病例为基础的局部晚期NSCLC靶区勾画共识与争议

目的 分析局部晚期NSCLC靶区勾画中的专家共识与争议。方法 调查国内12家单位对NSCLC靶区勾画相关15个问题意见。由复旦大学附属肿瘤医院选择1份局部晚期NSCLC病例,将定位CT图像和病史资料发送至12家单位,各单位自行组织讨论并委派1位医师在第六届肿瘤精准放化疗暨肺癌多学科高峰论坛上主讲对该病例靶区勾画情况及理论认识,参会专家共同讨论。结果 12家单位全部填写问卷并按时发回。肺癌靶区勾画标准肺窗的窗宽/窗位为800~1600/-600~-750 HU,纵隔窗为350~400/20~40 HU。呼吸动度的测量:经验外扩2~5 mm、模拟定位机测定、四维CT测定、模拟定位机+四维CT测定。GTV外扩CTV距离:原发灶鳞癌5~6 mm、腺癌5~8 mm;纵隔淋巴结转移灶6家单位采用5 mm,6家单位采用同原发病灶一致距离。摆位误差:10家单位5 mm、1家单位3 mm、1家单位4~6 mm。双肺V₂₀限定:10家单位<30%、1家单位<35%、1家单位<28%。局部晚期NSCLC同步放化疗放疗剂量:9家单位60 Gy分30次、1家单位62.7 Gy分33次、1家单位50~60 Gy分25~30次、1家单位60~70 Gy分25~30次。肺内原发病灶靶区勾画:3家GTV→IGTV→PTV、8家GTV→CTV→ITV→PTV、1家GTV→CTV→PTV或GTV→IGTV→CTV→PTV;纵隔淋巴结转移灶靶区勾画:3家GTV→IGTV→PTV、8家GTV→CTV→ITV→PTV、1家GTV→CTV→PTV。放疗过程中10%~100%患者需要改野,38~50 Gy时改野合适。关于PET-CT定位及靶区勾画SUV值尚无统一标准,7家单位已开展MRI定位,10家单位已开展了SBRT治疗早期NSCLC。早期NSCLC (T_1-2N₀M₀)的SBRT靶区勾画:5家单位GTV→IGTV→PTV、3家单位IGTV→PTV、2家单位GTV→CTV→ITV→PTV。周围型早期NSCLC分割6.0~12.5 Gy/次,3~12次;中央型早期NSCLC分割4.6~10.0 Gy/次,5~10次。靶区勾画讨论结果:肺癌靶区勾画目前应采用4DCT或模拟机测定呼吸动度;勾画肺癌靶区时CT肺窗的窗宽/窗位为1600/-600 HU,纵隔窗为400/20 HU;争议主要是纵隔转移淋巴结CTV_nd为累及野照射还是选择性淋巴结预防照射。结论 对局部晚期NSCLC靶区勾画的CT的窗宽、窗位,呼吸运动和摆位误差测量、原发灶靶区勾画方法、同步放化疗放疗剂量及改野时机均已基本达成共识。主要争议和尚未达成共识的是PET-CT定位勾画靶区时显示病灶的最佳SUV值、SBRT治疗早期NSCLC最佳剂量分割模式、CTV_nd的勾画。     

非小细胞肺癌三维适形放疗的靶区确定

三维适形放疗(3DCRT)能够提高治疗比,使非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)局部控制率的提高成为可能.在三维适形放疗中靶区的确定是重要的一步.目前临床医师在CT图像上逐层勾画肿瘤体积(GTV),根据对肿瘤生物学的了解及临床经验在GTV外周加一定边界以包括亚临床浸润病灶构成临床靶体积(CTV),并根据肿瘤部位及患者具体情况,综合考虑呼吸动度、摆位误差等不确定因素在CTV外加0.5 cm～2 cm的边界构成计划靶体积(PTV).CTV、PTV的范围尚无统一标准.现综述靶区确定方面的研究动态.     

非小细胞肺癌三维适形放疗的靶区确定

三维适形放疗(3DCRT)能够提高治疗比，使非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)局部控制率的提高成为可能。在三维适形放疗中靶区的确定是重要的一步。目前临床医师在CT图像上逐层勾画肿瘤体积(GTV)，根据对肿瘤生物学的了解及临床经验在GTV外周加一定边界以包括亚，临床浸润病灶构成临床靶体积(CTV)，并根据肿瘤部位及患者具体情况，综合考虑呼吸动度、摆位误差等不确定因素在CTV外加0．5cm～2cm的边界构成计划靶体积(PTV)。CTV、PTV的范围尚无统一标准。现综述靶区确定方面的研究动态。     

放疗医生评估放疗计划中国专家共识

放疗计划评估是放疗医生临床实践中的重要环节,为了确保放疗效果,本专家委员会制定了包含9个核心部分的共识。(1)核对：包括定位图像名字、时间、部位以及照射部位的左右侧等。核对定位扫描图像完整性,包括肿瘤和危及器官(OAR)。(2)肿瘤靶区和OAR勾画：检查肿瘤靶区命名标准化,检查肿瘤靶区和OAR勾画是否在合适的窗宽、窗位下进行;肿瘤区(GTV)勾画是否充分结合多模态影像勾画;临床靶区(CTV)是否按照解剖屏障进行修回;是否考虑肿瘤运动而设定内靶区,并确认内靶区外放是否与相应的呼吸管理模式相匹配;计划靶区(PTV)外放是否根据相应肿瘤中心的设备精度、人员技术水平、图像引导放疗方式进行综合考虑;是否在水平面、矢状面和冠状面全面审核靶区和OAR勾画的准确性和完整性。(3)射野设置和入射角度：照射技术、入射角度及数量的选择是否合理,射野或者拉弧的数量是否考虑对于治疗时间的影响。(4)剂量覆盖：是否在CT图像的水平面、矢状面、冠状面逐层评估三维剂量分布,处方剂量覆盖不到的PTV区域,甚至CTV或GTV是否是肿瘤容易复发的部位,处方剂量包绕的PTV之外的区域是否落在重要OAR上。(5)剂量冷热：PT...     

肝细胞癌放疗靶区勾画的研究进展

CT、MRI、PET-CT等现代影像学设备使肝细胞癌GTV的精确勾画成为可能,通过比较术后病理亚临床病灶、影像及临床指标等有助于CTV精确勾画,放疗辅助技术(如4DCT、腹部压迫、自主呼吸控制和呼吸门控等)可缩小ITV。真空袋和体膜固定可减小摆位误差,减小PTV和避免或减少照射误差。通过这些方法使肝细胞癌放射治疗的靶区缩小、剂量提升和并发症降低得以实现。本文就肝细胞癌外照射放射治疗靶区的研究进展作一综述。     

18FDG PET-CT双时相显像在非小细胞肺癌肺门纵隔淋巴结累及野放疗靶区勾画中的价值

目的 探讨18FDG PET-CT双时相显像在非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)肺门纵隔淋巴结累及野放疗靶区勾画中的价值.方法 选取行手术治疗的NSCLC患者54例,术前3～5 d内行18FDG PET.CT常规全身显像和胸部延迟显像,以术后病理诊断结果为标准,比较根据常规显像和双时相显像结果勾画的淋巴结累及野放疗靶区的不同.结果 肺门淋巴结靶区39%患者GTV常规与GTV病理一致,57%患者GTV双时相与GTV病理一致;AGTV1(GTV常规-GTV病理)=32.64 cm3,AGTV2(GTV双时相-GTV病理)=22.57 cm3,后者比前者变化少(u=519.00,P=0.023).纵隔淋巴结靶区56%患者GTV常规与GTV病理一致,67%患者GTV双时相与GTV病理一致;ΔGTV1=22.85 cm3,ΔGTV2=20.95 cm3,后者与前者变化相似(u=397.50,P=0.616).结论 根据18FDG PET-CT双时相显像结果勾画的NSCLC肺门纵隔转移性淋巴结靶区更接近于根据病理结果勾画的靶区,双时相显像较常规显像能更好地指导淋巴结累及野靶区的勾画.     

山东省肿瘤医院非小细胞肺癌放疗靶区勾画的研究

随着精确放疗技术在非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)中的广泛临床应用,靶区的精确勾画和精确投照已成为影响放疗进展的瓶颈.ICRU 50号和62号报告明确规定了GTV、CTV、ITV和PTV的概念.这些概念在放疗计划特别是3DCRT及IM-RT中得到了广泛认可和应用.2000年美国纪念癌症中心Ling教授又提出生物靶区(BTV)概念.针对NSCLC放疗靶区勾画问题,结合笔者医院研究工作和相关文献归结如下.     

非小细胞肺癌三维适形放疗放射性肺炎发生的多因素分析

目的:探讨放射性肺炎发生相关的临床及剂量体积因素,指导非小细胞肺癌放疗计划的制定,减少放射性肺损伤的发生.方法:回顾性分析2004年3月～2007年12月在河北医科大学第四医院放疗科接受累及野照射的三维适形放疗局部晚期非小细胞肺癌115例.在肺窗条件下勾画大体肿瘤体积GTV1和纵隔窗条件下短径≥10mm的淋巴结GTV2.临床靶体积(CTV)为GTV1外放8mm,及肿大淋巴结累及区.计划靶区(PTV)为CTV外放5～10mm.6MV-X线照射,1.8～2.0Gy/次,5次/周,PTV剂量达50～70Gy,中位剂量60Gy.其中42例单纯放疗,73例放、化疗结合治疗.记录临床因素与剂量体积(DVH)参数及放疗结束3个月内发生的≥2级放射性肺炎.放射性肺炎采用RTOG急性放射性损伤分级标准.统计分析使用SPSS 13.0软件包.结果:33例发生2级及以上RP.发生率为28.7%.中位发生时间为2个月.单因素分析显示性别、是否合并基础肺疾病、全肺体积、V5、V10、D50、D75与RP发生相关,差异有统计学意义(P=0.013、0.020、0.024、0.006、0.016、0.014、0.044).多因素分析显示合并基础肺疾病及V5是放射性肺炎发生的独立危险因素(P=0.022、0.004).结论:DVH参数与放射性肺炎的发生相关,其中V5是预测RP的剂量学指标,在制定治疗计划时还应考虑患者是否合并基础肺疾病以减少RP发生.     

食管癌三维适形放疗中摆位误差对剂量学影响的研究

目的 测量食管癌患者三维适形放疗过程中的摆位误差,分析摆位误差对大体肿瘤体积(GTV)、临床靶体积(CTV)和周围正常组织受照剂量的影响,探讨计划靶体积(PTV)外放范围的合理性.方法 对42例食管癌患者用电子射野影像装置测量其摆位误差,每例患者接受摆位验证6次(1次/周).在治疗计划系统上模拟实际摆位误差,评价实际治疗过程中GTV、CTV和周围正常组织的受照剂量.结果 42例食管癌患者左右、前后、头脚方向摆位系统误差分别为-2.31、-0.55、-0.16mm,随机误差分别为4.42、4.35、4.48 mm.摆位误差使食管癌患者GTV 95%体积接受的剂量(D95)与原治疗计划相比降低了32 cGy,CTV D95降低了88 cGy.原计划和结合摆位误差计划的全肺接受20 Gy照射体积占全肺体积的百分比(V20)分别为22.49%和22.02%,心脏平均剂量分别为2077.62 cGy和2036.23 cGy.原计划中无一脊髓受量超过4500 cGy,结合摆位误差计划中18例脊髓最大剂量超过4500 cGy,其中1例最大剂量为5503.90 cGy.结论 摆位误差使GTV、CTV的受照剂量有所下降,双肺、心脏受照剂量未见明显变化,部分患者脊髓最大剂量超过耐受量.     

CT用于非小细胞肺癌靶区勾画的价值

目的　根据非小细胞肺癌 (NSCLC)患者术前CT勾画的靶区与术后病理指导勾画的靶区相比较 ,探讨CT在三维适形和调强放射治疗中确定靶区的价值和作用。方法　 33例经病理确诊的NSCLC患者均行术前CT检查 ,并且在CT片上勾画包括原发肿瘤和局部转移淋巴结在内的大体肿瘤靶区 (GTV)。原发灶的大体肿瘤靶区 (GTV T)在肺窗上勾画 ,肺门和纵隔转移淋巴结的大体肿瘤靶区 (GTV N)的在纵隔窗上勾画。淋巴结是否有侵犯是以短轴为标准 ,≥ 1cm视为异常 ,<1cm视为正常。手术切除原发肿瘤以及术前CT检查或术中疑为受侵的淋巴结。术后根据手术所见和病理结果在术前CT片上再次勾画GTV ,对两份GTV进行三维重建、体积计算并做分析和比较。结果　 33例GTV勾画对比中 ,2 4例 ( 72 .7% )无变化 ,3例 ( 9.1% )较术前缩小 ,6例 ( 18.2 % )较术前扩大。CT确定GTV地准确性为 72 .7%。结论　 81.8%的患者GTV可以完全包括原发肿瘤和局部转移的淋巴结 ,18.2 %的患者GTV未能完全包括原发肿瘤和局部转移的淋巴结。     

The delineation of target volumes for radiotherapy of lung cancer patients

Purpose

Differences in the delineation of the gross target volume (GTV) and planning target volume (PTV) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer are considerable. The focus of this work is on the analysis of observer-related reasons while controlling for other variables.

Methods

In three consecutive patients, eighteen physicians from fourteen different departments delineated the GTV and PTV in CT-slices using a detailed instruction for target delineation. Differences in the volumes, the delineated anatomic lymph node compartments and differences in every delineated pixel of the contoured volumes in the CT-slices (pixel-by-pixel-analysis) were evaluated for different groups: ten radiation oncologists from ten departments (ROs), four haematologic oncologists and chest physicians from four departments (HOs) and five radiation oncologists from one department (RO1D).

Results

Agreement (overlap ? 70% of the contoured pixels) for the GTV and PTV delineation was found in 16.3% and 23.7% (ROs), 30.4% and 38.6% (HOs) and 32.8% and 35.9% (RO1D), respectively.

Conclusion

A large interobserver variability in the PTV and much more in the GTV delineation were observed in spite of a detailed instruction for delineation. The variability was smallest for group ROID where due to repeated discussions and uniform teaching a better agreement was achieved.     

三种阈值下勾画非小细胞肺癌PET图像靶区及影响的研究

目的 比较不同阈值对18FDG PET-CT图像中非小细胞肺癌靶区勾画及放疗计划可能产生的影响.方法 选择CT图像上原发灶边界清楚的、呼吸动度≤5 mm的非小细胞肺癌8例,注射18FDG后1 h行PET扫描并以CT图像作衰减校正.以CT图像勾画的大体肿瘤体积(GTVCT)为标准,比较PET图像上用3种阈值条件[即肿瘤内最大像素值的42%(42%Imax(total))、本底平均像素值+肿瘤内最大像素值与本底平均像素值的差值的20%(Iback+20%Imax-back(max))和本底平均像素值+肿瘤内每层最大像素值与本底平均像素值的差值的20%(Iback+20%Imax-back(slice))]勾画的GTV(计为GTV42%、GTV20%max和GTV20%slice)与GTVCT差异及对GTVCT覆盖率的差异.以GTVCT、GTV42%、GTV20%max、GTV20%slice三维外放1 cm为计划靶体积,分别计为PTVCT、PTV42%、PTV20%max、PTV20%slice.对不同PTV设计三维适形放疗计划,并均给予靶区剂量66 Gy分33次6.6周完成.比较以不同PTV设计的计划中,PTVCT内接受＜95%处方剂量的体积(VPTV)及肺V20,并推算可能产生的TCP和肺NTCP的差异.结果 GTV42%、GTV20%max、GTV20%slice与GTVCT的中位体积差分别为-54.1%,-21.5%和5.3%,三者对GTVCT的覆盖率中位数分别为45.9%、78.0%和95.3%(F=57.50,P＜0.01).以不同PTV设计放疗计划时,PTV42%的中位VPTV为7.5%,由此可能导致TCP中位下降1%.PTV20%max和PTV20%slice的中位VPTV分别为1.3%和0.0%,其TCP与PTVCT的相似,与PTV42%的不同.三者的肺V20和肺NTCP与PTVCT的相似.结论 层面化阈值条件Iback+20%Imax-back(slice)可能是PET图像用于肺癌靶区勾画的较准确阈值,该阈值不依赖于预先由CT提供的肿瘤体积信息,可望用于伴有肺不张的非小细胞肺癌的靶区勾画.     

PET/CT下非小细胞肺癌三维适形放疗中肿瘤退缩及对治疗计划参数的影响

目的:观察PET/CT下非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)三维适形放疗(3D-CRT)中肿瘤退缩对靶区周围危及器官治疗计划参数的影响.方法:分析在PET/CT定位下行根治性3D-CRT的NSCLC患者55例,根据PET/CT融合图像勾画初始肿瘤放疗靶区,给予根治剂量处方量60~66 Gy/30~33 f 制定3D-CRT计划;放疗20次40 Gy时根据肿瘤退缩情况重新CT定位勾画靶区,修改照射野后重新制定放疗计划完成治疗.比较两次定位影像上GTV的体积VGTV(cm3)、PTV的体积VPTV(cm3) 差异;并对初始放疗计划和实际完成的计划靶区周围危及器官的剂量分布进行比较.结果:55例NSCLC患者中,除1例GTV体积增大(1.77cm3,4%)外,其余54例GTV体积均有不同程度缩小(6%~67%),差异有统计学意义(t=6.635,P=0.000).相应的,除1例PTV体积增大(17.13cm3,8%)外,其余54例PTV体积均有不同程度缩小(3%~59%),差异有统计学意义(t=8.045,P=0.000).两种计划参数VGTV、VPTV、VL20、VR20、SCM、MSD、MLD、MRD、MHD、ESM差异有统计学意义(P=0.000、0.000、0.000、0.000、0.001、0.000、0.000、0.000、0.002、0.031).结论:在NSCLC放疗过程中,肿瘤体积发生明显变化,而根据肿瘤退缩情况适时缩野、重新制定放疗计划,可显著降低肺及脊髓的受照射剂量,为提高靶区剂量、优化放疗计划提供了可能.     

Clinical variability of target volume description in conformal radiotherapy planning

Purpose: The pivotal step in radiation planning is delineation of the target volume and production of a treatment plan to encompass this. This study assesses the variation of physicians in creation of these volumes.Methods and Materials: Three radiologists and eight radiation oncologists outlined the gross tumour volume (GTV) on the planning CT scans of four cases with T3 bladder cancer. In addition, the radiation oncologists (RO) created a planning target volume according to a set protocol for all cases. Volumes were produced and comparison of these volumes and the position of the isocenters were analysed. In addition, the margins allowed were measured and compared.Results: There was a maximum variation ratio (largest to smallest volume outlined) of the GTV in the four cases of 1.74 among radiologists and 3.74 among oncologists. There was a significant difference (p = 0.01) in mean GTV between RO and the radiologists. The mean GTV of the RO exceeded the radiologists by a factor of 1.29 with a mean difference of 13.4 cm³. The variation ratio in PTV among oncologists ranged from 1.25 to 3.33. There was no significant difference in mean PTV values between the two groups of ROs divided by specialization in uro-oncology. The mean variation in location of the isocenter from the centroid of the radiologists’ volume in the four cases was from 2.6 to 5.7 mm. There was, however, a wide range of values from 1.4 mm to 24.1 mm. Median margin per case ranged from 14.7 to 18.7 mm. Minimum margins allowed in each case varied from minus 7 mm to 9 mm.Conclusion: This study demonstrates significant interphysician variability in producing target volumes and radiation plans for conformal radiotherapy. The scale of this difference is clearly of significance, with up to 3-fold variation in volumes delineated by clinicians. The factors leading to these differences will be further addressed. The existence of such variability, however, clearly needs to be accepted as a factor in the overall uncertainty analysis in conformal radiotherapy planning.     

Conformal radiotherapy for lung cancer: different delineation of the gross tumor volume (GTV) by radiologists and radiation oncologists.

PURPOSE: Delineation of the gross tumor volume (GTV) and organs at risk constitutes one of the most important phases of conformal radiotherapy (CRT) procedures. In the absence of a clear redefinition of the GTV, for a given pathology, complemented by detailed contouring procedures, the GTV are likely to be estimated rather arbitrarily with the risk of tumor underdosage or detriment to the surrounding healthy tissues. The objective of this study was to compare the delineation of the GTV of intrathoracic tumors by radiologists and radiation oncologists with experience in the field in various centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The computed tomography images of ten patients with nonoperated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) eligible for CRT were reviewed. Nine radiologists and eight radiation oncologists working in five different centers, classified as either 'junior' or 'senior' according to their professional experience, had to delineate the GTV (primary tumor and involved lymph nodes) with predefined visualization parameters. A dedicated software was used to compare the delineated volumes in terms of intersection and union volumes and to calculate the 'concordance index' for each patient and each subgroup of physicians. RESULTS: Significant differences between physicians and between centers were observed. Compared to radiation oncologists, radiologists tended to delineate smaller volumes and encountered fewer difficulties to delineate 'difficult' cases. Junior physicians, regardless of their specialty, also tended to delineate smaller and more homogeneous volumes than senior physicians, especially for 'difficult' cases. CONCLUSIONS: Major discordances were observed between the radiation oncologists' and the radiologists' delineations, indicating that this step needs to be improved. A better training of radiation oncologists in thoracic imaging and collaboration between radiation oncologists and radiologists should decrease this variability. New imaging techniques (image fusion, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging spectroscopy, etc.) may also provide a useful contribution to this difficult delineation.     

Impact of geometrical uncertainties on 3D CRT and IMRT dose distributions for lung cancer treatment

PURPOSE: To quantify the effect of set-up errors and respiratory motion on dose distributions for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Irradiations of 5 NSCLC patients were planned with 3 techniques, two (conformal radiation therapy (CRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT1)) with a homogeneous dose in the planning target volume (PTV) and a third (IMRT2) with dose heterogeneity. Set-up errors were simulated for gross target volume (GTV) and organs at risk (OARs). For the GTV, the respiration was also simulated with a periodical motion around a varying average. Two configurations were studied for the breathing motion, to describe the situations of free-breathing (FB) and respiration-correlated (RC) CT scans, each with 2 amplitudes (5 and 10 mm), thus resulting in 4 scenarios (FB_5, FB_10, RC_5 and RC_10). Five thousand treatment courses were simulated, producing probability distributions for the dosimetric parameters. RESULTS: For CRT and IMRT1, RC_5, RC_10 and FB_5 were associated with a small degradation of the GTV coverage. IMRT2 with FB_10 showed the largest deterioration of the GTV dosimetric indices, reaching 7% for Dmin at the 95% probability level. Removing the systematic error due to the periodic breathing motion was advantageous for a 10 mm respiration amplitude. The estimated probability of radiation pneumonitis and acute complication for the esophagus showed limited sensitivity to geometrical uncertainties. Dmax in the spinal cord and the parameters predicting the risk of late esophageal toxicity were associated to a probability up to 50% of violating the dose tolerances. CONCLUSIONS: Simulating the effect of geometrical uncertainties on the individual patient plan should become part of the standard pre-treatment verification procedure.     

早期非小细胞肺癌不同放疗技术的剂量学差异分析

目的 比较早期周围型NSCLC不同放疗技术的剂量学差异,探讨合适治疗手段。方法 对2014-2015年间收治的5例病理确诊的T₁、T₂期周围型NSCLC行4DCT定位,勾画靶区和OAR。靶区包括GTV、ITV和PTV,ITV在最大密度投影图像上勾画,PTV=ITV+5 mm;OAR主要包括心脏、肺、食管、脊髓等。用Monaco 5.0 TPS进行计划设计,设计3种计划:(1)3DCRT:11个野,在患侧肺布野,射野形状与PTV适形,PTV外放0.2 cm边界;(2) SW-IMRT:9个野,布野方式同3DCRT;(3) VMAT:机架绕患侧肺旋转180°。计划评估标准参照RTOG0618。配对t检验差异。结果 3种计划PTV的D_2%、D_5%、D_98%、D_95%、D_50%、HI、CI和机器跳数中,SW-IMRT计划HI较3DCRT好(1.03∶1.24,P=0.017);3DCRT计划机器跳数平均值较VMAT减少24.5%(P=0.022);OAR剂量学参数中3DCRT计划的V₃₀、V₄₀较SW-IMRT和VMAT的分别降低29.4%、28.4%和56.7%、59.7%(P=0.003、0.006和P=0.041、0.019)。结论 早期NSCLC的放疗技术中3DCRT可能是较为合适的技术。     

F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography-Based Assessment of Local Failure Patterns in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Definitive Radiotherapy

PURPOSE: To assess the pattern of local failure using (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) scans after radiotherapy (RT) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with definitive RT whose gross tumor volumes (GTVs) were defined with the aid of pre-RT PET data. METHOD AND MATERIALS: The data from 26 patients treated with involved-field RT who had local failure and a post-RT PET scan were analyzed. The patterns of failure were visually scored and defined as follows: (1) within the GTV/planning target volume (PTV); (2) within the GTV, PTV, and outward; (3) within the PTV and outward; and (4) outside the PTV. Local failure was also evaluated as originating from nodal areas vs. the primary tumor. RESULTS: We analyzed 34 lesions. All 26 patients had recurrence originating from their primary tumor. Of the 34 lesions, 8 (24%) were in nodal areas, 5 of which (63%) were marginal or geographic misses compared with only 1 (4%) of the 26 primary recurrences (p = 0.001). Of the eight primary tumors that had received a dose of <60 Gy, six (75%) had failure within the GTV and two (25%) at the GTV margin. At doses of > or = 60 Gy, 6 (33%) of 18 had failure within the GTV and 11 (61%) at the GTV margin, and 1 (6%) was a marginal miss (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: At lower doses, the pattern of recurrences was mostly within the GTV, suggesting that the dose might have been a factor for tumor control. At greater doses, the treatment failures were mostly at the margin of the GTV. This suggests that visual incorporation of PET data for GTV delineation might be inadequate, and more sophisticated approaches of PET registration should be evaluated.