[Brachytherapy in the treatment of lung and tracheal cancer: current indications, methods, results]

Lack of improvement in treatment results of lung cancer leads to searching for new methods. One of the most distressing symptoms for lung cancer patients is airway obstruction due to the tumor, commonly resulting in dyspnea, postobstructive pneumonia, cough, or hemoptysis. Removal of endobronchial obstruction leads to quick improvement of clinical status and Quality of Life. Brachytherapy HDR of tracheal and lung cancer is a well-established method for the local treatment of patients with inoperable tumors of the tracheobronchial system. It seems that another promising treatment method of lung cancer is interstitial brachytherapy using permanent implants. The paper presents principles of brachytherapy, indications for this treatment and treatment results of tracheal and lung cancer. Indications for radical, palliative and interstitial treatment are discussed, respectively. Selected results of brachytherapy as an independent treatment and that combined with teletherapy, radical and, palliative are presented separately. Most commonly recognized complications are discussed which include: fatal pulmonary hemorrhage and fistula formation.