Opportunistic lung affection with pneumocystis carinii following radiotherapy after radical mastectomy

ABSTRACT

Thirty eight female patients having chest troubles with low grade fever and receiving external radiotherapy to the chest wall after wound healing of radical mastectomy operation were studied. Further thirty patients with radical mastectomy and having chest troubles before treatment served as control group. Both groups were evaluated clinically together with analysis of laboratory and radiological results of investigations. Sputum examination for pneumocystis carini [P.C.] was done. Results of sputum examination revealed 3 patients [7.9%] having P.C. Sputum examination can be considered as a useful non-invasive test for diagnosis of infection with P.C. organisms and allowing early diagnosis of patients in whom bronchoscopy can not be done which require special skill and equipments. This study showed that P.C. is opportunistic infection in patients treated with radiotherapy especially those with chest troubles and give suspicious symptoms which help in early diagnosis and proper treatment