Pneumonitis in Older Lung Cancer Patients After Radiotherapy

The patients are asked to complete a paper-based questionnaire (symptom-based scoring system, paper version) once a week during and up to 24 weeks following radiotherapy. The patients state and score symptoms potentially associated with pneumonitis, namely cough, shortness of breath and fever. Scoring points are assigned to severity of the symptoms, and sum scores are used to identify pneumonitis. During the radiotherapy course, patients complete the questionnaire prior to regular appointments with a physician. Following radiotherapy, they are contacted by phone (to minimize the number of hospital visits) once a week for completion of the questionnaire. In case of an increase of the total score when compared to baseline, patients receive a follow-up phone call after 3 days, are asked to come to the hospital as outpatients or are admitted to hospital.