Fall in Diffusing Capacity Associated With Induction Therapy for Lung Cancer: A Predictor of Postoperative Complication?

For patients who undergo a pulmonary resection after induction therapy, predicted postoperative %Dlco is more important to predict pulmonary morbidity rather than static pulmonary function (predicted postoperative %VC or %FEV1). The decrease in Dlco is thought to reflect a limited gas exchange reserve, caused by the potential toxicity of chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. We believe that the impact of diffusion limitation after induction therapy should to be emphasized to decrease the pulmonary morbidity.