Photodynamic therapy for endobronchial metastases from nonbronchogenic primaries.
BACKGROUND
Endobronchial metastases (EBM) occur in 2% of nonbronchogenic malignancies and frequently present with hemoptysis or dyspnea. This report summarizes our recent experience with photodynamic therapy (PDT) for EBM.


METHODS
All patients who have undergone PDT for the treatment of symptomatic EBM from nonbronchogenic primaries were identified in the Division of Thoracic Surgery database to determine number of treatments, frequency of symptom relief, and patient survival.


RESULTS
Endobronchial PDT was administered to 27 patients from April 1997 through December 2000. The predominant primary tumor was renal cell (44%). Endobronchial metastases presented metachronously in 74% of patients. Patients underwent a median of two PDT treatments. Local anesthesia with sedation was used in 76% of treatments. Four patients (15%) developed immediate postoperative respiratory distress. Follow-up bronchoscopy 24 to 48 hours after initial treatment demonstrated tumor necrosis in all cases. Acute relief of hemoptysis and dyspnea was achieved in 85% of patients. Seven patients died within 6 weeks of treatment. Median survival time after PDT was 4 months (range 0.2 to 30 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with EBM treated with PDT had a median survival of 4 months and patients with limited metastatic disease survived up to 30 months. Photodynamic therapy was effective in palliating hemoptysis or dyspnea from EBM with an acceptable morbidity, although the 30-day mortality was 22%.
Litle
Virginia R
VR
Division of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Christie
Neil A
NA
Fernando
Hiran C
HC
Buenaventura
Percival O
PO
Ferson
Peter F
PF
Luketich
James D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017323:Dihematoporphyrin Ether