Pulmonary radiation reaction in the treatment of carcinoma of the breast.
Chest roentgenograms were performed regularly before and a long time after radiotherapy in 157 patients with cancer of the breast. Radiation-induced parenchymal changes were demonstrated in 73 per cent of the patients and pleural effusions in about 10 percent. Total regression of the parenchymal changes were extremely rare, but a slight decrease in the volume of the affected lung was normal. The radiation-induced pleural effusion had no special characteristics, but, with one exception, it occurred simultaneously with radiation-induced parenchymal infiltrates, and it did not increase in quantity in any case.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage