# A Case of Tegafur-Uracil-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease Presenting as Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

**Authors:** Manato Taguchi, Takumi Kiwamoto, Kai Kawashima, Kazuhumi Yoshida, Nobuyuki Hizawa

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.103741 · Cureus · 2026-02-16

## TL;DR

A 77-year-old man developed lung disease after chemotherapy, which was linked to a specific drug combination.

## Contribution

This is the first reported case of UFT-induced interstitial lung disease presenting as hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

## Key findings

- The patient developed interstitial lung disease following UFT and leucovorin therapy.
- Chest imaging showed a hypersensitivity pneumonia pattern associated with UFT.
- Corticosteroid treatment led to rapid improvement in respiratory symptoms.

## Abstract

This report describes the case of a 77-year-old man undergoing chemotherapy for synchronous lung cancer and rectal cancer. After receiving tegafur-uracil (UFT) plus leucovorin in combination with bevacizumab for rectal cancer, he developed exertional dyspnea. Chest computed tomography revealed diffuse bilateral centrilobular nodules and ground-glass opacities, suggesting a hypersensitivity pneumonia (HP) pattern of drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DI-ILD), and he was therefore admitted for further evaluation and treatment. Bronchoalveolar lavage demonstrated an increased lymphocyte fraction with a decreased CD4/CD8 ratio, and a drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test was positive only for UFT. Based on the clinical course and these findings, the patient was diagnosed with UFT-induced interstitial lung disease. His respiratory condition improved rapidly following corticosteroid therapy. DI-ILD associated with UFT is rare, and to the best of our knowledge, no previous reports have described an HP pattern on imaging. We therefore report this case with a review of the relevant literature.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** tegafur-uracil (PubChem CID 104747), leucovorin (PubChem CID 135403648)
- **Diseases:** lung cancer (MONDO:0005138), rectal cancer (MONDO:0006519), interstitial lung disease (MONDO:0015925), hypersensitivity pneumonitis (MONDO:0017853)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CD8A (CD8 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 925] {aka CD8, CD8alpha, IMD116, Leu2, p32}, CD4 (CD4 molecule) [NCBI Gene 920] {aka CD4mut, IMD79, Leu-3, OKT4D, T4}
- **Diseases:** DI-ILD (MESH:D017563), lung cancer (MESH:D008175), HP (MESH:D011014), rectal cancer (MESH:D012004), Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (MESH:D000542), dyspnea (MESH:D004417)
- **Chemicals:** Tegafur-Uracil (-), bevacizumab (MESH:D000068258), leucovorin (MESH:D002955)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

2 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13000663/full.md

## References

16 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13000663/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC13000663