Antineoplastic therapy-induced pulmonary toxicity

Abstract

Pulmonary complications of antineoplastic therapy are common and are an important cause of respiratory morbidity. The pulmonary toxicity should be taken into account in every patient with respiratory problems who is or has been treated with antineoplastic agents. The diagnosis of drug-induced pulmonary toxicity is complex and should be based on the medical history, clinical, radiological and pathological findings. None of them are specific but they can guide the diagnostic process. The treatment of pulmonary abnormalities caused by chemotherapy is mostly supportive and based on cessation of the causative agent. However, the therapeutic options in oncology setting are usually limited thus the decision about changing the treatment should be taken with caution.

Keywords::

• antineoplastic therapy
• pneumonitis
• pulmonary toxicity

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.