Management of malignant airway obstruction: clinical and dosimetric considerations using an iridium-192 afterloading technique in conjunction with the neodymium-YAG laser

Conference · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5652547

Schray, M F; McDougall, J C; Martinez, A; Edmundson, G K; Cortese, D A

Fourteen patients with malignant airway obstruction have had 21 placements of a flexible nylon catheter for afterloading iridium-192 using the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. Prescribed therapy was completed in 13 patients (18 courses). All patients had prior full-dose external irradiation, and no effective surgical or chemotherapeutic options remained. While many have had a trial of neodymium-YAG (yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser therapy alone, eight patients received laser treatment one to three weeks prior to planned brachytherapy to provide immediate relief of symptoms and/or facilitate access and safe catheter placement. Most patients (64%) had recurrent squamous cell lung cancer. A dose of 3000 cGy is currently specified to 5 mm and 10 mm in the bronchus and trachea, respectively. Nine of the 13 treated patients have had follow-up bronchoscopy at approximately three months post-treatment with improvement documented in seven and progression in two patients. A single patient treated with laser and 6000 rad at 5 mm developed a bronchoesophageal fistula. No other complication has been observed. The technique is simple and safe with the use of laser therapy when needed and appears to offer effective palliation in most patients even when standard therapy is exhausted.

• Research Organization: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
• OSTI ID: 5652547
• Report Number(s): CONF-840194-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Journal Volume: 11:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550603 -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Therapy-- (1980-)
560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AFTERLOADING
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BODY
CARCINOMAS
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
EDEMA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
ESOPHAGUS
FISTULAE
HEAVY NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
IRIDIUM 192
IRIDIUM ISOTOPES
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
LUNGS
MEDICINE
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NEODYMIUM LASERS
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATIENTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SIDE EFFECTS
SOLID STATE LASERS
SYMPTOMS
THERAPY
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES