313. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2002 Jan 1;52(1):58-67.
The time course of radiation therapy-induced reductions in regional perfusion: a
prospective study with >5 years of follow-up.
Woel RT(1), Munley MT, Hollis D, Fan M, Bentel G, Anscher MS, Shafman T, Coleman
RE, Jaszczak RJ, Marks LB.
Author information:
(1)Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
27710, USA.
PURPOSE: To assess the time-dependence of radiation therapy (RT)-induced
reductions in regional lung perfusion, as measured by single photon emission
computed tomography (SPECT) lung perfusion scans.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1991 and 1999, 79 patients had SPECT lung
perfusion scans before and serially after RT. Changes in regional perfusion were
correlated with regional dose using 3D planning tools and image fusion
(PLUNC-Plan UNC). Multiple post-RT follow-up scans were evaluated to determine
the temporal nature of RT-induced regional perfusion changes. To facilitate the
comparison of dose-response curves (DRCs) at different post-RT intervals, each
DRC was fit to a linear model and thus described by its slope.
RESULTS: There was a dose-dependent reduction in regional perfusion at nearly all
time points post-RT (p = 0.0001). The slope of the DRCs for RT-induced reductions
in regional perfusion became steeper at essentially each successive follow-up
interval (p = 0.0001). However, the increases in slope became progressively
smaller at later follow-up intervals. Overall, about 80% of the long-term
RT-induced regional perfusion injury was manifest within 12 months post-RT.
CONCLUSION: There is a progression of RT-induced reductions in regional
perfusion, with most of this injury manifest within 12 months post-RT. Additional
regional injury appears to evolve for years.
PMID: 11777622 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]