Recent advances in managing non-small-cell lung cancer: 5. Endobronchial palliative therapy.

A variety of treatments can be effective palliative therapy of symptoms of airway obstruction caused by endobronchial tumour: Nd-YAG laser resection may be indicated for tumours that are relatively short in length, situated in trachea, mainstem or proximal lobe bronchi. Cryotherapy may be an alternative to laser resection. Endobronchial brachytherapy (precise delivery of radiation to an endobronchial tumour via a catheter loaded with iridium 192) may be indicated in patients with endobronchial mural disease or tumours that extend beyond the bronchial wall. Endobronchial stents. Randomised trials are required to determine the relative merits of these treatments and the optimal management of endobronchial complications of lung cancer.