Drug-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease in Lung Cancer Patients

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Oncology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Pulmonary toxicity is a known adverse event (AE) of systemic lung cancer therapies.
• Drug-induced interstitial lung disease (D-ILD) is a rare, potentially fatal pulmonary AE.
• D-ILD presents with variable and nonspecific clinical and radiological features, complicating diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the incidence, risk factors, clinical and radiographic features of D-ILD.
• To discuss management strategies for D-ILD in lung cancer patients.
• To provide a framework for differential diagnosis to aid clinical decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of D-ILD in the context of lung cancer systemic treatments.
• Discussion of diagnostic challenges and multidisciplinary approaches.
• Presentation of a practical framework for differential diagnosis.

Main Results:

• D-ILD incidence, risk factors, and clinical/radiographic manifestations are detailed.
• Management strategies emphasize early suspicion and integrated care.
• A differential diagnosis framework is proposed to assist clinicians.

Conclusions:

• Effective D-ILD management requires high clinical suspicion and patient/provider education.
• Prompt evaluation of new respiratory symptoms or radiographic abnormalities is essential.
• D-ILD diagnosis is complex, often a diagnosis of exclusion, benefiting from a multidisciplinary approach involving pulmonologists.