Assessing Radiation Injury in the Liver Using MRI
Author Information
Author(s): Max Seidensticker, Ricarda Seidensticker, Konrad Mohnike, Christian Wybranski, Thomas Kalinski, Sebastian Luess, Maciej Pech, Peter Wust, Jens Ricke
Primary Institution: Klinik für Radiologie und Nuklearmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, Germany
Hypothesis
What is the hepatic tolerance dose to small volume single fraction high dose rate irradiation?
Conclusion
Hepatic injury peaked 6 weeks after small volume irradiation, with ongoing repair observed up to 6 months.
Supporting Evidence
- At six weeks post brachytherapy, the hepatocyte function loss reached its maximum at a median dose of 9.4 Gy.
- Development of edema was maximal at six weeks post brachytherapy with a median dose of 9.2 Gy.
- After 12 and 24 weeks, the dysfunctional volume decreased significantly, indicating liver repair.
Takeaway
Doctors wanted to find out how much radiation the liver can handle without getting hurt. They found that a little over 9 Gy of radiation can start causing problems, but the liver can heal over time.
Methodology
23 liver metastases were treated with CT-guided interstitial brachytherapy, followed by MRI at multiple time points to assess liver function and edema.
Potential Biases
Potential biases in patient selection and treatment history.
Limitations
Individual dose sensitivity may differ, leading to a high standard deviation in threshold values.
Participant Demographics
12 men and 11 women, mean age 66 years (30-84 years), all with metastatic liver tumors.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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