The effects of tangential radiotherapy on lung clearance in breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tangential radiotherapy (RT) on lung clearance in the patients with breast cancer by using (99m)Tc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy.


METHODS
Thirty-three female patients [non-smoker: 20, ex-smoker: 13] performed surgery and systemic chemotherapy for breast carcinoma [47+/-13 years] were included in the study. All patients underwent (99m)Tc-DTPA aerosol scintigraphy prior to RT (pre RT), midway through RT (mid RT) and after RT (post RT). Total dose was 50 Gy in modified radical mastectomy and 60 Gy in lumpectomy (2 Gy/fraction). Posterior dynamic images of lungs were obtained immediately after the inhalation of (99m)Tc-DTPA aerosol.


RESULTS
Pulmonary function tests were normal in three measurements for all cases. In the ex-smokers, there was no significant difference among pre RT, mid RT and post RT clearance values in both lungs. Pre RT lung clearance in non-smoker group did not differ from that in ex-smokers. However, the lung clearance for non-smoker group showed significantly increase following RT.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, we observed that tangential radiotherapy caused an increase in the lung clearance in the cases of non-smokers even in non-irradiated lung, and that the effect of RT on lung clearance was closely depended on smoking habit before RT.
Yüksel
Doğangün
D
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Faculty, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. dodergun@hotmail.com
Sürenkök
Serdar
S
Ilgan
Seyfettin
S
Oztürk
Emel
E
Pak
Yücel
Y
D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000528:radiation effects; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
D000336:Aerosols; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013629:Tamoxifen; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate