Bronchial cancers

The possible major indication for intraluminal brachytherapy in carcinoma of bronchus is obstruction of a major airway. A fine catheter can be introduced through the tumour using a bronchoscope. This allows a high dose iridium source to be introduced into the bronchus. The typical dose is 15 Gy 1 cm from the iridium source given in a single fraction.

There has been only one randomized control trial that compared single exposure of bronchial brachytherapy with external beam radiotherapy (30 Gy in eight fractions). External beam radiotherapy reduced symptoms better than endobronchial treatment and there was modest but significant survival gain for those treated with external beam treatment.

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