[A case of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by radio-chemotherapy (RAFP therapy) of brain metastasis of stomach cancer].

A 77-year-old male was admitted to the hospital because of left hemiparesis secondary to multifocal cerebral metastases from adenocarcinoma of the stomach. He was treated with combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy consisting of ACNU, Tegafur and PSK. He was in good condition, but abruptly developed severe dyspnea 40 days after administration of Tegafur and 28 days after that of ACNU. Chest X-ray at that time revealed diffuse opacity involving entire lung fields associated with marked hypoxia. The patient expired 9 days after this episode. The autopsy revealed acute interstitial pneumonitis associated with hyaline membrane formation consistent with adult respiratory distress syndrome involving entire lobes of both lungs without metastases. As to the etiology of the ARDS in this case, we concluded that the administration of Tegafur was the most likely as to the cause, although the possibility of betamethasone was not ruled out. The remaining factors were not likely as to the cause of the ARDS in this case.