Clinical experience with an endobronchial implant.
OBJECTIVE
To report clinical experience with an implantable capsule for treating endobronchial carcinoma by means of bronchoscopic insertion and retrieval.


METHODS
The capsule consists of a plastic cylinder containing high-activity iodine-125 seeds and four restraining legs. Twelve patients with recurrent (n = 11) or inoperable carcinoma (n = 1) received a median dose of 4,500 (range, 2,633-6,299) cGy at a 1-cm radius from the center of the implant.


RESULTS
No acute toxicities were observed. Five patients had complete regression of the endobronchial tumor, evidenced at bronchoscopy 2 months after therapy, and four patients had partial regression. Three patients failed to return for bronchoscopy. Symptomatic relief was achieved in eight of 10 patients with dyspnea, four of nine with cough, and two of three with hemoptysis. The median survival of the 12 patients was 6 months. The actuarial 1-year survival rate was 25%.


CONCLUSIONS
This capsule is safe and efficacious in treating recurrent or inoperable carcinoma of the lung.
Marsh
B R
BR
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Colvin
D P
DP
Zinreich
E S
ES
Jackson
J F
JF
Lee
D J
DJ
D000368:Aged; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000532:radiotherapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D015996:Survival Rate
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes