[Lung function following irradiation in pediatric cancer patients]

Lung function tests were performed in 22 children and juveniles who had received radiotherapy to the lungs, an average of 9.5 years previously, for tumour (14 with Hodgkin's disease [aged 7-22 years], 4 with malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma [aged 6-14 years], 3 with Wilms tumour [4-6 years], and one with Ewing's sarcoma [aged 16 years]). All three patients who, as young children, had had radiotherapy to both lungs because of a Wilms tumour with multiple lung metastases had restrictive disorders of lung function. Four of 12 after treatment of Hodgkin's disease and one of two after malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma and extensive thoracic irradiation developed a restrictive disorder of pulmonary function. But all four patients who had irradiation restricted to the mediastinum had normal lung functions.