title: Bronchoscopic palliation to treat endobronchial metastasis of the tracheobronchial tree.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endobronchial metastases (EBM) are rarely observed, but they are caused by a number of different tumors. Bronchoscopy is the main approach for both differential diagnosis and to maintain endoluminal palliation. In this study, consecutive EBM cases that had been diagnosed and treated were evaluated in a retrospective cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 18 pathologically verified patients with EBM originating from extrathoracic tumors who were referred to our interventional pulmonology unit with respiratory symptoms were retrospectively evaluated. Tumor type, metastasis location, treatment method and frequency, and complications were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, there were 18 patients (13 women) with EBM enrolled in this study. All were diagnosed by a bronchial biopsy. The mean age of the patients was 48±15.24 years (range: 24-76 years). The most frequent sites of origin of the metastases were the bone (5) and kidney. Obstructions were observed in the tracheas of 12 patients, in the right main bronchi of 10, and in the left main bronchi of 11. Twelve airway stents were placed in nine patients. The removal of the obstruction was effective in the remaining patients. The mean number of treatment applications was 1.47 (range: 1-3). Hemorrhage, mucostasis, and granulation were observed. The median follow-up duration was 528 days (range: 62-1177 days). The median survival time for the patients who died was 122 days (range: 2-885 days).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBM is rare, and bronchoscopy is the primary method of diagnosis, followed by palliation, if necessary.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul Bilim University, School of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Sisli Florence Nightingale Hospital, Abidei Hurriyet cd. 166, Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: leventdalar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dalar
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, Istasyon Yolu cad, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: cengizoz78@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, Istasyon Yolu cad, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: sinemtimur@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sinem Nedime
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Sökücü
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, Istasyon Yolu cad, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: leventkarasulu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karasulu
authors.affiliation: Yedikule Teaching Hospital for Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, Istasyon Yolu cad, Zeytinburnu, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: draltinsedat@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Altın
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004094:Dihydropteroate Synthase; D017854:Diphosphotransferases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D010166:Palliative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C496524:Fol1 protein, S cerevisiae; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D004094:Dihydropteroate Synthase; D017854:Diphosphotransferases; D000446:Aldehyde-Lyases
keywords: Endobronchial metastases; Interventional bronchoscopy; Stent; Survival