AUTHOR=Zhou Pi-Xiao , Zhang Shu-Xu 

TITLE=Functional lung imaging in thoracic tumor radiotherapy: Application and progress

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2022.908345

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2022.908345

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Radiotherapy plays an irreplaceable and unique role in treating thoracic tumors, but the
occurrence of radiation-induced lung injury limited the increase in tumor target doses and
influenced patients' quality of life. However, the introduction of functional lung imaging has been
incorporating functional lung into radiotherapy planning. By the design of the functional lung
protection planning, while meeting the target dose requirements and dose limitations of the organs
at risk (OARs), minimize the radiation dose to the functional lung, thus reducing the occurrence
of radiation-induced lung injury. In this manuscript, we mainly reviewed the lung ventilation
or/and perfusion functional imaging modalities, application, and progress, as well as the results
based on the functional lung protection planning in thoracic tumors. In addition, we also
discussed the problems that should be explored and further studied in the practical application of
based on functional lung radiotherapy planning.