[Complication of radiation therapy].
The radiation pneumonitis is a major complication for patients receiving thoracic irradiation. This report describe the radiographic recognition, pathological change and impaired pulmonary functions of radiation pneumonitis. The 57 patients with lung cancer treated with radiation are analyzed on the pneumonitis by chest X-P. Among these, 50 patients (88%) develop radiation pneumonitis. Repeated CT scans give more detailed information than conventional radiograms as to exudative changes. The pathological analysis are made on the 35 patients of which affected lungs are resected after pre-operative irradiation. Three phases are recognized in the evolution of pneumonitis, the congestive, the degenerative, and the fibrotic. Adding to the morphological damage, pulmonary functions also deteriorate both in ventilation and perfusion scans.
D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed