Related Experiment Videos
Lung function of children treated for malignant extrapulmonary tumors
Bulletin Europeen De Physiopathologie Respiratoire
|March 1, 1984
Summary
Pediatric cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and irradiation, can impair lung function in children. Dynamic lung compliance (CLdyn) and static lung compliance (CLstat) remain significantly decreased long-term, suggesting inadequate alveolar growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Radiotherapy Research
Background:
- Extrapulmonary tumors in children necessitate aggressive treatment protocols.
- Cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can pose risks to developing organ systems, including the lungs.
- Understanding the long-term pulmonary sequelae in pediatric cancer survivors is crucial for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To longitudinally assess lung function in children with extrapulmonary tumors undergoing various cancer treatments.
- To identify specific pulmonary parameters affected by different therapeutic modalities (chemotherapy, surgery, irradiation).
- To evaluate the reversibility and long-term impact of these treatments on lung mechanics and gas exchange.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 29 children with extrapulmonary tumors (Wilm's tumor, bone malignancy, nasopharyngeal epithelioma).
- Serial pulmonary function tests including lung volumes (VC, FRC), lung mechanics (RL, CLdyn, CLstat), and lung transfer factor for CO (TLCO) were performed at multiple time points (t0-t4).
- Patients were categorized based on irradiation dose (Group I: 20 grays, Group II: >40 grays) and treatment stage.
Main Results:
- Initial lung function was normal in children without pulmonary metastases.
- Chemotherapy and surgery led to decreased dynamic lung compliance (CLdyn) at t1.
- Irradiation significantly reduced FRC, TLCO, and CLdyn in both groups at t2 compared to t1.
- While FRC and TLCO normalized by t4, CLdyn, CLstat, and the CLdyn/FRC ratio remained significantly decreased long-term.
- No significant improvement was observed between t2 and t3.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric cancer treatments, particularly irradiation, induce significant and persistent declines in lung compliance.
- Long-term pulmonary abnormalities, characterized by reduced dynamic and static lung compliance, suggest impaired alveolar development post-treatment.
- These findings highlight the need for vigilant pulmonary monitoring in pediatric cancer survivors.