title: Post-breast cancer radiotherapy bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia.
abstract: Post-radiotherapy bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia may occur in as many as 2.3% of women receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer. Cough and fever are common symptoms, and a quarter of these women have no symptoms. Latency period is usually within 6 months after completion of therapy but may be as long as 1 year. Pulmonary function is normal or will show slight decreases in vital capacity and diffusing capacity. Chest computed tomography studies show ground-glass opacities with air bronchograms within and outside the radiation field, and there are often peripheral triangular-shaped infiltrates. Management consists of close monitoring of women who have no symptoms or minimal symptoms, and a short-course of corticosteroid therapy for women who have symptoms and extensive bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. The prognosis is excellent; there have been no deaths reported.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. gepler@partners.org
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Epler
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D018549:Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones