Pulmonary function after high-dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation and radiotherapy in patients with advanced loco-regional breast cancer.
Our aim was to study the extent of pulmonary toxicity after high-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy in breast cancer patients. In a retrospective study the pulmonary symptoms and chest X-rays were analyzed before, during and after treatment in 17 patients, treated with loco-regional radiotherapy to the breast/chest wall and the regional lymph nodes after the completion of high-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation for locally advanced breast cancer. Lung function was evaluated between 15 and 46 months after completion of the irradiation. Nine patients (53%) had pulmonary symptoms during and/or within two months from irradiation. Radiographic changes were seen in twelve patients (71%) and a decreased diffusion capacity occurred in nine patients (53%). The spirometric values (VC and FEV1) were abnormal in two patients (12%). There is a high incidence of radiation pneumonitis, although no consistent correlation between the various parameters (pulmonary symptoms, chest X-rays and lung function tests) could be found.
Dolsma
W V
WV
Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
De Vries
E G
EG
Van der Mark
T W
TW
Sleijfer
D T
DT
Willemse
P H
PH
Van Der Graaf
W T
WT
Mulder
P O
PO
Szabó
B G
BG
Mulder
N H
NH
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects