Special report: intensity-modulated radiation therapy for cancer of the breast or lung

BlueCross BlueShield Association
Record ID 32006000037
English
Authors' objectives:

This special report seeks evidence from published studies to determine whether intensity-modulate radiation therapy (IMRT) is superior to 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) for improving health outcomes of patients with either breast or lung cancer.

Authors' results and conclusions: No studies were identified (randomized or nonrandomized; prospective or retrospective) that directly compared health outcomes of IMRT with health outcomes of 3D-CRT (using concurrent or historical controls). Follow-up was short (<1 year) in the 2 available single-arm (non-comparative) studies on IMRT for breast cancer. Acute skin toxicity and cosmesis were the only outcomes reported. The only available single-arm study on lung cancer, a dose-escalation trial, closed for excessive toxicity after 5 patients received 84 Gy.
Authors' recommendations: Available data are insufficient to determine whether IMRT is superior to 3D-CRT for improving health outcomes of patients with breast or lung cancer.
Authors' methods: Review
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2006
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: United States
MeSH Terms
  • Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Lung Neoplasms
Contact
Organisation Name: BlueCross BlueShield Association
Contact Address: BlueCross BlueShield Association, Technology Evaluation Center, 225 North Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Tel: 888 832 4321
Contact Name: tec@bcbsa.com
Contact Email: tec@bcbsa.com
Copyright: BlueCross BlueShield Association (BCBS)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.