Purpose: To observe the efficiency of reirradiation with high dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy in symptomatic palliation of recurrent endobronchial tumors.
Materials and methods: Between January 1994 and June 1998, 21 patients diagnosed with recurrent endobronchial tumors following external beam radiotherapy were treated palliatively with high dose rate intraluminal irradiation at Hacettepe University Oncology Institute. A single fraction of 10 Gy was prescribed to the specified area in 9 patients and 15 Gy to 12.
Results: Endobronchial treatment improved the performance and reduced symptomatology in 17 (81%) patients. Ten dyspneic patients (10/14, 71%) recovered clinically with an accompanying radiological downstaging. The median symptomatic palliation was 45 days (range, 0-9 months), and the overall median survival was 5.5 months (range, 4-12 months). The palliative intrabronchial brachytherapy was well tolerated, with the exception of in one patient with a fatal hemorrhage, and another with medically salvaged bronchospasm and intrabronchial edema.
Conclusion: Recurrent patients with a history of previous thoracic external beam irradiation can be effectively palliated with high dose rate endobronchial reirradiation if the symptoms are directly related to the endobronchial tumor.