Aim – to assess the clinical, functional and radiological evolution with and without corticotherapy in patients with radiation induced pneumonitis (RIP).
Material and methods – we evaluated 14 female patients (mean age 59.2 years), diagnosed with RIP after postoperative radiotherapy for breast carcinoma, on clinical, radiological, functional, and bronchoalveolar lavage criteria. History, physical exam, chest X-ray, and pulmonary function tests were obtained at diagnosis and 3 months later.
Results – nine patients (group A) had moderate symptoms (fever, dyspnoea, and cough) and received corticotherapy (prednisolone or prednisone 0.5 mg/kg/day with tapered doses) for 3 months and the other 5 patients (group B) had mild or no symptoms and they received no treatment. After 3 months, group A showed significant improvement in symptoms. Both groups showed a significant decrease of the alveolar infiltrates on chest-X ray. Group A showed a mean raise in TLco of 26.5% (from 51.2% to 64.9%) and a mean raise of 11.6% in Kco (from 73.5% to 82.4%). Group B showed a mean raise in TLco of 6.2% (from 66.7% to 71.3%) and a mean raise of 4.3% in Kco (from 82% to 89.2%).
Conclusion – Corticotherapy induced a rapid improvement in clinical symptoms of RIP with an increase in TLco and Kco, which was no significantly different compared to no treated patients (p=NS).
Patients and methods
14 female patients diagnosed with radiation induced pneumonitis (RIP) after radiation therapy for breast carcinoma
Mean age – 59.2 years (range 38-73 years old)
There were performed:
history
physical examination
chest X-rays
pulmonary function tests
at diagnosis of radiation induced pneumonitis and 3 months later.
Results
All patients were irradiated after surgical procedure for breast carcinoma (total dose 50 Gy)
