Dose-volume histogram parameters and clinical factors associated with pleural effusion after chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the dose-volume histogram parameters and clinical factors as predictors of pleural effusion in esophageal cancer patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT).


METHODS
Forty-three esophageal cancer patients treated with definitive CRT from January 2001 to March 2007 were reviewed retrospectively on the basis of the following criteria: pathologically confirmed esophageal cancer, available computed tomography scan for treatment planning, 6-month follow-up after CRT, and radiation dose ≥ 50 Gy. Exclusion criteria were lung metastasis, malignant pleural effusion, and surgery. Mean heart dose, mean total lung dose, and percentages of heart or total lung volume receiving ≥ 10-60 Gy (Heart-V(10) to V(60) and Lung-V(10) to V(60), respectively) were analyzed in relation to pleural effusion.


RESULTS
The median follow-up time was 26.9 months (range, 6.7-70.2) after CRT. Of the 43 patients, 15 (35%) developed pleural effusion. By univariate analysis, mean heart dose, Heart-V(10) to V(60), and Lung-V(50) to V(60) were significantly associated with pleural effusion. Poor performance status, primary tumor of the distal esophagus, and age ≥ 65 years were significantly related with pleural effusion. Multivariate analysis identified Heart-V(50) as the strongest predictive factor for pleural effusion (p = 0.01). Patients with Heart-V(50) <20%, 20%≤ Heart-V(50) <40%, and Heart-V(50) ≥ 40% had 6%, 44%, and 64% of pleural effusion, respectively (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Heart-V(50) is a useful parameter for assessing the risk of pleural effusion and should be reduced to avoid pleural effusion.
Shirai
Katsuyuki
K
Department of Radiation Oncology, Gunma Prefectural Cancer Center, Ota, Gunma, Japan. katu.shirai@gmail.com
Tamaki
Yoshio
Y
Kitamoto
Yoshizumi
Y
Murata
Kazutoshi
K
Satoh
Yumi
Y
Higuchi
Keiko
K
Nonaka
Tetsuo
T
Ishikawa
Hitoshi
H
Katoh
Hiroyuki
H
Takahashi
Takeo
T
Nakano
Takashi
T
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006321:Heart / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors