Measurement of tumor diameter-dependent mobility of lung tumors by dynamic MRI.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

To assess the influence of tumor diameter on tumor mobility and motion of the tumor bearing hemithorax during the whole breathing cycle in patients with stage I non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using dynamic MRI.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Breathing cycles of thirty-nine patients with solitary NSCLCs were examined using a trueFISP sequence (three images per second). Patients were divided into three groups according to the maximal tumor diameter in the transverse plane (<3, 3-5 and >5 cm). Continuous time-distance curves and deep inspiratory and expiratory positions of the chest wall, the diaphragm and the tumor were measured in three planes. Motion of tumor-bearing and corresponding contralateral non-tumor bearing regions was compared.

RESULTS:

Patients with a tumor >3 cm showed a significantly lower diaphragmatic motion of the tumor bearing compared with the non-tumor bearing hemithorax in the craniocaudal (CC) directions (tumors 3-5 cm: 23.4+/-1.2 vs 21.1+/-1.5 cm (P<0.05); tumors >5 cm: 23.4+/-1.2 vs 20.1+/-1.6 cm (P<0.01). Tumors >5 cm in the lower lung region showed a significantly lower mobility compared with tumors <3 cm (1.8+/-1.0 vs 3.8+/-0.7 cm, P<0.01) in the CC directions.

CONCLUSIONS:

Dynamic MRI is a simple non-invasive method to differentiate mobility of tumors with different diameters and its influence on the surrounding tissue. Tumor diameter has a significant influence on tumor mobility and this might be taken into account in future radiotherapy planning.

• Authors: Christian Plathow, Christian Fink, Sebastian Ley, Michael Puderbach, Monika Eichinger, Ivan Zuna, Astrid Schmähl, Hans-Ulrich Kauczor
• Journal: Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (Radiother Oncol) Vol. 73 Issue 3 Pg. 349-54 (Dec 2004) ISSN: 0167-8140 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 15588881 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Dose Fractionation, Radiation
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (pathology, radiotherapy)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Movement
• Radiotherapy (methods)
• Reproducibility of Results
• Respiration