ABSTRACT
The majority of clinical trials do not report the details of pulmonary toxicity, and literature reports may describe pulmonary toxicity based upon clinical or radiographic criteria like acute lung injury, pneumonitis, noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or other pathologic findings. The time of presentation is also variable, it might present early during the first cycle of therapy or with subsequent treatments. Bleomycin pulmonary toxicities can present as subacute progressive pulmonary fibrosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and organizing pneumonia. Taxanes pulmonary toxicities can present as an acute infusion reaction or subacute diffuse interstitial pneumonitis. Taxanes-induced pulmonary toxicity needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis when patients receiving these agents develop respiratory symptoms. The treatment of antineoplastic pulmonary toxicity includes drug discontinuation, glucocorticoid therapy, and supportive care. In patients who have distressing dyspnea, systemic opioids are recommended to improve comfort.
