[The differences between interstitial pneumonia following whole-body irradiation and radiation-induced pneumonitis]

Clinical observations and experimental results suggest that radiation pneumonitis occurring after localised lung irradiation and interstitial pneumonia occurring after localised lung irradiation and interstitial pneumonia occurring after total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation (no matter whether or not associated with cytomegalovirus infection) are two different pathological entities. They differ with regard to latency, pathogenesis, dose dependence, and probably dose distribution. Based on these considerations some recommendations on the planning of total body irradiation are made.