[Endobronchial brachytherapy: the Saint-Louis Hospital experience].

Abstract

PURPOSE:

During the evolution of lung cancer, bronchial obstruction is often noticed and is sometimes responsible for serious symptoms. Several methods of desobstruction can be proposed, including brachytherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

One hundred forty-nine patients presenting with endobronchial brachytherapy were included into the study. Seventy-three were treated with curative intent, 47 with palliative intent and 29 with a combination of external irradiation and brachytherapy. We usually delivered a series of two 7-Gy fractions (1 cm from the catheter), the treatment being repeated one, two or three times.

RESULTS:

When all symptoms were taken into account, respiratory function improvement was present in 79% of the patients. Among the 132 tumors that could be evaluated via a new endoscopy 2 months after treatment, 64 (48.5%) were in complete histological remission. The median survival was 14.4 months for the patients treated with curative intent. Eleven massive hemoptysies and 13 radiation bronchitis were observed.

CONCLUSION:

These results confirm the feasibility and good results related to endobronchial brachytherapy, though controlled studies are needed to better define its place in the therapeutic strategy of bronchial carcinomas.

• Authors: C Hennequin, J Trédaniel, C Durdux, G Zalcman, M Dray, D Manoux, M Perret, M Housset, A Hirsch, C Maylin
• Journal: Cancer radiotherapie : journal de la Societe francaise de radiotherapie oncologique (Cancer Radiother) Vol. 1 Issue 2 Pg. 159-64 ( 1997) ISSN: 1278-3218 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Curiethérapie endobronchique: l'expérience de l'hôpital Saint-Louis.
• PMID: 9273188 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Aged
• Brachytherapy (adverse effects, methods)
• Bronchial Neoplasms (complications, mortality, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Bronchoscopy
• Constriction, Pathologic (radiotherapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (mortality, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Palliative Care
• Radiotherapy Dosage
• Survival Rate
• Treatment Outcome