Split-course Megavoltage Radiotherapy: One-year Follow-up

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Abstract
The 1-yr. results of split-course megavoltage radiotherapy in 15 cases of carcinoma of the esophagus and 62 cases with carcinoma of the lung were compared with the results of continuous therapy in 19 cases of carcinoma of the esophagus and 41 cases of carcinoma of the lung. Radiotherapy was interrupted for 2 to 3 wk. half way through the therapy. No significant differences were established between the groups in survival from esophageal cancer and from pulmonary cancer. O2 breathing which was administered to 21 patients during radiation therapy did not improve the survival rate compared with split-course therapy alone. Differences in cell kinetics and the repopulation rate between normal tissue and tumor tissue constitute a reasonable theoretical foundation for split-course therapy. The present observations, supporting earlier reports, showed that tumor regression occurs in split-course therapy with a smaller radiation dose than otherwise. The primary results are anyway no poorer than with continuous therapy. Patients tolerate radiotherapy much better when it is administered in 2 phases, and their general condition is usually considerably improved after the rest interval. These are reasons why split-course therapy is to be preferred to continuous daily fractionated treatment.