title: Trans-bronchoscopy with implantation of125I radioactive seeds in patients with pulmonary atelectasis induced by lung cancer.
abstract: To evaluate the role of low-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy using trans-bronchoscope125I radioactive seeds implantation in patients with pulmonary atelectasis induced by lung cancer, in terms of feasibility, safety, quality of life (QOL), and survival time. Between April 2008 and June 2011, 15 patients from two medical institutions that had obstructive pulmonary atelectasis caused by inoperable lung cancer were assigned to receive125I implantation endoluminal brachytherapy by bronchoscopy. Subsequent to the implantation of125I seeds, the outcomes were measured in terms of procedure success rate, reopening of atelectasis, complications associated with the procedure, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores and survival time. The surgical procedure was successfully performed in all 15 patients. No procedure-associated mortality occurred and the complications were mild and considered acceptable. Irritable cough and temporary increase of hemoptysis occurred in 11 (73.3%) and 10 (66.7%) patients respectively, and were the most common complications. The pulmonary atelectasis reopening rate subsequent to the procedure was 86.7, 76.9, 80.0, 75.0 and 50.0% at 2, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, respectively. The KPS score significantly improved following the implantation of125I seeds and the duration of improvement ranged between 3 and 27 months. The median and mean survival times were 15.6 and 16 months, respectively. Actuarial survival rates at 6, 12 and 24 months after the procedure were 86.7, 66.7 and 13.3%, respectively. In patients with advanced lung cancer and those presenting with obstructive pulmonary atelectasis, treatment with intraluminal implantation of125I seeds is a safe and effective therapy option with easy accessibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Mingjian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Guizhou Astronautics Hospital, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Deli
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Guizhou Astronautics Hospital, Zunyi, Guizhou 563003, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiangrong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhenyin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Sristi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fujun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: 125I radioactive seed; brachytherapy; bronchscope; lung cancer; pulmonary atelectasis