Chest wall pain and rib fracture after stereotactic radiotherapy for peripheral non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Stereotactic body radiotherapy is an emerging treatment option for peripheral non-small cell lung cancer in medically inoperable patients. With high dose per fraction radiotherapy, late side effects are of possible concern. In our initial cohort of 42 patients treated with 54 to 60 Gy in three fractions, nine patients have rib fracture. The median dose to rib fracture sites was 46 to 50 Gy, depending on the method of dose calculation. We describe a typical case of poststereotactic radiotherapy rib fracture and present dosimetric analysis of patients with rib fracture. © 2009 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer.