RADIATION INDUCED BRONCIOLITIS OBLITERANS ORGANIZING PNEUMONIA (BOOP) SYNDROME AFTER RADIOTHERAPY FOR BREAST CANCER

Abstract

Radiation-induced bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia ( BOOP) is a lung disease which is pathologically characterized by the presence of granulation tissue polyps within respiratory bronchioles and alveoler ducts and patchy areas of organizing pneumonia. Etiologic factors include infection, drug administration, collagen vascular disease, hypersensitivity pneumonia, toxic fume inhalation, acute respiratory deficiency syndrome, thyroiditis and radiotherapy and it may also develop idiopathic. Occurence of radiation injury in the lung outside the tangential fields and appearance of patchy infiltrates in both lungs are characteristic. It is assumed that radiation exposure to lung and pleura initiates a lymphocytic stimulation which then triggers a cytokin mediated immunologic reaction and causes the injury in both lungs. We report an early breast cancer patient treated with breast conservation surgery and postoperative breast radiotherapy who later developed BOOP syndrome in both lungs.