title: Total atelectasis of the lung secondary to malignant airway obstruction. Response to radiation therapy.
abstract: From 1980 to 1986, 48 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma were diagnosed to have total atelectasis of the lung as a result of tumor obstructing the mainstem bronchus. These patients were treated with external beam radiotherapy with doses ranging from 30 to 60 Gy given in 2-6 weeks. Bronchial obstruction was relieved in 74% of patients, resulting in complete or partial reexpansion of the lung. Seventy-one percent of patients irradiated within 2 weeks after radiological evidence of atelectasis had complete reexpansion of their lungs, whereas only 23% of those irradiated after 2 weeks showed a similar response. Atelectasis recurred in 12% of those who initially responded to radiation therapy with complete or partial reexpansion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Loyola University of Chicago, Strich School of Medicine, Maywood, Illinois.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000150:complications* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate