29 March 2020
: Case report
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Secondary to Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Case Report
Unusual or unexpected effect of treatment
Juliano B. Alhaddad1BEF*, Jerar Z. Bleibel2EF, Mayssaa Hoteit1EF, Souad Bou Harb1EF, Youssef B. Haddad23BEFDOI: 10.12659/AJCR.919477
Am J Case Rep 2020; 21:e919477
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy is often used as an adjuvant therapy in breast cancer following surgical resection of the primary malignant tumor. It has multiple respiratory side effects, but acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a rare complication. We describe here the case of a woman with breast cancer who developed ARDS 1 week after her final radiotherapy session.
CASE REPORT: A 69-year-old female with breast cancer presented 1 week after her final session of radiotherapy. She had developed a sudden onset of hypotension unresponsive to fluids, oxygen desaturation unresponsive to high flow oxygen, and new bilateral infiltrates had appeared on chest x-ray (CXR) predominant in the left upper lobe, which was interestingly the main area affected by the radiotherapy beams. A diagnosis of atypical ARDS secondary to radiotherapy was established. She was intubated and a low tidal volume/high positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) strategy was utilized to manage her condition. After 48 hours, the infiltrates diminished remarkably, and she was extubated the following day. On discharge, she had a completely normal CXR; a computed tomography (CT) chest performed 1 month later showed complete resolution of the alveolar opacities.
CONCLUSIONS: ARDS remains an extremely rare complication of thoracic radiotherapy. However, physicians must be wary of its development in order to diagnose it quickly and treat accordingly.
Keywords: Breast Neoplasms, Radiotherapy, Adjuvant, severe acute respiratory syndrome, Aged, Dyspnea, Hypotension, hypoxia, Positive-Pressure Respiration, Radiation Injuries, Respiration, Artificial, respiratory distress syndrome
1266 16
In Press
28 Sep 2023 : Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.940892
28 Sep 2023 : Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.941668
28 Sep 2023 : Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.941808
28 Sep 2023 : Case report
Am J Case Rep In Press; DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.940411
Most Viewed Current Articles
06 Dec 2021 : Case report
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.934406
Am J Case Rep 2021; 22:e934406
07 Dec 2021 : Case report
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.934347
Am J Case Rep 2021; 22:e934347
13 Jul 2022 : Case report
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.936441
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e936441
23 Feb 2022 : Case report
DOI :10.12659/AJCR.935250
Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e935250