Mapping use of radiotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer in the Netherlands between 1997 and 2008

Aim After the publication of several reports that the utilisation rate of radiotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) varies for both medical and non-medical reasons, the utilisation of radiotherapy was studied in four regions in the Netherlands. Materials and methods Data from 1997-2008 were collected from the population-based cancer registries of four comprehensive cancer centres ('regions'), which represent about half of the Dutch population, resulting in 24 185 non-metastatic patients with NSCLC. Treatment had to be started or planned within 6 months of diagnosis. We evaluated the utilisation of radiotherapy according to age, gender and period for each region. Results The utilisation of radiotherapy alone decreased over time (from 35 to 19%), whereas the utilisation of radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy increased (from 5 to 19%). The total utilisation rate remained rather stable at about 40%. The differences between the four regions remained in general no more than 15%. Elderly patients with stage I and II disease had increased odds of receiving radiotherapy (>= 75 versus <50 years: odds ratio 2.6, 95% confidence interval 2.0-3.3, whereas this was the opposite for patients with stage III disease: odds ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.4-0.6). For 17-24% of all patients, especially the elderly, best supportive care was applied. Conclusions In the Netherlands, with good accessibility to medical care and well-implemented national guidelines, variation between the four regions is limited for the treatment of non-metastatic NSCLC with radiotherapy.

Language

English

Source (journal)

Clinical oncology / Royal College of Radiologists [London] - London

Publication

London : 2012

ISSN

0936-6555

DOI

10.1016/J.CLON.2011.06.010

Volume/pages

24 :2 (2012) , p. E46-E53