Role of functional mapping on Gallium-68 perfusion positron emission tomography and computed tomographic imaging (PET/CT) to assess the risk of long-term radiation-induced lung toxicity after stereotactic body radiation therapy

Background and purpose

To compare the performance of anatomic and functional dosimetric parameters based on Gallium-68 lung perfusion positron emission tomography and computed tomographic imaging (PET/CT) imaging to predict the risk of symptomatic long-term radiation-induced lung toxicity (RILT) in patients with lung tumors treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Materials and methods

We have performed a prospective study in patients treated with SBRT. Mean dose (MD) and volumes receiving xGy were calculated in five lung volumes: the conventional anatomical volume (AV) delineated on CT images, three lung functional volumes defined on lung perfusion PET imaging (FV50%, FV70%, FV90%, i.e. the minimal volume containing 50 %, 70 % and 90 % of the total activity within the AV), and a low functional volume (LFV = AV-FV90%). The primary endpoint of this analysis was grade ≥2 long-term RILT at 12 months as assessed with NCI CTCAE v.5. The predictive value of anatomical and functional dose volume parameters was evaluated by comparing patients with and without long-term RILT.

Results

Out of the 59 patients included, 50 were still alive at 12 months and 9 (18 %) had grade ≥2 long-term RILT. The MD and the VxGy in the AV and LFV were not statistically different in patients with and without long-term RILT (p > 0.05). All functional parameters in FV50% and FV70% were significantly higher in long-term RILT patients (p < 0.05).

Discussion

The predictive value of PET perfusion-based functional parameters outperforms the standard CT-based dose-volume parameters for the risk of grade ≥2 long-term RILT.