Applications of Fluorodeoxyglucose PET/Computed Tomography in the Assessment and Prediction of Radiation Therapy-related Complications

摘要

Normal tissues respond to radiation therapy in 2 time frames: early or acute effect, which occur days and weeks after irradiation; and late effects, happening months or years after irradiation. Radiation pneumonitis is a life-threatening acute and subacute complication of radiation therapy happening in 4% to 30% of patients and manifesting 1 to 6 months after radiation. Cardiovascular sequelae are causes of mortality and morbidity related to radiation therapy, and are most well characterized as developing 10 to 15 years after radiation therapy but may be an important cause of treatment-related complications in the months after radiotherapy completion.