Pulmonary function testing in women with breast cancer treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND The frequency and grade of pulmonary complications after radiotherapy for breast cancer are still debated. This study evaluated changes in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) after radiotherapy in women with breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-five consecutive eligible women with breast cancer underwent pulmonary function testing before and 3 months after adjuvant radiotherapy. Twenty-one of them also received chemotherapy. RESULTS A significant decrease of forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity was observed in the women treated with locoregional adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, whereas no decrease of the above parameters was evidenced in women treated exclusively with local adjuvant radiotherapy. CONCLUSION Local adjuvant radiotherapy is not associated with any reduction in lung function parameters, however, locoregional adjuvant radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy shows a significant reduction in PFTs 3 months after radiotherapy completion.