[Radiation tolerance of patients after pneumonectomy for bronchial cancer: role of pulmonary function tests].
Radiation is often necessary after pneumonectomy, either immediately or due to local cancer recurrence. High radiation doses represent a challenge due to the limited tolerance of the lung and the necessity of preserving and protecting the remaining lung parenchyma. The use of CT scan based-treatment planning allows delivery of high radiation doses. To evaluate the radiation tolerance of the lung after high radiation dose, we compared pulmonary function tests performed before surgery and after radiation therapy. Ten male patients (mean age, 56 years old; age range, 45-73) were irradiated after pneumonectomy for lung cancer. All patients had a CT scan-based treatment planning. The mean radiation dose was 56 Gy (45-66 Gy) delivered with a linear accelerator and multiple complex fields. Two or more sets of pulmonary function tests were available (before surgery and 2 to 6 months after radiation). No patient developed clinical radiation pneumonitis and most of the patients had a minimal paramediastinal fibrosis at CT scan. Postirradiation pulmonary lung tests were compared to the theoretical values of the estimated defect observed after pneumonectomy. No significant decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s/inspiratory vital capacity (FEV1/IVC) was observed in ten evaluable patients; the observed values were comparable to those expected after pneumonectomy without irradiation (FEV1/IVC: 61 to 100%), showing that irradiation did not alter pulmonary function. Computerized tomography-based treatment planning and the use of complex beam positioning allowed optimal lung parenchymal preservation. Through this procedure, high doses of radiation can be delivered to the mediastinum and bed tumor. Comparison of pulmonary function tests performed before surgery and after radiation showed no alteration of lung function, even after high doses. Optimal tools required for the evaluation of radiation on lung parenchyma are still to be defined.
Mornex
F
F
Service de radiothérapie oncologie, centre hospitalier Lyon sud, Pierre-Bénite, France.
Méré
P
P
Pélisson
H
H
Ginestet
C
C
Wiesendanger
T
T
Pérol
M
M
D000368:Aged; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011379:Prognosis; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests