title: Pneumomediastinum as a complication of SABR for lung metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stereotactic ablative body radiation (SABR) is a novel and sophisticated radiation modality that involves the irradiation of extracranial tumors through precise and very high doses in patients with oligometastatic lung disease and primary lung tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 52-year-old female with subclinical idiopathic interstitial lung disease (ILD) and oligometastatic lung disease from squamous urethral cancer who was treated with SABR for a metastatic lesion located in the right lower pulmonary lobe. The patient received a hypo-fractionated course of SABR. A 3D-conformal multifield technique was used with six coplanar and one non-coplanar statics beams. A 48 Gy total dose in three fractions over six days was prescribed to the 95% of the PTV. The presence of idiopathic ILD and other identifiable underlying lung conditions were not taken into account as a constraint to prescribe a different than standard total dose or fractionation schedule. Six months after the SABR treatment, a CT-scan showed the presence of a pneumomediastinum with air outside the bronchial tree and within the subcutaneous tissue without co-existing pneumothorax. To our knowledge, this is the first case of pneumomediastinum appearing 6 months after SABR treatment for a lung metastasis located in the perihiliar/central tumors region as defined by the RTOG protocols as the proximal bronchial tree.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiation oncologist should be aware of the potential risk of severe lung toxicity caused by SABR in patients with ILD, especially when chemotherapy-induced pulmonary toxicity is administered in a short time interval.
authors.forename: María Esperanza
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Ruiz
authors.forename: Estefanía
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arévalo
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gil-Bazo
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olarte García
authors.forename: German
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valtueña
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreno-Jiménez
authors.forename: Leire
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arbea-Moreno
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aristu
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008478:Mediastinal Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014523:Urethral Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology