Priority 24 from the Mesothelioma PSP

UNCERTAINTY: Should radiotherapy be given to mesothelioma patients at the incision site (as a result of surgery or thoracoscopy) to stop cancer cells spreading? (JLA PSP Priority 24)
Overall ranking 24
JLA question ID 0025/24 
Explanatory note Not available for this PSP
Evidence Systematic review - Lee C, Bayman N, Swindell R, Faivre-Finn C. Prophylactic radiotherapy to intervention sites in mesothelioma: a systematic review and survey of UK practice. Lung Cancer. 2009 Nov;66(2):150-6. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2009.06.014. Epub 2009 Jul 23.  Ongoing study - PIT: Prophylactic Irradiation of Tracts in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Health Research Classification System category Cancer
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples Also I never had any treatment to the needle site despite being told it might happen.  Is it needed or isn't it ~ Post VATS operation 3 days of radiotherapy to drain site, 7 minutes per session. Has there been a clinical trial to prove whether this is beneficial or not to the patient? Alan did experience seeding at the site despite the radiotherapy.
Comparison None identified
Submitted by Patient ~ bereaved
Outcomes to be measured Prevention of metastases
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0025
PSP name Mesothelioma
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP. 53  (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 16 December 2014