Local failure after radical radiotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer in relation to the planning FDG-PET/CT

Figures & data

Figure 1. Selection of patients for analysis of tumor-site recurrence and LN-site recurrence.

Figure 2. Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients treated with curative radiotherapy (137 pts).

Table 1. Baseline clinical characteristics.

Variable, patients (n) (137)	No Loco-regional recurrence (70)	Loco-regional recurrence (67)	Survival median months	p value*
Age median (range)	64 (40–83)	67 (37–83)
≤60	39	30	20
>60	31	37	19	.87
Sex
Male	42	32	19
Female	28	35	20	.62
WHO PS
0	29	25	21
1	34	31	20
2	7	11	14	.63
Clinical stage
II and IIIA	50	52	24
IIIB and IV	20	15	17	.01
Histology
Non-squamous ca.	50	37	20
Squamous ca.	20	30	24	.61
Chemotherapy
No	6	4	10
Sequential	11	12	15
Concurrent	53	51	24	.009
PTV mean (SE) cm^3	366 (27)	471 (29)
≤358	40	29	36
>358	30	38	16	<.0001

WHO: world health organization; ca: carcinoma; PTV: planning target volume.

* p value: log-rank test of difference in overall survival.

Figure 3. Two cases showing overlap between recurrence (rec) tumor (R, brown), SUV_p50 (orange) and GTV-tumor (T, red) on planning-CT (p-CT). The p-CT and rec-CT were rigidly registered. The structures are shown on p-CT. (a) p-CT is represented in lung window showing T, SUV_p50, R and the overlap fraction (OF) area. (b) p-CT representing a case with a donut shaped SUV_p50 area resulting in low OF_SUVp50 as tumor (GTV-T) was characterized necrotic in central part. Gross tumor volumes = red lines; recurrence tumor = brown lines, rigid registered on p-CT (left columns).