Seminars in radiation oncology
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The use of conformal radiotherapy (RT) and the follow-up of patients for radiation liver toxicities has led to a quantitative understanding of partial liver RT tolerance. The most common toxicity is radiation-induced liver disease (RILD), a syndrome of anicteric ascites and hepatomegaly. Elevation of transaminases and reactivation of viral hepatitis have also been reported after liver RT. ⋯ Elevated transaminases are more common in the presence of poor liver function and hepatitis B infection. If the effective liver volume irradiated is less than 25%, very high RT doses may be delivered with little risk of liver toxicity. The mean liver doses associated with a 5% risk of classic RILD for primary and metastatic liver cancer are 28 Gy and 32 Gy, respectively, in 2 Gy per fraction.