Pulmonary toxicity from carmustine (BCNU): a case report

A patient who had a pneumonectomy for lung carcinoma was treated with carmustine when brain metastases developed. His pulmonary function was mildly compromised prior to the pneumonectomy by many years of smoking. After six months of carmustine therapy [total dose: 2,250 mg (1,200 mg/m2)] he developed interstitial pulmonary fibrosis with histologic changes consistent with drug toxicity. With seven previously reported cases of this drug-effect and the addition of our case, carmustine must be added to the list of cancer chemotherapeutic agents that can cause pulmonary toxicity.