title: The effect of Nd:YAG laser resection on symptom control, time to progression and survival in lung cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Nd:YAG laser resection of centrally located tumors on the control of various symptoms and signs, time to progression and survival in lung cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the effects of Nd: YAG laser resection in combination with high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) vs. combination of HDR brachytherapy and EBRT alone on lung cancer symptoms and signs, ECOG performance status, time to progression and overall survival in lung cancer patients. Patients in group I (n=81) were treated with combination of HDR brachytherapy and EBRT, while patients in group II (n=97) were treated with Nd:YAG laser in combination with HDR brachytherapy and EBRT. Patients were evaluated before and after treatment, and were followed-up regularly every 3 months until the end of life. After RT +/- laser treatment all patients received standard chemotherapy (cisplatin plus etoposide) during the course of disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment in both groups significant improvement in all investigated parameters was seen. Improvement in dyspnoea, thoracic pain, body weight loss and ECOG performance status was significantly better in group II (p <0.05), as were time to progression and overall survival (p <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser resection improves symptom control in lung cancer patients with central airway obstruction (CAO). Longer time to progression and survival of lung cancer patients could be the result of imminent airway desobstruction accomplished with Nd:YAG laser.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Pulmonary Oncology, Department for Interventional Pulmonology, Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina, Sremska Kamenica, Medical Faculty, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. boyan_voyager@neobee.net
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zaric
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Canak
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milovancev
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jovanovic
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Budisin
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sarcev
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nisevic
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome