Percutaneous computed tomography-guided permanent ¹²⁵I implantation as therapy for pulmonary metastasis

To evaluate intermediate-term outcomes after computed tomography (CT)-guided radioactive ¹²⁵I seed implantation (CTRISI), and to determine prognostic variables associated with outcomes in patients with pulmonary metastases.

Thoracic surgeons evaluated and performed implantation of ¹²⁵I radioactive seeds under CT guidance or combined with surgical resection. Patients were monitored in the thoracic surgery clinic for recurrence and survival.

Fifty patients (31 men, 19 women; median age, 59 years; range, 16-85) underwent CTRISI. The primary cancer was colorectal in 10 (20%), malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 8 (16%), sarcoma in 5 (10%), renal in 4 (8%), and other in 22 (44%) patients. CTRISI was the sole treatment in 45 patients (90%) and was combined with surgical resection in 5 patients (10%). The actuarial D₉₀ of implanted ¹²⁵I seeds ranged from 90 to 160 Gy (median, 120 Gy). No procedurally related deaths occurred. At a median follow-up of 41.5 months (range, 7-74 months), 6 patients were alive. The median survival time was 42.1 months (95% confidence interval: 26.5-53.4), and the estimated 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 88.0%, 58.0%, and 26.7%, respectively. Lesion size was an important prognostic variable associated with overall and progression-free survival (p < 0.05).

CTRISI is safe in this group of patients with pulmonary metastases and provides reasonable results. Surgical resection remains the standard for resectable cases, but CTRISI offers an alternative for selected patients or may be used as a feasible approach in combination with surgical resection for selected patients.