Is the Ipsilateral Lung a Superior Predictor Than Total Lung in the Development of Grade 3 or Greater Pneumonitis?

Abstract

Previous studies have evaluated the effect of various total lung parameters, including V5, V13, and mean lung dose (MLD), on the incidence of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis following radiation therapy (RT). However, few studies have looked specifically at ipsilateral and contralateral lung parameters. We set out to test the hypothesis that dose, volume, and overlap of planning target volume (PTV) parameters in the total, ipsilateral, and contralateral lungs are associated with the development of grade 3 or greater (G3+) radiation pneumonitis after conventionally fractionated RT.