Successful hemostatic radiotherapy for massive airway bleeding from infectious pulmonary cavity: a case report

We present a patient with life-threatening airway bleeding from an infectious pulmonary cavity with limited treatment options. Bronchial artery embolization was unsuccessful. Surgery was not feasible due to compromised lung function. Lung transplant was considered but not endorsed. Palliative hemostatic radiotherapy with 20 Gy in 5 fractions was delivered to the site of bleeding as a last resort. Hemoptysis gradually disappeared within a month and did not recur during the 4‑month follow-up. There were no side effects. We highlight the potential of radiotherapy for massive hemoptysis of infectious etiology, especially in cases with exhausted standard treatment options.