Complications of treatment of small cell carcinoma of the lung.

Improvements in therapy for small cell carcinoma of the lung have been achieved with treatment regimens that result in significant toxicity. The workshop of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer focused on the following complications of chemotherapy and radiotherapy: leukopenia and resultant infections, esophagitis, pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis, cardiac toxicity, second malignancies, neurologic complications, and psychosocial effects. The data regarding the incidence and management of these complications are briefly reviewed, and recommendations for further studies are noted.