[Pulmonary radiation injury manifested by signs of bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia after postoperative breast cancer radiotherapy]

Abstract

A 67-year-old woman underwent surgery for cancer of both breasts (right: mastectomy, left: conserving surgery), and received 60 Gy radiation to the left postoperative breast. Three months later, cough and fever developed. A chest radiograph demonstrated infiltrative shadows in the left lung field. Transbronchial lung biopsy specimens disclosed organizing exudates in the alveolar spaces and bronchioles. After treatment with prednisolone, the clinical symptoms and radiographic infiltrates disappeared. This was a case of pulmonary radiation injury pathologically manifested by signs of bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia.