Radiation-induced bronchial stenosis: a new cause of platypnea-orthodeoxia.

Abstract

Platypnea-orthodeoxia is encountered in a variety of cardiac, pulmonary, and hepatic disorders. We report its occurrence in a 59-year-old man who had had combined external-beam and high dose-rate iridium brachytherapy for a stage I non-small-cell carcinoma of the right upper lobe 2 years earlier. The post-radiation course was complicated by a severe radiation bronchitis; the onset of platypnea-orthodeoxia signalled the development of severe bronchial stenosis that was transiently relieved, initially by dilatation, and later by stent placement, though the patient ultimately died of a pulmonary hemorrhage. The dosage of brachytherapy given, the combined external-beam therapy, and the long survival after completion of radiation therapy were likely factors in the development of bronchial stenosis. We discuss the tomographic and bronchoscopic features of radiation-induced bronchial stenosis.

• Authors: A N Awan, R Ashraf, M B Meyerson, T L Dunn
• Journal: Southern medical journal (South Med J) Vol. 92 Issue 7 Pg. 720-4 (Jul 1999) ISSN: 0038-4348 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10414484 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Blood Gas Analysis
• Brachytherapy (adverse effects)
• Bronchial Diseases (diagnosis, etiology, therapy)
• Bronchitis (diagnosis, etiology)
• Bronchoscopy
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (radiotherapy)
• Catheterization
• Cause of Death
• Constriction, Pathologic
• Dyspnea (blood, etiology)
• Fatal Outcome
• Hemoptysis (etiology)
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (radiotherapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Posture
• Stents
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed