Endobronchial irradiation with 192Ir in the treatment of malignant endobronchial obstruction.

From Jan 1, 1983 to April 30, 1989, 32 patients underwent 38 endobronchial treatments with 192Ir, bronchoscopically inserted for treatment of endobronchial obstructions secondary to bronchogenic carcinoma. Thirty-four of the 38 treatments were far enough apart to allow separate response analysis. Thirty of the 34 patients were symptomatically improved or stable; 22 of 24 patients who could be evaluated roentgenographically showed improved or stable chest roentgenograms, and ten of 12 patients evaluated bronchoscopically demonstrated improved patency of bronchial lumen.