Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adult survivors of childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumors may be at risk for pulmonary dysfunction. This study enumerates the incidence of pulmonary dysfunction and explores associations between craniospinal irradiation (CSI) and pulmonary dysfunction among survivors of childhood CNS tumors. METHODS: Participants included Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) cohort members treated for CNS malignancies when 3.0 for asthma, chronic cough and need for extra oxygen. Rates of fibrosis (RR 2.0, 95% CI 1.0-3.9), chest wall abnormalities (RR 19.0, 95% CI 4.2-85.7), chronic cough (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.1) and need for supplemental oxygen (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.9-3.3) were higher among survivors than among siblings. Survivors treated with CSI were 10.4 (95% CI 7.6-14.4) times more likely than those not exposed to report chest wall deformity. CONCLUSION: Adult survivors of CNS malignancy have high rates of pulmonary dysfunction 5+ years after diagnosis. Survivors treated with CSI should be monitored for pulmonary disease to permit early interventions.