Stereotactic single-dose radiotherapy of lung metastases.
BACKGROUND
Stereotactic treatment approaches lead to a significant reduction of irradiated volumes, which should make pulmonary targets more accessible to radiotherapy.


METHODS
Between May 1997 and December 2005, 61 patients received stereotactic single-dose dose treatment for 71 pulmonary metastases. Doses to the isocenter ranged from 12 to 30 Gy. Survival and local tumor control rates were evaluated prospectively.


RESULTS
After a median follow-up period of 14 months the actuarial overall survival was 78.4%, 65.1%, and 47.8% 12, 24, and 36 months after therapy, respectively. There was a significantly better survival (p = 0.023) for patients not developing further metastases during follow-up. The actuarial local progression-free rate was 88.6%, 73.7%, and 63.1% 12, 24, and 36 months after therapy. Although the majority of patients (70.4%) developed perifocal normal-tissue changes, these were not related to clinically relevant toxicities.


CONCLUSIONS
Stereotactic single-dose radiotherapy is a feasible, safe and effective local treatment option for solitary pulmonary metastases in patients with contraindications to surgery or for palliation of symptomatic pulmonary metastases.
Hof
Holger
H
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Heidelberg, Germany. holger.hof@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Hoess
Angelika
A
Oetzel
Dieter
D
Debus
Jürgen
J
Herfarth
Klaus
K
D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016634:Radiosurgery; D016019:Survival Analysis