[Obstructive pneumonitis in lung cancer patients--a retrospective study]

We evaluated the frequency and the backgrounds of lung cancer patients with obstructive pneumonitis. Among 84 cases of lung cancer, 35 presented with bronchial obstruction at bronchoscopy or on radiological studies. Of these 35 cases, 8 had infectious obstructive pneumonitis. This complication was observed more commonly in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. A comparative analysis of the immunological and nutritional states before the occurrence of bacterial complication was performed on patients with infectious obstructive pneumonitis and those with non-infectious obstructive pneumonitis. The serum concentration of total protein, albumin and total cholesterol was significantly lower in patients who subsequently developed bronchial obstruction and bacterial infection, compared to concentrations in patients with non-infectious obstructive pneumonitis. Similarly, there was significant decrease in the number of peripheral lymphocytes, and neutrophils as well as a significant reduction of the serum concentration of IgM in the group of patients with infectious complications. These results suggest that nutritional and immunological deficiencies, in association with local airway obstruction, may be determining factors in the occurrence of infectious obstructive pneumonitis in patients with lung cancer.