Endobronchial brachytherapy for lung cancer: what can the patient and family expect?

Abstract

A s early as 1922, the implantation of radon seeds in pulmonary lesions via rigid bronchoscope has been described (Muto, Ravo, Panelli, Ligouri, & Gaetano, 2000). The term brachytherapy is derived from the Greek words brachys, meaning short, and theraepia, meaning treatment, and refers to short-distance radiation. With the advent of remote afterloading equipment, both lowand highdose brachytherapy can be performed. Treatment involves the placement of encapsulated radioactive sources within or in close proximity to a tumor. It is a modality available for palliative treatment of airway obstruction caused by tumor, usually bronchogenic carcinoma (Villanueva, Lo, & Beamis, 1995). High dose rate (HDR) endobronchial brachytherapy has been found to effectively relieve airway obstruction (Delclos, Davis, Komaki, Garden, & Morice, 1996). Studies have compared the efficacy of this treatment related to symptom management and have demon-