Radiation-induced lung injury

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Clinics in Chest Medicine; (USA)

OSTI ID:7191085

Rosiello, R A; Merrill, W W ^[1]

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1. Yale Univ. Medical Center, New Haven, CT (USA)

The use of radiation therapy is limited by the occurrence of the potentially fatal clinical syndromes of radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis. Radiation pneumonitis usually becomes clinically apparent from 2 to 6 months after completion of radiation therapy. It is characterized by fever, cough, dyspnea, and alveolar infiltrates on chest roentgenogram and may be difficult to differentiate from infection or recurrent malignancy. The pathogenesis is uncertain, but appears to involve both direct lung tissue toxicity and an inflammatory response. The syndrome may resolve spontaneously or may progress to respiratory failure. Corticosteroids may be effective therapy if started early in the course of the disease. The time course for the development of radiation fibrosis is later than that for radiation pneumonitis. It is usually present by 1 year following irradiation, but may not become clinically apparent until 2 years after radiation therapy. It is characterized by the insidious onset of dyspnea on exertion. It most often is mild, but can progress to chronic respiratory failure. There is no known successful treatment for this condition. 51 references.

• OSTI ID: 7191085
• Journal Information: Clinics in Chest Medicine; (USA), Journal Name: Clinics in Chest Medicine; (USA) Vol. 11:1; ISSN CCHMD; ISSN 0272-5231
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
DELAYED RADIATION EFFECTS
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
FIBROSIS
INJURIES
LUNGS
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PNEUMONITIS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION INJURIES
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
REVIEWS
SIDE EFFECTS
THERAPY