This study determines the risk of DID after modern-technique postoperative XRT.

Conclusions: Surgery and postoperative XRT offer relatively good LRC and moderate overall survival rates.

Patients and methods: A total of 202 patients were treated with surgery and postoperative XRT for NSCLC.

Further study of postoperative XRT, particularly when using more sophisticated treatment planning and reasonable total doses, for carefully selected high-risk resected NSCLC is warranted.