[Bronchoscopic brachytherapy: development of bronchoscopic ultrasonography and brachytherapy for early stage lung cancer of hilar type].

We have recently developed bronchoscopic brachytherapy as a new modality for treating tracheal and bronchial malignancies, and have assessed the feasibility of bronchoscopic ultrasonic diagnosis and bronchoscopic brachytherapy for tracheal and bronchial malignant diseases, using a combination of videobronchoscope, an ultrasonic probe and a high-dose-rate Microselectron. Between September 1992 and December 1994, 34 patients having a total of 34 lesions of the trachea and bronchus received bronchoscopic brachytherapy at the National Cancer Center Hospital. In all 34 of these cases lung cancer was histologically confirmed by biopsy before treatment, although these cancer lesions were roentgenographically occult. Of the 34 patients who received bronchoscopic brachytherapy, 33 patients showed complete response to this therapy. Although 4 patients died of other diseases, the 3-year survival rate was 88.6%. The results of our study show that in such cases bronchoscopic brachytherapy yields a high rate of therapeutic response.