[Endoluminal irradiation of tracheobronchial tumors using a high dose rate iridium-192 afterloading device]

We report about 50 patients with inoperable bronchus tumors treated since March 1986 in a prospective non randomized study with high dose rate iridium-192 afterloading (AL) irradiation in 140 applications. 26 patients were treated combined with external irradiation. 32 were treated before with laser therapy, one with chemotherapy (small cell carcinoma). The actuarial survival rate (Kaplan-Meier) was 26% after 36 weeks for all patients; 38% for combined endoluminal and external irradiation and 9% for patients treated with AL alone. Death was caused by the local tumor in 85%. In 41% lethal bleeding was seen.