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Pulmonary toxicity of bischloronitrosourea: Report of a case with transient response to corticosteroid therapy
Author(s) -
Richter Joel E.,
Hastedt Randall,
Dalton John F.,
Marshall Dallas,
Raymond Lawrence W.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197905)43:5<1607::aid-cncr2820430507>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - medicine , pulmonary function testing , pulmonary toxicity , pulmonary fibrosis , corticosteroid , etiology , lung , fibrosis , biopsy , pathology , radiology , surgery
A case of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis secondary to bischloronitrosourea (BCNU) in a 49‐year‐old man with carcinoma of the pancreas is reported. The diagnosis was suggested by deteriorating oxygenation, restrictive changes on pulmonary function studies, and increased interstitial markings radiographically in the lower lung fields. Transbronchial biopsy excluded infectious etiologies and confirmed a bland nonspecific interstitial pulmonary fibrosis of recent origin. The patient responded dramatically to high dose corticosteroids, but relapsed when the corticosteroids were decreased. We believe there is now convincing evidence that prolonged use of BCNU can cause potentially fatal interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Patients should be followed with serial chest radiographs and pulmonary function studies. If diagnosed early, this process may respond to high dose corticosteroid therapy.