Skip to main content
. 2021 Aug 27;8:723748. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2021.723748

Table 2.

Overview about grading scales for radiation-induced lung fibrosis.

Grading scale Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5
CTCAE v5.0 Radiologic pulmonary fibrosis <25% of lung volume associated with hypoxia Evidence of pulmonary hypertension; radiographic pulmonary fibrosis 25–50% associated with hypoxia Severe hypoxia; evidence of right-sided heart failure; radiographic pulmonary fibrosis > 50–75% Life-threatening consequences (e.g., hemodynamic/pulmonary complications); intubation with ventilatory support indicated; radiographic pulmonary fibrosis > 75% with severe honeycombing Death
RTOG Asymptomatic or mild symptoms (dry cough); slight radiographic appearances Moderate symptomatic fibrosis (severe cough); low grade fever; patchy radiographic appearances Severe symptomatic fibrosis; dense radiographic changes Severe respiratory insufficiency/ Continuous O2/ Assisted ventilation Death
LENT-SOMA (EORTC) Asymptomatic or mild symptoms; radiological abnormalities;10–25% reduction of respiration volume and/or diffusion capacity Moderate symptoms; patchy dense abnormalities in imaging;> 25–50% reduction of respiration volume and/or diffusion capacity Severe symptoms; dense confluent radiographic changes limited to irradation field;> 50–75% reduction of respiration volume and/or diffusion capacity Severe symptoms requiring continuous O2 or assisted ventilation;dense fibrosis, severe scarring and major retraction of normal lung;> 75% reduction of respiration volume and/or diffusion capacity Death

CTCAE v5.0, Common terminology criteria for adverse events, version 5.0; RTOG, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group; EORTC, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer; LENT-SOMA, Late effects in normal tissue-subjective objective management analysis.