Brief Report on Radiological Changes following Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) for Early-Stage Lung Tumors: A Pictorial Essay

Abstract

Distinctive patterns of early and late benign fibrosis are commonly observed after stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for lung malignancies. These changes on computed tomography scans need to be distinguished from so-called high-risk radiological features, which can be associated with a higher risk for tumor recurrence. This pictorial report illustrates the different radiological changes seen after stereotactic ablative radiotherapy delivered by using volumetric modulated radiotherapy, a technique that is being increasingly used in clinical care.

Keywords: CT scan; Early-stage lung cancer; High-risk; Radiation fibrosis; Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy; radiological features.