Cryotherapy in early superficial bronchogenic carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Treatment of early superficial bronchogenic carcinoma (ESBC) is under debate, and no consensus has been achieved. Different therapeutic methods have been proposed, including surgical resection and endoscopic methods.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of cryotherapy in patients with ESBC.


METHODS
Patients included in the study had histologically proven ESBC after fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Cryotherapy was performed through a rigid bronchoscope. Efficacy was assessed by endoscopy with multiple biopsies 1 month after treatment and during the follow-up period. Parameters studied were response to treatment, adverse effects, and survival.


RESULTS
We included 35 patients (34 men and 1 woman). The mean age was 61 +/- 9 years. Multiple locations of ESBC were observed in seven patients (20%). Complete response rate at both 1 month and 1 year was 91% (32 patients). No severe adverse effects were noted. Local recurrence was observed within 4 years in 10 patients (28%). A follow-up period of at least 4 years was available in 22 patients; of them, 11 patients (50%) were long-term survivors.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that cryotherapy is an effective method of treatment in patients with ESBC. Due to its relative tolerance compared to surgery, cryotherapy could be proposed as a first-line therapy in this population with high carcinogenic risk.
Deygas
N
N
Service de pneumologie et d'oncologie thoracique, Hôpital Nord, Saint-Etienne, France.
Froudarakis
M
M
Ozenne
G
G
Vergnon
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D015996:Survival Rate