Clinical and endoscopic response to high dose rate endobronchial brachytherapy in malignant lung tumors: A single centre experience

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the short-term clinical, endoscopic response, and acute toxicities in endobronchial cancer treated with high-dose-rate endobronchial brachytherapy (HDR-EB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients of advanced endobronchial cancers were treated with HDR-EB. Brachytherapy was delivered at a depth of 1 cm from the source axis at weeks 1, 2, and 3 with 7 Gy per fraction. All patients were evaluated before treatment and at 1 month after completion of therapy. Using Speiser's scoring criteria, the severity of symptoms (dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and postobstructive pneumonia) and degree of obstruction were graded. RESULTS: Symptomatic response for cough, dyspnea, and hemoptysis was seen in 88%, 75%, and 96%, respectively, with a significant P value (<0.05). Obstructive pneumonia was resolved in 94% of patients. Endoscopic response in terms of degree of obstruction was seen in 84% of patients. Acute toxicities in the form of radiation bronchitis were seen in 32% of patients, whereas 8% of patients experienced esophagitis. Bronchospasm was seen in one patient during treatment. CONCLUSION: HDR brachytherapy is a highly effective, safe, convenient therapy in alleviating symptoms of endobronchial obstruction with endoscopic response in the majority of cases. Thus, HDR-BT is a promising treatment for palliation of patients presenting with symptoms of endobronchial obstruction with an acceptable rate of complications.