Implantation of (125)I radioactive seeds via c-TBNA combined with chemotherapy in an advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma patient

BACKGROUND: The critical management of advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), especially when complicated by severe airway stenosis, is difficult and often leads to high clinical risks and medical costs. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old previously healthy male was admitted to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Taizhou People’s Hospital, in November 2018 for haemoptysis and difficulty breathing during a 15-d period. Following admission, chest computed tomography (CT) showed a large mass in the left hilum with atelectasis in the left upper lobe and obstructive pneumonia in the left lower lobe. Bronchoscopy revealed that the lesions occurred in the distal segment of the left main trachea, with occlusion of the left upper bronchus and significant narrowing of the lower bronchus. A basal mucosal biopsy of the lump tissue was performed after haemostasis treatment with sub-plasma coagulation (APC), and squamous lung carcinoma was confirmed. Following the final diagnosis, the patient was successfully treated with implantation of (125)I radioactive seeds via transbronchial needle aspiration (c-TBNA) combined with chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: We believe that implantation of (125)I radioactive seeds via c-TBNA is an effective treatment for patients with advanced lung cancer and those presenting with severe and mixed main bronchus stenosis.