Radiation-induced liver disease after radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: clinical manifestation and dosimetric description

Twelve patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis developed radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) after three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, Six patients died of RILD and six recovered. Mean prescribed dose was 50.6 +/- 4.3 Gy, in a daily fraction of 1.8-2.0 Gy. Commonly used dosimetric parameters, such as fraction volume of normal liver with radiation dose >30 Gy, prediction score, and normal tissue complication probability, failed to differentiate the fatality and clinical types of this complication. Elevated transaminases are more frequently seen than ascites and elevated alkaline phosphamide are seen in patients with RILD. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.