Framework for radiation pneumonitis risk stratification based on anatomic and perfused lung dosimetry

Abstract

Purpose

To design and apply a framework for predicting symptomatic radiation pneumonitis in patients undergoing thoracic radiation, using both pretreatment anatomic and perfused lung dose–volume parameters.

Materials and methods

Radiation treatment planning CT scans were coregistered with pretreatment [^99mTc]MAA perfusion SPECT/CT scans of 20 patients who underwent definitive thoracic radiation. Clinical radiation pneumonitis was defined as grade ≥ 2 (CTCAE v4 grading system). Anatomic lung dose–volume parameters were collected from the treatment planning scans. Perfusion dose–volume parameters were calculated from pretreatment SPECT/CT scans. Equivalent doses in 2 Gy per fraction were calculated in the lung to account for differences in treatment regimens and spatial variations in lung dose (EQD2_lung).

Results

Anatomic lung dosimetric parameters (MLD) and functional lung dosimetric parameters (pMLD_70%) were identified as candidate predictors of grade ≥ 2 radiation pneumonitis (AUC > 0.93, p < 0.01). Pairing of an anatomic and functional dosimetric parameter (e. g., MLD and pMLD_70%) may further improve prediction accuracy. Not all individuals with high anatomic lung dose (MLD > 13.6 GyEQD2_lung, 19.3 Gy for patients receiving 60 Gy in 30 fractions) developed radiation pneumonitis, but all individuals who also had high mean dose to perfused lung (pMLD_70% > 13.3 GyEQD2) developed radiation pneumonitis.

Conclusions

The preliminary application of this framework revealed differences between anatomic and perfused lung dosimetry in this limited patient cohort. The addition of perfused lung parameters may help risk stratify patients for radiation pneumonitis, especially in treatment plans with high anatomic mean lung dose. Further investigations are warranted.

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