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Clinical and dosimetric predictors of radiation-induced esophageal toxicity
- Source :
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics. 45:97-103
- Publication Year :
- 1999
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 1999.
-
Abstract
- Purpose: To evaluate the incidence, severity, and clinical/dosimetric predictors of acute and chronic esophageal toxicities in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with high-dose conformal thoracic radiation. Methods and Materials: Ninety-one patients with localized NSCLC treated definitively with high-dose conformal radiation therapy (RT) at Duke University Medical Center (DUMC) were reviewed. Patient characteristics were as follows: 53 males and 38 females; median age 64 yr (range 46–82); stage I—16, II—3, IIIa—40, IIIb—30, X—2; dysphagia pre-RT—6 (7%). Treatment parameters included: median corrected dose—78.8 Gy (range 64.2–85.6); BID fractionation—58 (64%); chemotherapy—43 (47%). Acute and late esophageal toxicities were graded by RTOG criteria. Using 3D treatment planning tools, the esophagus was contoured in a uniform fashion, the 3D dose distribution calculated (with lung density correction), and the dose–volume (DVH) and dose–surface histograms (DSH) generated. At each axial level, the percentage of the esophageal circumference at each dose level was calculated. The length of circumferential esophagus and the maximum circumference treated to doses >50 Gy were assessed. Patient and treatment factors were correlated with acute and chronic esophageal dysfunction using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: There were no acute or late grade 4 or 5 esophageal toxicities. Ten of 91 patients (11%) developed grade 3 acute toxicity. On univariate analysis of clinical parameters, both dysphagia pre-RT ( p = 0.10) and BID fractionation ( p = 0.11) tended toward significantly predicting grade 3 acute esophagitis. None of the dosimetric parameters analyzed significantly predicted for grade 3 acute esophagitis. Twelve of 66 assessable patients (18%) developed late esophageal toxicity. Of the clinical parameters analyzed, only dysphagia pre-RT ( p = 0.06) tended toward significantly predicting late esophageal toxicity. On univariate analyses, the effects of percent organ volume treated >50 Gy ( p = 0.05), percent surface area treated >50 Gy ( p = 0.05), length of 100% circumference treated >50 Gy ( p = 0.04), and maximum percent of circumference treated >80 Gy ( p = 0.01) significantly predicted for late toxicity of all grades. On multivariate analysis, percent organ volume treated >50 Gy ( p = 0.02) and maximum percent of circumference treated >80 Gy ( p = 0.02) predicted for late toxicity. Conclusions: Late esophageal toxicity following aggressive, high-dose conformal radiotherapy is common but rarely severe. Dosimetric variables addressing the longitudinal and circumferential character of the esophagus have biologic rationale and are predictive of late toxicity. Further studies are needed to assess whether these parameters are better predictors than those derived from traditional DVHs.
- Subjects :
- Male
Cancer Research
medicine.medical_specialty
Dose-volume histogram
Lung Neoplasms
Esophageal Diseases
Gastroenterology
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Internal medicine
medicine
Esophagitis
Humans
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Esophagus
Radiation Injuries
Radiation treatment planning
Aged
Acute Esophagitis
Aged, 80 and over
Analysis of Variance
Univariate analysis
Radiation
business.industry
Incidence
Radiotherapy Dosage
Middle Aged
Dysphagia
Acute toxicity
medicine.anatomical_structure
Oncology
Acute Disease
Chronic Disease
Toxicity
Female
medicine.symptom
Deglutition Disorders
Nuclear medicine
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03603016
- Volume :
- 45
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....11bd36e835500305df16813ec7f9c346