Serial HRCT lung changes after 3-field radiation treatment of breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To document serial high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) features of lung injury after 3-field radiotherapy for breast cancer.


METHODS
Thirty women who received opposing tangential chest wall and supraclavicular field (SCF) irradiation after breast surgery were recruited. Thoracic HRCT was performed before and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after radiotherapy (RT). Lung injury at 3 months was quantified by applying a scoring system to each HRCT section. Findings were correlated with spirometric lung function tests.


RESULTS
There was HRCT evidence of lung injury in 27 (90%) women at 1 month and in all 30 patients at 3 months. Spirometric lung function declined post-RT (P < 0.05), correlating with an increased SCF acute lung injury score at 3 months [r = -0.54 and -0.46, P = 0.01 and 0.03 for forced expiratory volume in 1st (FEV(1)) and forced vital capacity (FVC), respectively]. Lung injury on HRCT progressed from ground glass opacification at 1 month to nodular consolidation (3 months), increasing linear densities (6 months), and finally to residual subpleural linear and dense opacities (12 months).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high incidence of lung injury associated with 3-field radiotherapy for breast cancer, with concurrent SCF irradiation increasing the risk of lung damage and functional impairment. A characteristic sequence of HRCT changes is seen in most patients receiving this type of radiotherapy.Ooi, G. C. (2000). Clinical Radiology55, 817-824.
Ooi
G C
GC
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. cgooi@hkucc.hku.hk
Kwong
D L
DL
Chan
K N
KN
Ngan
H
H
Lock
D T
DT
Lam
W K
WK
Chan
F L
FL
Au
G
G
Tsang
K W
KW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology