Changes in lung perfusion scintigraphy and pulmonary function tests in irradiated breast cancer patients

OBJECTIVE To investigate the utility of quantitative lung perfusion scintigraphy and pulmonary function tests in the assessment of radiation-induced lung injury. METHODS The prospective study was conducted at Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University Hospital, Turkey, from May 2012 to October 2016, and comprised female breast cancer patients having undergone lung perfusion scintigraphy with Tc-99m macroaggregated albumin before and after radiotherapy. Pulmonary function tests and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity tests were also carried out on all the patients, and the relationship between treatment-related changes and its association with radiotherapy doses was analysed. Data was analysed using SPSS 19. RESULTS There were 43 patients with a median age of 49 (interquartile range: 32-71 years). Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity values at baseline showed a significant decrease at 6 and 12 months post- radiotherapy (p 0.05). Also, the median percentage of perfusion studies in the irradiated lung decreased significantly (p<0.001) at 12 months post-treatment. There was significant reduction in perfusion studies of irradiated lungs (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity and quantitative lung perfusion scintigraphy were found to be useful tools for the early diagnosis and monitoring of radiation-induced lung injury.