Article
Side effects of hypofractionated extracranial stereotactic radiotherapy (ESRT) of malignant tumours of the lung
Search Medline for
Authors
Published: | March 20, 2006 |
---|
Outline
Text
Aim: To control acute and late side effects following hypofractionated ESRT of primary and secondary malignant tumours of the lung.
Material and method: From December 2000 to September 2004, 76 Pat. with malignant tumours of the lung were treated with ESRT: 54 pat. with definite curative ESRT due to stage I NSCLC (primary or secondary cancer), and 22 pat. with single lung metastases (definition of target volume with CT-scan in lung window and FDG-PET; 3-5 fractions within 1 week; median total dose 37,5 (24–40) Gy; PTV-surrounding 60 %-isodose). All pat. were in regular and close follow-up (median follow-up 23 (9–46) months) with clinical examinations, lung function and blood tests, CT-scans every 3-6 months.
Results: Acute side effects (CTC-score) were seen in 41.8 % of the pat., but were mild in general: pneumonitis I° in 12 (18 %), pneumonitis II° in 7 (11 %), mild fatigue in 12 (18 %), nausea I-II° 2 (3 %), mild chills in 2 (3 %), and dermatitis I° in 3 (5 %) pats.. Late sequelae were mild, too: pneumonitis/lung fibrosis I° in 8 (12 %), pneumonitis/lung fibrosis II° in 11 (16 %), pneumonitis/lung fibrosis III° in 1 (1,5 %), rib fractures in 3 (5 %), and benign pleural effusion in 2 (3 %) pats..
Conclusion: ESRT is feasible without severe side effects in pats. with functional non-resectable NSCLC and single lung metastases.