title: Fibrobronchoscopic cryosurgery for secondary malignant tumors of the trachea and main bronchi.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with secondary malignant tracheal and main bronchial tumors may suffer severe symptoms as a result of major airway obstruction. Curative surgical resection is usually not suitable because of the presence of metastatic disease and poor performance status. In this study, the use of bronchoscopic cryosurgery to reopen the airway is analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical records of 37 patients who experienced secondary maglinancies from December 2001 to January 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Low temperature cryotherapy (-50°C to -70°C) was delivered to the central part of the tumor by cryoprobe for four to six minutes causing destruction of the tumor mass (Cryo-melt method). Subsequently, the edge of the tumor was frozen for 30 seconds to two minutes, followed by piecemeal removal of the frozen tumor tissue (Cryo-resection method).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The endpoints of the study were degree of symptomatic improvement and survival. The rates of dramatic and partial symptomatic alleviation were 57.1% and 28.6%, respectively, there were no intraoperative deaths, and median survival was 16.0 months. Prolonged survival was significantly correlated to age (under 60 years of age 22.2% vs. over 60 100%, P = 0.011), tumor location (main bronchi 0% vs. trachea 77.8%, P = 0.003), and cryorecanalization times (once 33.3% vs. twice or more 80.0%, P = 0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bronchoscopic cryorecanalization is a safe, effective, non-invasive choice for improving the symptoms of malignant airway obstruction. In addition to achieving local-regional control, the technique may also contribute to improved survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Thoracic Surgery China-Japan Friendship Hospital Beijing China.
authors.forename: Qianli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of General Thoracic Surgery China-Japan Friendship Hospital Beijing China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of General Thoracic Surgery China-Japan Friendship Hospital Beijing China.
authors.forename: Yanchu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of General Thoracic Surgery China-Japan Friendship Hospital Beijing China.
authors.forename: Deruo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Airway obstruction; bronchoscopy; cryosurgery; secondary tracheobronchial tumors