Pre- and post-treatment evaluation of lung function with Xenon-gas enhanced Dual-Energy CT-imaging in patients undergoing radiotherapy

This research study is focused on understanding how radiotherapy, a treatment often used for lung and breast cancer, can affect the lungs. Sometimes, radiotherapy can cause changes to the lungs, leading to conditions like radiation pneumonitis or fibrosis, which can affect how well you breathe.

To study these changes, we're using a special scanning technique called Dual-Energy CT (DECT). During the scan, you'll breathe in a tiny amount of Xenon gas, which is a safe, colourless gas that helps us see how air moves in and out of your lungs. We'll perform these scans before you start radiotherapy and again after your treatment is finished. By comparing these two sets of scans, we can get a very detailed look at any changes in your lung tissue and how efficiently your lungs are working.

The main aim is to carefully measure and describe these changes. We'll look at the scans visually to spot any differences in your lung structure and how air flows. We'll also use computer analysis to get precise numbers on these changes. This information is really important because it helps doctors understand exactly how radiotherapy impacts the lungs, which could lead to better ways to plan treatment and protect lung health for patients in the future.