TriangleHEALTH PROFESSIONAL · SOURCE READING
Palliative treatment
Source: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version, National Cancer Institute.
Source updated: May 15, 2025 · Captured 2026-09-09.
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Radiation therapy may be effective in palliating symptomatic local involvement with NSCLC, such as:
Tracheal, esophageal, or bronchial compression.
Pain.
Vocal cord paralysis.
Hemoptysis.
Superior vena cava syndrome.
In some cases, endobronchial laser therapy and/or brachytherapy has been used to alleviate proximal obstructing lesions.[55]
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Evidence (radiation therapy for palliative treatment):
A systematic review identified six randomized trials of high-dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) alone or with external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or laser therapy.[56]
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A systematic review identified six randomized trials of high-dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) alone or with external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or laser therapy.[56]
Better overall symptom palliation and fewer re-treatments were required in previously untreated patients using EBRT alone.[56][Level of evidence A3]
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A systematic review identified six randomized trials of high-dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) alone or with external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or laser therapy.[56]
Although EBRT is frequently prescribed for symptom palliation, there is no consensus about when the fractionation scheme should be used.
A systematic review identified six randomized trials of high-dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) alone or with external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or laser therapy.[56]
For EBRT, different multifraction regimens appear to provide similar symptom relief;[57-62] however, single-fraction radiation therapy may be insufficient for symptom relief compared with hypofractionated or standard regimens, as seen in the NCIC Clinical Trials Group trial (NCT00003685).[59][Level of evidence A3]
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A systematic review identified six randomized trials of high-dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) alone or with external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or laser therapy.[56]
Evidence of a modest increase in survival in patients with better performance status given high-dose EBRT is available.[57,58][Level of evidence A1]
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A systematic review identified six randomized trials of high-dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDREB) alone or with external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) or laser therapy.[56]
HDREB provided palliation of symptomatic patients with recurrent endobronchial obstruction previously treated by EBRT, when it was technically feasible.
Studies cited in this source section
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Preserved source evidence · Not medical advice