Radiation-induced lung injury
| Radiation-induced lung injury | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Pulmonology  |
Radiation-induced lung injury is a general term for damage to the lungs which occurs as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation.[1] In general terms, such damage is divided into early inflammatory damage (radiation pneumonitis) and later complications of chronic scarring (radiation fibrosis). Pulmonary radiation injury most commonly occurs as a result of radiation therapy administered to treat cancer.[citation needed]
Symptoms and signs
The lungs are a radiosensitive organ, and radiation pneumonitis can occur leading to pulmonary insufficiency and death (100% after exposure to 50 gray of radiation), in a few months. Radiation pneumonitis is characterized by:
- Loss of epithelial cells
- Edema
- Inflammation
- Occlusions airways, air sacs and blood vessels
- Fibrosis
Cause
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Diagnosis
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High resolution CT thorax
Treatment
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See also
References
- ^ Marks, Lawrence B.; Yu, Xiaoli; Vujaskovic, Zjelko; Small, William; Folz, Rodney; Anscher, Mitchell S. (July 2003). "Radiation-induced lung injury". Seminars in Radiation Oncology. 13 (3): 333–345. doi:10.1016/S1053-4296(03)00034-1. ISSN 1053-4296. PMID 12903021. – via ScienceDirect (Subscription may be required or content may be available in libraries.)
Further reading
- Radiation Emergancy Medical Management. "Time Phases of Acute Radiation Syndrome - Radiation Emergency Medical Management". www.remm.nlm.gov. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 7 November 2017.