ABSTRACT
For patients with early and intermediate stage disease, original treatment regimens were based on primary extended field radiotherapy, often combined early or at relapse with extensive and prolonged chemotherapy. Using these strategies, 15-20-year survival figures were high but mortality from second malignancies and cardiac deaths exceeded that from the disease itself. However, results from more recent randomised trials have shown that the use of shorter periods of chemotherapy combined with involved field radiotherapy (IFRT) gives equivalent survival rates to that of extended field radiotherapy with reduction of late toxicity. Radiotherapy remains a key part of combined modality treatment to ensure locoregional control.
