Restrictive lung disease following treatment for malignant brain tumors: a potential late effect of craniospinal irradiation.

PURPOSE

To examine the effects of lomustine (CCNU), a commonly used nitrosourea, and craniospinal radiation therapy on the subsequent development of restrictive lung disease (RLD) following treatment for malignant brain tumors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Pulmonary function testing with measurement of lung volume, spirometry, and diffusion capacity was performed in 28 patients who had received CCNU and/or radiation therapy as treatment for a malignant brain tumor. The median age at the time of treatment was 11.4 years (range, 3.9 to 36.7) and radiation therapy was completed 6 months to 11.6 years (median, 2.6 years) before testing. Patients were divided into four groups based on prior therapy. Group 1 received involved-field irradiation and a CCNU-containing chemotherapy regimen (n = 7); group 2, craniospinal irradiation with a boost to the primary tumor site and a CCNU-containing chemotherapy regimen (n = 6); group 3, craniospinal irradiation with a boost to the primary tumor site and a non-CCNU-containing chemotherapy regimen (n = 7); and group 4, craniospinal irradiation with a boost to the primary tumor site without chemotherapy (n = 8).

RESULTS

Fourteen patients (50%) had findings consistent with RLD. One of seven patients (14.3%) who received CCNU without spinal irradiation had RLD, whereas 13 of 21 (61.9%) who received spinal irradiation with or without CCNU had RLD (P = .038), including four of eight patients treated with craniospinal irradiation alone. Logistic regression analysis showed that only spinal irradiation was a significant predictor for RLD. Patients who received spinal irradiation were 4.3 times more likely to have RLD than those who did not receive spinal irradiation.

CONCLUSION

Spinal irradiation may be a risk factor for the development of RLD.