How Much Was the Elective Lymph Node Region Covered in Involved-Field Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer? Evaluation of Overlap Between Gross Target Volume and Celiac Artery–Superior Mesenteric Artery Lymph Node Regions

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the overlaps between gross target volume (GTV) and the celiac artery (CA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) lymph node regions and to examine the dose incidentally irradiated to the CA and SMA lymph node regions by involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty-nine patients who had LAPC without distant metastasis were included. They received IFRT at 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. We calculated the percentages of overlap of GTV in the CA and SMA lymph node regions and examined what cases tend to have an overlap. We also investigated the dose metrics of CA and SMA lymph node regions by IFRT and the frequency of CA or SMA lymph node metastasis after IFRT. RESULTS: The median GTV volume was 52.2 mL. Median overlap percentages in the CA and SMA lymph node regions were 39.2% and 28.6%, respectively. There was a significant correlation between GTV volume and SMA overlap percentage (P < .001). Although the SMA overlap percentage was higher in the pancreas head (P = .028), the CA overlap percentage was higher in the pancreas body or tail (P = .002). Median mean dose, D95, and minimum dose in the CA lymph node region were 50.1 Gy, 48.7 Gy, and 45.9 Gy, respectively, and those in the SMA lymph node region 49.9 Gy, 47.3 Gy, and 39.2 Gy, respectively. CA lymph node metastases after IFRT were detected in 4 patients (6.8%). CONCLUSIONS: An overlap between GTV and CA-SMA lymph node regions was detected in many patients, and the CA and SMA lymph node regions were irradiated incidentally even by IFRT. Prophylactic lymph node regions might not be necessary in radiation therapy planning of LAPC.