Endobronchial fiducial to guide stereotactic body radiotherapy

Optimal treatment for unresectable central airway tumors is not well established. Stereotactic body radiation therapy has shown efficacy for both peripheral and central lung lesions. However, the treatment of central tumors has been limited because of associated radiation toxicity. We report the use of an endobronchial fiducial to localize hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment of a limited central airways disease in a patient with recurrent metastatic squamous cell lung cancer. The fiducial was instrumental in designing the treatment field and minimizing related treatment toxicity. Future studies may take advantage of this technique in patients with unresectable central airways non-small cell lung cancers.