The relationship between dosimetric factors, side effects, and survival in patients with non–small cell lung cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy

Abstract The patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with definitive conformal radiotherapy (RT) were evaluated in terms of side effects and survival. Normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) was calculated for 68 patients treated between 2009 and 2012. Clinical and dosimetric factors were analyzed. The median dose of 63 Gy (range: 54 to 70 Gy) was given with conformal RT with blocks ( n = 37), 3-dimensional conformal RT (3DCRT) ( n = 11), or intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) ( n = 20). Acute grade 1 to 2 radiation pneumonitis (RP) was seen in 13% of the patients. No significant relationship was found between RP and treatment and dosimetric factors ( p > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between median “mean lung dose” (MLD) (17 Gy), lung V30 (20.5%), and NTCP (14%) ( p