[A case of lung cancer avoidable right pneumonectomy due to external and intraluminal irradiation therapy]

A 54-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung resected after external and high dose rate intraluminal irradiation (HDRII) therapy is reported. Cancer existed in right lower bronchus, extended to bifurcation of upper broncus and truncus intermedius. The patient received external irradiation of 40 Gy and HDRII of 18 Gy (Iridium192 was used) simultaneously. Effectiveness of irradiation was remarkable, tumor disappeared in chest CT and bronchoscopy. Middle and lower lobectomy and bronchial wedge resection was performed. Histologically, cancer was not existed in second carinal portion, so curative resection was done. The result suggests that HDRII is effective therapy as preoperative adjuvant irradiation.