Quantifying Radiation Induced Changes in Pulmonary Function in Irradiated and Non-irradiated Lung Tissue
Inclusion Criteria:
- Histological diagnosis of small cell or non-small cell lung cancer or metastatic
tumor to the lung being scheduled for localized radiation therapy (including
radiosurgery)
- No prior or future planned surgery for the treatment of the lung cancer.
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Karnofsky 60%
- Not pregnant.
- Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
- Ability and willingness to participate in breathing training and compliance wiht
breathing apparatus so that radiation doses are optimally linked to 4D-CT images
- Ability to tolerate CT contrast
Exclusion Criteria:
- No prior thoracic radiotherapy will be permitted
- Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active
infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac
arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with
study requirements
- Pregnant women
- Severe COPD that requires chronic prednisone or multiple inhalers
- Underlying collagen vascular disease or intrinsic lung disease that could complicate
expected sequelae of radiation (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Wegener's
granulomatosis)
- Oxygen dependence at baseline
- Recent lung surgery or abdominal surgery (within 3 weeks) that would compromise
respiratory pattern.