Functional lung imaging in thoracic tumor radiotherapy: Application and progress

Radiotherapy plays an irreplaceable and unique role in treating thoracic tumors, but the occurrence of radiation-induced lung injury has limited the increase in tumor target doses and has influenced patients' quality of life. However, the introduction of functional lung imaging has been incorporating functional lungs into radiotherapy planning. The design of the functional lung protection plan, while meeting the target dose requirements and dose limitations of the organs at risk (OARs), minimizes the radiation dose to the functional lung, thus reducing the occurrence of radiation-induced lung injury. In this manuscript, we mainly reviewed the lung ventilation or/and perfusion functional imaging modalities, application, and progress, as well as the results based on the functional lung protection planning in thoracic tumors. In addition, we also discussed the problems that should be explored and further studied in the practical application based on functional lung radiotherapy planning.

Automated summary

Radiotherapy plays a crucial role in thoracic tumor treatment, but radiation-induced lung injury limits the increase in target doses. The introduction of functional lung imaging allows for the design of a functional lung protection plan, reducing the impact of radiation on functional lung and decreasing the occurrence of radiation-induced lung injury.