CT-guided (125)I brachytherapy on pulmonary metastases after resection of colorectal cancer: A report of six cases

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world and distant metastasis is the main cause of cancer-related mortality. Percutaneous computed tomography (CT) guided radioactive (125)I seed implantation (CTRISI) is a minimally invasive technique used to treat pulmonary metastases in CRC patients. In the present study, following colorectal cancer resection, six patients with pulmonary metastases were treated with computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous implantation of radioactive (125)I seeds. At six months following seed implantation, CT examination was performed and compared with the images captured prior to the treatment. Of the total 13 lesions, four had disappeared, eight were reduced by >50% and one was enlarged, indicating that the local control rate was 92.3% (12/13). Overall, two patients developed intraoperative pneumothorax and one experienced hemoptysis subsequent to the procedure. Following a median follow-up period of 31 months, no local recurrence was observed in 12 of the metastatic lesions. The mean survival time was 32.7 months and the median survival time was 31 months.