Evaluation of radiation pneumonitis in breast cancer patients

ABSTRACT

This is a prospective study included 30 patients with primary breast cancer who had modified radical mastectomy and postoperative radiation therapy to peripheral lymphatics and chest wall that had ben evaluated/or radiation pneumonitis [RP]. The assessment was done using clinical, radiographic [CXR] scintigraphic and pulmonry function tests for both pre and post-irradiation evaluation, the incidence of [RP] was 3.3%. However, the incidence of asymptomatic lung damage was 16.6% as evidenced by CXR and 13.3% evidenced in ventillation/perfusion [V/O] defects, as for pulmonary function [PFT] tests there were global affection of ventilation and per fusion data which is more marked in patients with abnormal radiographs and pulmonary scintigraphy [V/Q] defects. Risk factors for developing [RP] as well as asymptomatic lung damage were central lung distance [CLD] more than 3 cm, a lung volume in tangential field of more than 20% and the use of concurrent RT with CT. Lung damage should be monitored not only with plain radiographs