Dose-volume histogram analysis as predictor of radiation pneumonitis in primary lung cancer patients treated with radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between various parameters derived from lung dose-volume histogram analysis and the risk of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients undergoing radical radiotherapy for primary lung cancer.


METHODS
The records of 156 patients with lung cancer who had been treated with radical radiotherapy (>/=45 Gy) and for whom dose-volume histogram data were available were reviewed. The incidence of symptomatic RP was correlated with a variety of parameters derived from the dose-volume histogram data, including the volume of lung receiving 10 Gy (V(10)) through 50 Gy (V(50)) and the mean lung dose (MLD).


RESULTS
The rate of RP at 6 months was 15% (95% confidence interval 9-22%). On univariate analysis, only V(30) (p = 0.036) and MLD (p = 0.043) were statistically significantly related to RP. V(30) correlated highly positively with MLD (r = 0.96, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
V(30) and MLD can be used to predict the risk of RP in lung cancer patients undergoing radical radiotherapy.
Fay
Michael
M
Department of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Tan
Alex
A
Fisher
Richard
R
Mac Manus
Michael
M
Wirth
Andrew
A
Ball
David
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors