Abstract:

OBJECTIVE Purpose of the present study was to investigate acute pulmonary changes using pulmonary function tests (PFTs) after breast cancer irradiation with helical tomotherapy (HT). METHODS Forty patients were included in this study. Pretreatment and 3 months after completion of radiotherapy (RT), values of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), and FEV1/ FVC ratio were measured and recorded. RESULTS Restrictive pattern was seen in 4 patients in baseline PFTs and moderate deterioration was observed in their measurements of PFT at 3 months after RT. Obstructive pattern was defined in only 1 patient in baseline PFTs and it remained unchanged after RT. Mild obstructive pattern in 4 patients and mild restrictive pattern in 3 patients had developed at 3 months after RT. CONCLUSION Minimal changes that result in mild restrictive and obstructive pattern in PFTs can be seen in acute phase after RT with HT.

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