Pulmonary Complications of Childhood Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Pulmonary complications of childhood cancer treatment are frequently seen. These can lead to adverse sequelae many years after treatment, with important impact on morbidity, quality of life and mortality in childhood cancer survivors. This review addresses the effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and alloimmunity (in haematopoietic cell transplantation) on the lung in children. It highlights the complexity of lung damage and lung disease in relation to growth and development, infections and other external factors. Screening high risk childhood cancer survivors for treatment related late effects, with therapy based screening protocols, using full medical assessment and pulmonary function tests is important. This will lead to recognition of pulmonary sequelae of cancer treatment, early detection of lung damage in survivors and better treatment and prevention.

Keywords: Chemotherapy late effects; Childhood cancer survivors; Irradiation late effects; Lung injury; Pulmonary complications.