Dr. Gaspar on a Physician Survey on Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation in SCLC

Laurie E. Gaspar, MD, professor, Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, discusses a survey she conducted for physicians on the use of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) for patients with limited small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in an interview during the IASLC Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology.

The survey sought to examine the current strength of the recommendation to give PCI to patients with SCLC, the variance of those recommendations depending on the age of the patient, as well as the specialty of the consulting physician. Moreover, Gaspar explains, the survey asked physicians to consider whether they would personally opt for PCI if they were patients themselves.

Gaspar found that most physicians, regardless of specialty, still tend to strongly recommend PCI for patients with limited SCLC, but it does slightly depend on age. The survey also found that approximately 75% of physicians would undergo PCI if they were personally seeking treatment.