Work

Risk Factors for Radiation Pneumonitis and a Prognostic Instrument for Very Elderly Patients With Lung Cancer

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND/AIM: Elderly and very elderly patients with lung cancer have a comparably high risk of radiation pneumonitis (RP). Risk scores may help to identify these patients. We have developed a risk score for very elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Nine characteristics were retrospectively investigated in 21 patients aged ≥80 years for associations with symptomatic RP. Characteristics achieving significance or showing a trend were incorporated in the score, which was compared to a previous tool without age limit. RESULTS: The incidence of RP was 33.3% and significantly associated with mean lung dose (MLD) >20 Gy. Trends were found for MLD >13 Gy and cardiovascular disease. Based on these characteristics, three risk groups were formed (2-5, 7-9, and 12 points). RP rates were 0.0%, 44.4%, and 100.0%. Positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were both 100.0%. When using the previous score, PPV and NPV were 71.4% and 100%. CONCLUSION: Given the limitations of this study, the newly developed age-specific risk score appears to be a valuable tool for identifying very elderly lung cancer patients at high or low risk of radiation pneumonitis, and may offer improved predictive performance over previously established models.

Source: In Vivo

DOI: 10.21873/invivo.14081

Authors: DIRK RADES, CANSU DELIKANLI, LAURA DOEHRING, STEFAN JANSSEN, SABINE BOHNET, ELISA M. GROH

Institutions: University of Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

Language: English

Topic: Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: European Regional Development Fund, Interreg