INFLUENCE OF RADIATION-THERAPY ON LUNG-TISSUE IN BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS - CT-ASSESSED DENSITY CHANGES 4 YEARS AFTER COMPLETION OF RADIOTHERAPY

Citation
G. Svane et al., INFLUENCE OF RADIATION-THERAPY ON LUNG-TISSUE IN BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS - CT-ASSESSED DENSITY CHANGES 4 YEARS AFTER COMPLETION OF RADIOTHERAPY, Acta oncologica, 34(6), 1995, pp. 845-849
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Oncology
Journal title
ISSN journal
0284186X
Volume
34
Issue
6
Year of publication
1995
Pages
845 - 849
Database
ISI
SICI code
0284-186X(1995)34:6<845:IOROLI>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
CT-assessed density changes in lung tissues were measured in 22 diseas e-free breast cancer patients 4 years after completion of radiation th erapy. All patients had previously undergone similar CT-examinations b efore treatment, 3 months, and 9 months after radiotherapy, In patient s with visible areas of increased lung density at earlier CT-examinati ons a decrease of focal findings was observed at 4 years. In patients without focal findings, an increase in density relative to that before therapy was observed. The difference between the mean lung density va lues among those with visible radiological findings and those without was statistically significant both at 3 and 9 months after therapy, Ho wever, this difference did not persist at 4 years. These results may i ndicate a 2-phase development of radiation-induced lung damages-an acu te phase and a late phase; the late phase emerging slowly, and in this study detectable 4 years after completion of radiation therapy.