Current opinion in oncology
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Brain metastases are frequent in lung cancer. They are responsible for life-threatening symptoms and serious impairment in patients' quality of life, resulting in a shortened survival. Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) has been proposed in both small-cell lung cancers (SCLCs) and non-SCLCs to reduce the incidence of brain metastases and increase survival. ⋯ In limited disease SCLCs, PCI should be administered at the dose of 25 Gy in 10 fractions to first-line treatment responders. In extensive disease SCLC, PCI is recommended in patients who respond to first-line chemotherapy. Clinical trials are ongoing to investigate the role of PCI in non-SCLC patients.