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29-Nov-2011
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Arch Hellen Med, 28(6), November-December 2011, 754-766 REVIEW Prediction of pulmonary toxicity from radiotherapy for breast cancer: Μ. Piperis,1 Ε. Kalogera,2 Α. Gounaris2 |
The beneficial effect of radiation therapy in breast cancer patients is well documented, as it significantly reduces the risk of recurrence and death, but it may be accompanied by complications which can seriously affect the patients' quality of life. Among significant irradiation sequelae, lung damage is a critical hazard, resulting in pneumonitis and fibrosis. Considering the high lifetime risk incurred by patients with breast cancer, it is of utmost interest to identify the parameters that could contribute to the prediction of lung damage, in order to design "tailored" treatment. An efficient model of sensitivity prediction of patients must incorporate all the parameters that are recognized to be related to treatment and patient characteristics. This review provides recent findings on treatment- and patient-related factors that could aid radiation oncologists estimating of the risk of development of radiation-induced pneumonitis and fibrosis.
Key words: Breast cancer, Fibrosis, Pneumonitis, Radiotherapy, Risk factors.
