title: Stereotactic body radiotherapy for patients with unresectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma: dose-volumetric parameters predicting the hepatic complication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the parameters that predict hepatic toxicity and deterioration of hepatic function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 47 patients with small unresectable primary hepatocellular carcinoma received hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) using the CyberKnife. Of those, 36 patients received no other local treatments that could influence hepatic toxicity at least for 3 months after the completion of SBRT. The gross tumor volume (GTV) was 18.3 ± 15.9 cm(3) (range, 3.0-81.3 cm(3)), and the total dose administered was 30-39 Gy (median, 36 Gy). To assess the deterioration of hepatic function, we evaluated the presence or absence of the progression of Child-Pugh class (CP class). To identify the parameters of predicting the radiation-induced hepatic toxicity and deterioration of the hepatic function, several clinical and dose-volumetric parameters were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 36 patients, 12 (33%) developed Grade 2 or higher hepatic toxicity and 4 (11%) developed progression of CP class. The multivariate analysis showed that the only significant parameter associated with the progression of CP class was the total liver volume receiving a dose less than 18 Gy (<18 Gy).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The progression of CP class after SBRT limits other additional local treatments and also reflects the deterioration of hepatic function. Therefore, it would be important to note that the presence or absence of the progression of CP class is a dose-limiting factor. The total liver volume receiving <18 Gy should be greater than 800 cm(3) to reduce the risk of the deterioration of hepatic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Byung Ock
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Mi Ryeong
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Young Nam
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Ji Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Si Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Seung Kew
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ihl Bohng
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ki Mun
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hong Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D047368:Tumor Burden