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
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.