Pneumonitis, radiation

Pneumonitis, radiation
Inflammation of the lungs as a result of radiation. Although the radiation can be from various sources including accidents, today it is usually from radiation therapy. Radiation pneumonitis typically occurs after radiation treatments for cancers within the chest or breast. Radiation pneumonitis usually manifests itself 2 weeks to 6 months after completion of radiation therapy. Symptoms include shortness of breath upon activity, cough and fever. Radiation pneumonitis frequently is discovered serendipitously, as an incidental finding on chest x-ray in patients who have no symptoms. Blood testing can indicate inflammation is present in the body. Abnormally white blood count and sedimentation rates are common. If radiation pneumonitis persists, it can lead to scarring of the lungs, referred to as radiation fibrosis. Radiation fibrosis typically occurs a year after the completion of radiation treatments. Radiation pneumonitis is often reversible with medications that reduce inflammation, such as cortisone drugs (prednisone and others). Radiation fibrosis is usually irreversible and permanent.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Radiation fibrosis — Scarring of the lungs from radiation. Radiation fibrosis is a sequel of radiation pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs due to radiation), as from radiation therapy. Radiation pneumonitis typically occurs after radiation treatments for cancer… …   Medical dictionary

  • Radiation pneumonitis — Inflammation of the lungs as a result of radiation. Although the radiation can be from various sources including accidents, today it is usually from radiation therapy. Radiation pneumonitis typically occurs after radiation treatments for cancers… …   Medical dictionary

  • pneumonitis — Inflammation of the lungs. SEE ALSO: pneumonia. SYN: pulmonitis. [G. pneumon, lung, + itis, inflammation] acute interstitial p. usually considered a form of hypersensitivity p.. hypersensitivity p …   Medical dictionary

  • Fibrosis, radiation — Scarring of the lungs from radiation. Radiation fibrosis is a sequel of radiation pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs due to radiation), as from radiation therapy. Radiation pneumonitis typically occurs after radiation treatments for cancer… …   Medical dictionary

  • Selective internal radiation therapy — (SIRT) is a form of radiation therapy used to treat cancer. It is generally for selected patients with unresectable cancers, those which cannot be treated surgically, especially hepatic cell carcinoma or metastasis to the liver. The treatment… …   Wikipedia

  • Pulmonary toxicity — is the medical name for side effects on the lungs.Although most cases of pulmonary toxicity in medicine are due to side effects of medicinal drugs, many cases can be due to side effects of radiation (radiotherapy). Other (non medical) causes of… …   Wikipedia

  • respiratory disease — ▪ human disease Introduction  any of the diseases and disorders that affect human respiration (respiration, human).  Diseases of the respiratory system may affect any of the structures and organs that have to do with breathing, including the… …   Universalium

  • ICD-10 Chapter X: Diseases of the respiratory system — International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision Chapter Blocks Title I A00–B99 Certain infectious and parasitic diseases II C00–D48 Neoplasms III D50–D89 Diseases of the blood and blood forming… …   Wikipedia

  • poison — poisoner, n. poisonless, adj. poisonlessness, n. /poy zeuhn/, n. 1. a substance with an inherent property that tends to destroy life or impair health. 2. something harmful or pernicious, as to happiness or well being: the poison of slander. 3.… …   Universalium

  • Effects of nuclear explosions on human health — See also Effects of Nuclear Explosions Nuclear weapons History Warfare Arms race Design Testing Effects …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”