The time course of radiation therapy-induced reductions in regional perfusion: a prospective study with >5 years of follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the time-dependence of radiation therapy (RT)-induced reductions in regional lung perfusion, as measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) lung perfusion scans.


METHODS
Between 1991 and 1999, 79 patients had SPECT lung perfusion scans before and serially after RT. Changes in regional perfusion were correlated with regional dose using 3D planning tools and image fusion (PLUNC-Plan UNC). Multiple post-RT follow-up scans were evaluated to determine the temporal nature of RT-induced regional perfusion changes. To facilitate the comparison of dose-response curves (DRCs) at different post-RT intervals, each DRC was fit to a linear model and thus described by its slope.


RESULTS
There was a dose-dependent reduction in regional perfusion at nearly all time points post-RT (p = 0.0001). The slope of the DRCs for RT-induced reductions in regional perfusion became steeper at essentially each successive follow-up interval (p = 0.0001). However, the increases in slope became progressively smaller at later follow-up intervals. Overall, about 80% of the long-term RT-induced regional perfusion injury was manifest within 12 months post-RT.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a progression of RT-induced reductions in regional perfusion, with most of this injury manifest within 12 months post-RT. Additional regional injury appears to evolve for years.
Woel
Roxanne T
RT
Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Munley
Michael T
MT
Hollis
Donna
D
Fan
Ming
M
Bentel
Gunilla
G
Anscher
Mitchell S
MS
Shafman
Timothy
T
Coleman
R Edward
RE
Jaszczak
Ronald J
RJ
Marks
Lawrence B
LB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon