401. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 1993 Apr 30;26(1):117-23.
Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid findings following radiotherapy for non-small cell
lung cancer.
Maasilta P(1), Hallman M, Taskinen E, Kivisaari L, Mattson K.
Author information:
(1)Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital,
Finland.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid
analysis in radiation-induced lung injury.
METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer
received either high-dose hyperfractionated radiotherapy or radiotherapy and
interferon, a potential radiosensitizer, or radiotherapy and N-acetylcysteine, a
potential radioprotector. Bronchoalveolar lavages were performed before and
immediately after radiotherapy, and thereafter 6-8 weeks and 3 months after
radiotherapy. Total and differential cell counts were measured from the
bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples. Urea measured in serum and in
bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was used to calculate epithelial lining fluid. The
concentrations of protein and phosphatidylcholine, the major surfactant
phospholipid, in epithelial lining fluid were measured. The extent of
radiation-induced lung injury was assessed from computed tomographies performed
before radiotherapy, and 6-8 weeks and 3 months after radiotherapy.
RESULTS: More patients in the interferon-arm developed radiation pneumonitis than
did patients in the other groups, but no significant differences in alveolar
fluid indices were noted between the groups. When all the patients were studied
together, radiation was shown to have induced a significant relative increase of
lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 6-8 weeks and 3 months after the end
of radiotherapy. The concentration of phosphatidylcholine in epithelial lining
fluid decreased significantly 6-8 weeks and 3 months after treatment. The
increase in protein concentration in epithelial lining fluid reached a
statistically significant level 6-8 weeks after radiotherapy.
CONCLUSION: Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid predicts the degree of
radiation pneumonitis; however, radiology remains to be "the gold standard."
PMID: 8387063 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]