Medical image of the week: typical pulmonary CT findings following radiotherapy

Abstract

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. Radiation-induced lung disease (RILD) commonly develops in patients treated with radiation for intrathoracic and chest wall malignancies. There are two distinct radiographic patterns: 1. Radiation pneumonitis which occurs within 4-12 weeks after completion of therapy, and is characterized by development ground-glass opacities and/or consolidation in and around the treated lesion. A somewhat nodular or patchy appearance may occur. Typically, the affected tissue conforms to the radiation ports and may cross fissures/lobes. There may be milder similar changes in the contralateral lung. 2. A chronic phase, known as radiation fibrosis, is noticeable about 6-12 months post treatment and may progress up to 2 years, after which the findings tend to stabilize. In this stage, the areas of consolidation undergo volume loss, architectural distortion and may contain traction bronchiectasis. Linear and band scarring may also be seen. In this phase, sharper demarcation between normal and irradiated lung parenchyma is commonly seen. Special …

Keywords

• radiation therapy
• radiotherapy
• CT scan
• radiation
• pneumonitis
• fibrosis
• phases
• bronchiectasis
• time course
• consolidation