Post-operative radiotherapy was applied in a series of 113 patients with bronchial cancer (T3 or N+) between 1977 and 1983, lesions being classified T1 in 24 cases, T2 in 44, T3 in 45, N0 in 23, N1 in 51 and N2 in 39, one out of two T3 cases being N+. Pneumonectomy has been performed in 64 cases (58%) and limited surgery in 49 (42%). An incomplete exeresis was carried out in 21% of cases. Radiotherapy dose 45 Gy in cases with macroscopically complete resection and 65 Gy in other cases. Fractioning was conventional (CI) 72 times with 5 sessions of 1.8 Gy per week, and hypofractionated (HFI) 41 times as 5 Gy on D1 and D3 and 6.5 Gy on D15 and D17 for an equivalent dose at 45 Gy in CI and with, in addition, 5 Gy on D29 and D31 for an equivalent dose at 65 Gy in CI. Overall actuarial survival at 5 years was 38%, and 42% for N+, with 54% for N1 (pedicular N+) and 28% for N2 (mediastinal N+). The 3-year actuarial survival for T3 N0 was 53%. Frequency of local and regional recurrence was 18% and was equal for N1 and N2. In contrast, metastases occurred in 33% of N2 and only 12% of N1. No apparent difference was noted in incidence of local and regional recurrence or survival as a function of histopathologic type, operation performed, quality of surgical resection, or irradiation fractioning. No serious complication of radiotherapy was reported.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)