[Probable pulmonary damage caused by bleomycin. Communication of 4 cases]

Four patients with advanced germinal cell testicular tumors were treated with cisplatinum, vinblastine and bleomycin. Histopathologic studies revealed pulmonary damage and various degrees of respiratory insufficiency developed in all patients, one of whom died. There was no instance of opportunistic infections in any patient. The pathophysiology relating pulmonary damage to the action of bleomycin is discussed.