Lung abscesses following corticosteroid therapy for central nervous system metastases

Although the occurrence of lung abscesses has decreased among the general population since the advent of antibiotics, a specific subgroup of cancer patients has demonstrated a propensity for this complication. Four patients with lung cancer, receiving corticosteroid therapy for brain metastases, developed large lung abscesses. These patients represent 12% of the 33 patients with central nervous system metastases seen in this institution over the period of one year. Physicians should be alert to this possible complication of corticosteroid therapy in patients with lung cancer.