Skip to main content
PMC home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1977 Feb;32(1):35–39. doi: 10.1136/thx.32.1.35

Clinical improvement of patients with emphysema after radiotherapy.

A T Axford, J E Cotes, T J Deeley, C W Smith
PMCID: PMC470522  PMID: 841531

Abstract

In advanced emphysema the reduced lung retractive force permits dynamic compression of the airways during expiration; this gives rise to breathlessness which is often refractory to conventional remedies. Radiotherapy causes shrinkage of lung tissue and has therefore been given as treatment to 10 patients with emphysema. They have been followed for two years, during which time three have died from various causes, but no adverse effect of radiotherapy has been observed. All the patients at some time experienced a reduction in breathlessness on exertion and an increase in the range of their daily activities; the distensibility of their lungs was on average reduced but the response to test exercise was not altered. The possibility that the clinical improvement may have been a placebo effect is now being investigated.

Full text

PDF
35

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ABBOTT O. A., HOPKINS W. A., VAN FLEIT W. E., ROBINSON J. S. A new approach to pulmonary emphysema. Thorax. 1953 Jun;8(2):116–132. doi: 10.1136/thx.8.2.116. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cotes J. E. Response to progressive exercise: a three-index test. Br J Dis Chest. 1972 Jul;66(3):169–184. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DEELEY T. J. The effects of radiation on the lungs in the treatment of carcinoma of the bronchus. Clin Radiol. 1960 Jan;11:33–39. doi: 10.1016/s0009-9260(60)80064-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. DEELEY T. J. The effects of radiation on the normal lung. Cancer Prog. 1960:153–164. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. EMIRGIL C., HEINEMANN H. O. Effects of irradiation of chest on pulmonary function in man. J Appl Physiol. 1961 Mar;16:331–338. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1961.16.2.331. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Pride N. B., Hugh-Jones P., O'Brien E. N., Smith L. A. Changes in lung function following the surgical treatment of bullous emphysema. Q J Med. 1970 Jan;39(153):49–69. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Svarcer V., Fowler J. F., Deeley T. J. Exit doses for lung fields measured by lithium fluoride thermoluminescence. Br J Radiol. 1965 Oct;38(454):785–790. doi: 10.1259/0007-1285-38-454-785. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES