A case of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia primed by radiation of breast cancer demonstrating migrating infiltration

Several cases of bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) occurring after radiation therapy for breast cancer had been reported recently. A 52-year-old woman underwent conserving surgery for breast cancer and received radiation therapy to the remaining part of the breast. About 3 months after the radiation therapy, cough and fever developed. The X-ray and chest CT showed an infiltrative shadow in the upper and middle right lung. BOOP was identified in the transbronchial lung biopsy specimen. Steroid therapy showed a remarkable improvement. In the course of follow-up, new infiltrative shadows developed in the lower right lung. Steroid therapy again showed a remarkable improvement and there has been no recurrence. We report a case of BOOP primed by radiation to the breast cancer who showed the radiological recurrence and the migrating infiltrative opacity. (author)