[Pulmonary changes caused by cytostatic drugs]

About 80 drugs are known to cause lung disease. Cytostatic agents are the most common cause of this type of iatrogenic disease. In addition to the "intercalating" type of cytostatic, other groups, especially the alkylating (busulfan) and the antimetabolites groups (methotrexate), have also been incriminated. Cytostatic drug-induced lung disease is a difficult diagnosis based on the results of clinical, radiological, respiratory function, histopathological and biological investigations. The results of bronchoalveolar lavage are vital, especially in lung disease due to a drug hypersensitivity reaction; the diagnosis of drug-induced pulmonary fibrosis due to a toxic mechanism is much more difficult and risky. Early diagnosis of these drug-induced lung diseases is obviously important.