Temporary tracheobronchial stenting in malignant lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
Temporary stenting is a new strategy in the treatment of malignant airway stenoses. Patients receive stents as primary palliation followed by tumor-specific therapy in order to reduce the stenosis and subsequently remove the stent.


METHODS
We investigated this strategy of temporary airway stenting in 5 consecutive patients with malignant lymphoma (Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, n = 3; Hodgkin's lymphoma, n = 2) who presented with severe dyspnoea. Nine stents (six Strecker, three Dumon stents) were implanted into the trachea or main bronchi. After stenting, patients underwent tumor-specific therapy (chemotherapy, n = 4; percutaneous radiotherapy, n = 1).


RESULTS
Clinical improvement of dyspnoea and stridor was observed in each patient after stent implantation. In 4 patients (80%), stents could easily be removed after successful tumor-specific therapy, which led to reduction of stenosis after a mean interval of 26 days (14 to 52 days). One patient died during chemotherapy 6 days after stenting.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that temporary stenting is a valuable strategy in chemo- and radiosensitive malignancies, as it ameliorates the patients' respiratory condition until tumor-specific therapy is effective, and prevents poststenotic complications. It integrates stent implantation in a multi-therapy concept.
Schmidt
B
B
Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical School Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Massenkeil
G
G
John
M
M
Arnold
R
R
Witt
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome