Klin Onkol 1998; 11(5): 168-172.
Summary: The symptomatology of malignant intrabronchial obstructions has a serious negative effect on (he life quality of patients. Intrabronchial brachytherapy can play an important role in the palliation of these symptoms. Between December 1996 and October 1997 eighteen patients suffering from malignant intrabronchial obstructions have been treated with intraluminar brachytherapy in the Department of Radiation Oncology of the University Maternity Hospital in Brno. The first group (5 patients) was treated with the combination of intraluminar brachytherapy and external actinotherapy. The second group (5 patients) was given intraluminar radiotherapy only. Finally, the third group (8 patients who had relapsed after previous external radiotherapy) underwent intraluminar brachytnerapy only. The Gammamed HDR automatical afterloading equipment was used to treat all patterns. Four out of five patients in the first group showed both symptomatic relief and objective response. There was no objective response nor a subjective improvement in one case. In the second group, bronchoscopy confirmed the complete disapperance of the intrabronchial lesions in two cases with early intrabronchial tumor, two patients reported significant improvement of the symptoms and one patient didn't benefit at all. In the third group, 4 out of seven symptomatic patients benefited from intraluminar brachytherapy, while one progressed during treatment and another two reported no symptomatic improvement. Six out of 8 patients presented an objective response. There were no acute complications recorded. The short follow-up and limited number of patients don't allow comment on the late effects and survival, in conclusion, intraluminar brachytherapy is an effective and safe approach for palliatiation of malignant bronchial obstruction.
