[Radiation induced lung injuries secondary to radiotherapy for breast cancer]

Modern radiotherapy decreased the number and severity of the effects of irradiation on the lung. Yet, the increased cancer incidence makes the related radiation injuries to remain actual, radiotherapy being frequently used in cancer treatment. Aim of the study consists in analysis of the radiological pattern of radiation induced lung disease due to radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Sixty-eight female patients were evaluated for clinical and radiological suspicion of radiation pneumonitis after radiotherapy for breast cancer between 2001 and 2009 in "Marius Nasta" Institute of Pneumophtiziology, Bucharest. The following procedures were performed: medical history, physical examination, chest radiography and CT-scan (in a subgroup of 27 patients). Radiotherapy toxicity was evaluated based on the RTOG/EORTC (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group/European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer) classification and radiological lesions based on Arriagada classification.

Fifty patients (73.5%) were symptomatic (fever, dry cough, dyspnea, chest pain, fatigability), the other 18 were asymptomatic. Symptoms were mild to moderate corresponding to grade 1 (27 patients, 39.7%) or grade 2 (23 patients, 33.8%) according to RTOG/EORTC scale. All patients had radiological lesions: 25 patients (36.7%) had grade 2 lesions (linear opacities), 25 patients (36.7%) had grade 3 lesions (patchy opacities) and 18 patients (26.5%) had grade 4 lesions (dense opacities), according to Arriagada classification. Symptoms were more frequent in patients with extensive lesions on chest radiography. CT-scan, performed in 27 patients, showed more accurate images.

Chest radiography remains the simplest method in screening for radiation pneumonitis and monitoring its outcome. Adverse effects secondary to radiotherapy are usually mild and self-limited, and the most difficult task remains the differential diagnosis with infections and cancer relapse.