Pitfalls in the assessment of late lung damage in irradiated mice: complications related to pleural effusion; and reply

This letter serves to compile data from various laboratories (much of it already presented in existing publications) to illustrate that pleural effusions are the leading cause of increased breathing rate and lethality 6 months, after fractionated irradiation, that it is unrelated to pulmonary damage and that the assumptions of Parkins et al. (1988) are likely to be incorrect. Parkins' reply is also presented. (author)