Fallacy of Considering Low dose Lung Radiotherapy in Treating Covid Lung

Abstract

There is a raging argument amongst Oncologist regarding offering low dose lung radiotherapy in patients with covid infection with lung symptoms. There is huge enthusiasm amongst medical fraternity and appetite to offer experimental therapies so as to contribute in managing this pandemic associated morbidity and mortality.Although the intentions are noble, offering experimental therapies like Low dose lung radiotherapy without adequate scientific scrutiny risk causing more harm than good for patients. The main argument against Low dose Lung radiotherapy is risk of long term side effects of lung radiation. Simpler alternatives like steroids which are evidence backed are available for managing immunological effects of Covid infection .The epidemiological data strongly suggests that immunolocal lung damage is not the predominant cause of lung toxicity in this infection so targeting this pathway alone is unlikely yield beneficial clinical results. Recent data on lasting lung damage including pulmonary fibrosis in patients who have recovered from covid lung also increase the concerns around Lung Radiotherapy.