Moving Towards Single Fraction Peripheral Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: Patient Care During and After the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

Single-fraction stereotactic body radiation therapy (SF-SBRT) for peripheral lung tumors was reviewed. Medically inoperable peripheral lung tumors eligible for SF-SBRT 34 Gray were treated. Patient characteristics, treatment and toxicity parameters were retrospectively collected, and toxicities were evaluated. A total of 26 patients were assessed with median age of 74 years. Ninety-six percent had early-stage cancer and 35% were treated as per the SABR-BRIDGE protocol. Twenty-six peripheral lesions were treated (median maximal dimension 1.7 cm). Sixty-five percent had grade ≤2 toxicities with radiation pneumonitis (42.3%) and chest wall pain (35%). Radiation pneumonitis and chest wall pain rates were higher in patients with tumor diameters more than 1.5 cm. SF-SBRT is practical and effective treatment technique.