Effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on pulmonary function after treatment for breast cancer and lymphoma: A follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To determine the changes in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) 0 to 48 months after treatment for breast cancer and lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The alveolar volume (VA), vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and corrected transfer factor of carbon monoxide (TL,COc) were measured in 69 breast cancer and 41 lymphoma patients before treatment and 3, 18, and 48 months after treatment with radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy (mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone, doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine; cyclophosphamide, epidoxorubicin, fluorouracil; cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, carboplatin; cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil). The three-dimensional dose distribution in the lung of each patient was converted to the mean lung dose. Statistical analysis was used to evaluate the changes in PFT values over time in relation to age, sex, smoking, chemotherapy, and the mean lung dose. RESULTS: After an initial reduction in PFT values at ...