Learning objectives
This poster aims to enhance the radiologist’s ability to accurately interpret post-radiation imaging findings of the thorax. A thorough understanding of modern radiation delivery techniques, the timing of the last treatment session, the administered radiation dose, and the targeted treatment field is essential. This knowledge is crucial in differentiating expected radiation-induced changes from complications such as infection or tumor progression.
Background
Radiation therapy is a key treatment modality for intrathoracic malignancies, including lung, breast, and esophageal cancers, as well as malignant pleural mesothelioma, lymphoma, and thymic tumors. It can be administered with curative intent, either alone or in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy, to eliminate the primary malignancy. Additionally, it is used for managing more advanced disease stages, including locoregional spread and distant oligometastases, aiming to extend survival or alleviate symptoms of metastatic lesions. When radiation therapy is intended as a curative approach, the primary objective is...
Findings and procedure details
Histologically, the lungs respond to radiation therapy with an inflammatory reaction, initially presenting as diffuse alveolar damage within the treated area. This acute exudative injury triggers a subsequent organizing or proliferative phase, possibly leading to scarring or fibrosis. The completion date of radiation therapy is typically used as a reference point for tracking these tissue changes.The early, acute exudative phase usually emerges around 4 to 12 weeks after radiation therapy ends. If the radiation-induced damage is mild, alveolar structures generally recover within this timeframe, restoring...
Conclusion
Radiation therapy is an important modality in the treatment of patients with malignant chest neoplasms. To correctly interpret the imaging study findings, radiologists need to be familiar with modern radiation delivery technologies, as well as the radiation-induced imaging findings that can be seen in the lungs, mediastinum, and chest wall.
Personal information and conflict of interest
I. Kızıldağ Yırgın:
Nothing to disclose
M. Durmaz:
Nothing to disclose
I. Bunul:
Nothing to disclose
H. Aydin:
Nothing to disclose
A. Tunacı:
Nothing to disclose
S. M. Ertürk:
Nothing to disclose
References
1-Benveniste, Marcelo F et al. “Recognizing Radiation Therapy-related Complications in the Chest.”Radiographics : a review publication of the Radiological Society of North America, Inc vol. 39,2 (2019): 344-366.2- Chang JY, Cox JD. Improving radiation conformality in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Semin RadiatOncol 2010;20(3):171–177.3-Davis SD, Yankelevitz DF, Henschke CI. Radiation effects on the lung: clinical features, pathology, and imaging findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1992;159(6):1157–1164.4-Choi YW, Munden RF, Erasmus JJ, et al. Effects of radiation therapy on the lung: radiologic appearances and differential...