A pictorial essay on radiological changes after stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung tumors

Jpn J Radiol. 2022 Jul;40(7):647-663. doi: 10.1007/s11604-022-01252-7. Epub 2022 Feb 20.

Abstract

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a frequently used modality for the treatment of early stage non-small cell lung cancer and oligometastatic disease of the lung. The radiological changes observed in the lung after SBRT are likely to differ from those observed after conventional thoracic radiation therapy, primarily due to the small size of the target volume and highly conformal dose distributions with steep dose gradients from the target to surrounding normal lung tissues used in SBRT. Knowledge of the radiological changes that can occur after SBRT is required to correctly diagnose local failure. Herein, I report several radiological changes specific to SBRT that have been observed.

Keywords: Lung cancer; Radiation pneumonitis; Radiological changes; Stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Radiosurgery*