A case of brochiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia following postoperative lung cancer radiotherapy

A 71-year-old male received radiation therapy following a lobectomy for lung cancer in the left upper lobe. Four months later, chest CT films showed infiltrates in the right lower lobe and corticosteroid therapy resulted in rapid resolution of these abnormal shadows. However, new infiltrative shadows in the right upper lobe recurred after corticosteroid therapy was discontinued. Transbronchial lung biopsy of the abnormal shadows in the right upper lobe disclosed an organizing pneumonia with chronic inflammation of the bronchioles compatible with the histological pattern of BOOP. (author)