Cureus | Limiting chest wall toxicity by adapting the dose schedule and dose constraints in SBRT for early-stage lung cancer

Limiting chest wall toxicity by adapting the dose schedule and dose constraints in SBRT for early-stage lung cancer


Abstract

Purpose

Chest wall (CW) toxicity (rib fracture and/or pain) is recognized complication of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of CW toxicity following SBRT and propose a new dosimetric parameter adapted to fractionation.

Materials and Methods

We reviewed the charts and SBRT plans from patients treated for T1-T2N0 peripheral NSCLC between 2009 and 2015. The CW structure was created through a 3 cm expansion of the lung. The median dose delivered to the planning target volume was 60 Gy. SBRT was delivered in 3 fractions for patients with CW V30 of less than 30cc. If the CW V30 exceeded 30cc, 5 fractions were used and the plan was optimized based on the CW V37 (considered biologically equivalent to the V30 of 3 fraction plans).

Results

In a cohort of 360 patients, 365 lesions were treated 301 in 3 fractions, 64 in 5 fractions. The median follow-up was 16 months. Twenty-five patients (7%) developed CW toxicity after a median time of 10 months following treatment.  The mean CW V30/V37 was 21cc for patients with CW toxicity and 17cc for patients without toxicity (p<0.05). The 2-year local control and the CW toxicity rates were similar in the 3 or 5 fractions group (97% vs. 96% and 7% vs. 6%).

Conclusion

This study confirms that CW V30/V37 is correlated to CW toxicity. When the CW V30 is greater than 30cc, delivering SBRT in 5 fractions with V37 optimization can limit CW toxicity.

Poster
non-peer-reviewed

Limiting chest wall toxicity by adapting the dose schedule and dose constraints in SBRT for early-stage lung cancer


Author Information

Raphaël Jumeau Corresponding Author

Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Édith Filion

Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Houda Bahig

Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Toni Vu

Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

Louise Lambert

Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM)

David Roberge

Radiation Oncology, University of Montréal Health Centre, Montréal, CAN

Robert Doucet

Radiation Oncology, CHUM

Marie-Pierre Campeau

Radiation Oncology, Centre hospitalier de l'université de Montréal (CHUM) - Hôpital Notre-Dame


PDF Share