IntroductionThis study investigated the clinical characteristics and predictive factors for developing acute extended radiation pneumonitis with a focus on the presence and radiological characteristics of preexisting interstitial lung disease.MethodsOf 1429 irradiations for lung cancer from May 2006 to August 2013, we reviewed 651 irradiations involving the lung field. The presence, compatibility with usual interstitial pneumonia, and occupying area of preexisting interstitial lung disease were retrospectively evaluated by pretreatment computed tomography. Cases of non-infectious, non-cardiogenic, acute respiratory failure with an extended bilateral shadow developing within 30 days after the last irradiation were defined as acute extended radiation pneumonitis.ResultsNine (1.4%) patients developed acute extended radiation pneumonitis a mean of 6.7 days after the last irradiation. Although preexisting interstitial lung disease was found in 13% of patients (84 patients), 78% of patients (7 patients) with acute extended radiation pneumonitis cases had preexisting interstitial lung disease, which resulted in incidences of acute extended radiation pneumonitis of 0.35 and 8.3% in patients without and with preexisting interstitial lung disease, respectively. Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that the presence of preexisting interstitial lung disease (odds ratio = 22.6; 95% confidence interval = 5.29–155; p < 0.001) and performance status (≥2; odds ratio = 4.22; 95% confidence interval = 1.06–20.8; p = 0.049) were significant predictive factors. Further analysis of the 84 patients with preexisting interstitial lung disease revealed that involvement of more than 10% of the lung field was the only independent predictive factor associated with the risk of acute extended radiation pneumonitis (odds ratio = 6.14; 95% confidence interval = 1.0–37.4); p = 0.038).ConclusionsPretreatment computed tomography evaluations of the presence of and area size occupied by preexisting interstitial lung disease should be assessed for safer irradiation of areas involving the lung field.

BackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables a more sensitive detection of brain metastasis and stereotactic irradiation (SRI) efficiently controls brain metastasis. In limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC), prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in patients with good responses to initial treatment is recommended based on the survival benefit shown in previous clinical trials. However, none of these trials evaluated PCI effects using the management of brain metastasis with MRI or SRI. This study aimed to determine the effects of MRI and SRI on the benefits of PCI in patients with LS-SCLC.MethodsThe clinical records of pathologically proven SCLC from January 2006 to June 2013 in facilities equipped with or had access to SRI in Japan were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with LS-SCLC and complete or good partial responses after initial treatment were included in the study and analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method.ResultsOf 418 patients with SCLC, 124 met criteria and were divided into patients receiving PCI (PCI group; n = 29) and those without PCI (non-PCI groups; n = 95). At baseline, ratios of patients with stage III were significantly advantageous for the non-PCI group, although younger age and high ratios of complete response and MRI confirmed absence of brain metastasis were advantageous for the PCI group. Neither median survival times (25 vs. 34 months; p = 0.256) nor cumulative incidence of brain metastasis during 2 years (45.5 vs. 30.8 %; p = 0.313) significantly differed between the two groups. Moreover, these factors did not significantly differ among patients with stage III disease (25 vs. 26 months; p = 0.680, 42.3 vs. 52.3 %; p = 0.458, respectively).ConclusionPCI may be less beneficial in patients with LS-SCLC if the management with MRI and SRI is available.

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