Dose-volume histogram analysis as predictor of radiation pneumonitis in primary lung cancer patients treated with radiotherapy

Purpose: To determine the relationship between various parameters derived from lung dose-volume histogram analysis and the risk of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients undergoing radical radiotherapy for primary lung cancer. Methods and Materials: The records of 156 patients with lung cancer who had been treated with radical radiotherapy (>= 45 Gy) and for whom dose-volume histogram data were available were reviewed. The incidence of symptomatic RP was correlated with a variety of parameters derived from the dose-volume histogram data, including the volume of lung receiving 10 Gy (V-10) through 50 Gy (V-50) and the mean lung dose (MLD). Results: The rate of RP at 6 months was 15% (95% confidence interval 9-22%). On univariate analysis, only V-30 (p = 0.036) and MLD (p = 0.043) were statistically significantly related to RP. V-30 correlated highly positively with MLD (r = 0.96, p < 0.001). Conclusion: V-30 and MLD can be used to predict the risk of RP in lung cancer patients undergoing radical radiotherapy. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc.