Objective  This work aimed to evaluate the radiotherapy-induced toxicity in the lungs of breast carcinoma patients and to analyze the associated factors.

  Methods  A retrospective review was performed on data from 238 breast carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy at the Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between January 2007 and January 2010. The radiation dose of the therapy was 50 Gy. Chest X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained from all patients. Radiation-induced toxicity was diagnosed by comparing the CT scans and other related clinical symptoms. The degree of radiation-induced toxicity was defined according to the Criteria of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) of the USA, the retrospective clinical data, and other related factors, as well as the physical parameters related to radiation-induced pneumonitis. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted.

  Results  Based on the RTOG criteria, acute post-irradiation lung injury was observed in only 18 of the 238 cases (7.6%).

  Conclusion  The mode of surgery and the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are significantly associated with pneumonitis in breast carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy.