Regional lung function in patients with a complete radiographic regression of small cell bronchogenic carcinoma.

Regional lung function was studied in 21 patients with small cell bronchogenic carcinoma who demonstrated a complete radiographic regression of intrathoracic tumour after 3 months of combination chemotherapy. Spirometry was performed in 20 patients. VC and FEV1 were, on average, 89 and 88% of predicted normal values. Impairment of ventilation and/or perfusion at the site of previous tumour was documented in 13 patients, while no such abnormalities were observed in 8 cases. Reduction of blood flow was generally more severe than impairment of ventilation. Neither median survival nor disease-free 2-yr survival was improved in patients with normal regional lung function compared to patients with functional impairment. This lack of survival advantage suggests that factors other than persistent tumour, such as scar formation, may contribute to reduction of regional lung function after chemotherapy for small cell bronchogenic carcinoma.