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Luis Lopez Guerra, J., Gomez, D., Zhuang, Y., Levy, L.B., Eapen, G., Liu, H., et al. (2012) Change in Diffusing Capacity after Radiation as an Objective Measure for Grading Radiation Pneumonitis in Patients Treated for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics, 83, 1573-1579.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2011.10.065

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Correlation between the Changes in Lung Function and Lung Density Changes in Patients Following Radio- (Chemo-) Therapy for Thoracic Carcinomas

  AUTHORS: Christina Schroeder, Rita Engenhart-Cabillic, Sven Kirschner, Eyck Blank, André Buchali

  KEYWORDS: Lung, Thoracic Neoplasms, Radiation Injuries, Pulmonary Fibrosis, Lung Function

  JOURNAL NAME: Journal of Cancer Therapy, Vol.10 No.3, March 22, 2019

  ABSTRACT: Purpose: In this analysis we focused on the correlation of patients’ lung function (PFT) data and lung density changes (ΔHU) detected in follow-up CTs. Material and Methods: PFT and lung function data were available for 58 patients 12 weeks and 47 patients 6 months after radio- (chemo-) therapy for thoracic carcinomas (NSCLC, SCLC and esophageal carcinoma). The follow-up CT scans were matched with the planning CT scans of each patient and then subtracted to calculate ΔHU for each voxel using customized research software. PFT data regarding e.g. vital capacity (VC), total lung capacity (TLC) and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) were collected before and at several follow-up appointments after treatment. Results: 12 weeks after therapy there was a statistically significant correlation between difference in DLCO and the maximum ΔHU as well as the difference in TLC and the minimum ΔHU. 6 months after treatment there was a significant correlation between the difference in VC and DLCO with numerous lung density parameters, e.g. the mean and median lung density changes and the 75th percentile of ΔHU. There was no significant correlation between the PFT parameters FEV1, pCO2 and pO2 and any lung density parameter at any follow-up appointment. Conclusion: There is a significant correlation between DLCO and ΔHU 6 months after treatment that most likely reflects the underlying pathological mechanisms in terms of the development of fibrotic lung tissue after RT. The relevance of the significant correlations 12 weeks after RT is questionable.