title: Pulmonary function after high-dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow transplantation and radiotherapy in patients with advanced loco-regional breast cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Dolsma
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: De Vries
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Van der Mark
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Sleijfer
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Willemse
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Van Der Graaf
authors.forename: P O
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Mulder
mesh_terms: 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