MICROSCOPIC DISEASE EXTENSION IN THREE DIMENSIONS FOR NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG CANCER: DEVELOPMENT OF A PREDICTION MODEL USING PATHOLOGY-VALIDATED POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FEATURES

Judith van Loon*, Christian Siedschlag, Joep Stroom, Hans Blauwgeers, Robert-Jan van Suylen, Joost Knegjens, Maddalena Rossi, Angela van Baardwijk, Liesbeth Boersma, Houke Klomp, Wouter Vogel, Sjaak Burgers, Kenneth Gilhuijs

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: One major uncertainty in radiotherapy planning of non-small-cell lung cancer concerns the definition of the clinical target volume (CTV), meant to cover potential microscopic disease extension (MDE) around the macroscopically visible tumor. The primary aim of this study was to establish pretreatment risk factors for the presence of MDE. The secondary aim was to establish the impact of these factors on the accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) to assess the total tumor-bearing region at pathologic examination (CTVpath). Methods and Materials: 34 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent CT and PET before lobectomy were included. Specimens were examined microscopically for MDE. The gross tumor volume (GTV) on CT and PET (GTV(CT) and GTV(PET), respectively) was compared with the GTV and the CTV at pathologic examination, tissue deformations being taken into account. Using multivariate logistic regression, image-based risk factors for the presence of MDE were identified, and a prediction model was developed based on these factors. Results: MDE was found in 17 of 34 patients (50%). The MDE did not exceed 26 mm in 90% of patients. In multivariate analysis, two parameters (mean CT tumor density and GTV(CT)) were significantly associated with MDE. The area under the curve of the two-parameter prediction model was 0.86. Thirteen tumors (38%, 95% CI: 24-55%) were identified as low risk for MDE, being potential candidates for reduced-intensity therapy around the GTV. In the low-risk group, the effective diameter of the GTV(CT/PET) accurately represented the CTVpath. In the high-risk group, GTV(CT/PET) underestimated the CTVpath with, on average, 19.2 and 26.7 mm, respectively. Conclusions: CT features have potential to predict the presence of MDE. Tumors identified as low risk of MDE show lower rates of disease around the GTV than do high-risk tumors. Both CT and PET accurately visualize the CTVpath in low-risk tumors but underestimate it in high-risk tumors.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)448-456
JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics
Volume82
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2012

Keywords

  • Non-small-cell lung cancer
  • Clinical target volume margins
  • Pathology validation
  • Target definition

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