J Korean Soc Ther Radiol.  1996 Jun;14(2):123-128.

Endobronchial Brachytherapy for MalignantAirway Obstruction: Low Dose Rate Versus High Dose Rate

• Cho YK

Abstract

PURPOSE: This is a retrospective study to compare the palliation rates, survival rates and complications of low dose rate and high dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy in the management of malignant airway obstruction.
METHODS
AND MATERIALS: Forty three consecutive patients with malignant airway compromise from primary or metastatic lung tumors were treated with low dose rate(LDR) endobronchial Iridium-192 insertion (21 patients) between October 1988 and June 1992, and high dose rate(HDR) endobronchial brachytherapy(22 patients) between August 1992 and April 1994 with palliative aim. Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy under fluoroscopic control was utilized in all 91 provedures. Twenty seven LDR provedures delivereda dose of 5-7.5 Gy to a 1.0 cm radius respectively.
RESULTS
Subjective and objective responses to treatments were evaluated on follow-up examinations by clinical examination, chest x-rays and CT scan of the chest had been demonstrated on 8 LDR patients and 10 HDR patients.
CONCLUSION
The technique of LDR and HDR endobronchial brachytherapy is simple and well tolerated procedure with minimal morbidity. It provides excellent palliation by keeping airway patent in these short life-spanned patients.

Keyword

Endobronchial Brachytherapy; Low Dose Rate; High Dose Rate; RadiationTherapy; Palliation; Malignant Airway Obstruction

MeSH Terms

Airway Obstruction
Brachytherapy*
Bronchoscopy
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Lung
Radius
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed