significantly by histology and stage and reflected the adoption of clinical
trial results into standard clinical practice.
The survey demonstrated that patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer
and clinical stage III non small lung cancer (NSCLC) were more likely to receive
chemo plus radiation therapy, while stage I NSCLC patients were more likely to receive
radiation alone. The survey also showed that while chest CTs were used for
staging in almost all patients, less than half of the stage III NSCLC patients
underwent brain imaging studies and only two-thirds of these patients had a bone scan.
The results of the survey were presented in August at the 10th World Conference
on Lung Cancer in Vancouver, British Columbia by Benjamin Movsas, M.D., Vice Chair
for Radiation Oncology at Fox Chase Caner Center in Philadelphia and lead author of
the study.
The PCS lung survey was conducted to determine the national patterns of radiation
practice in patients treated in 1998-1999 for non-metastatic lung cancer. A sample
of 541 patient records from 58 institutions was reviewed. Other factors examined
included the prevalence of CT treatment planning, factors influencing chemotherapy
administration, and demographic characteristics. Please visit the PCS website at
www.pcs-acr.org and go to the Publication’s Menu for a copy of this abstract.
PCSgram #204
(February 2004) - None
2004 Issues:
