High Dose Rate (HDR) for Endobronchial cancer
Endobronchial brachytherapy is the placement of a high-intensity radiation source into the lung in a bronchial tube adjacent to the tumor. A small plastic catheter is placed through the nose into the involved bronchus with the aid of the flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. The radiation source is then inserted through the catheter and properly positioned to cover the cancer. This technique has the advantage of irradiating only a very small field and therefore sparing large areas of surrounding tissue. Endobronchial brachytherapy can be used to eliminate hemoptysis (bleeding) and bronchial obstruction in a patient with recurrent endobronchial cancer and who may have previously received external radiation therapy.
The placement of the bronchial tube is done in the hospital outpatient pulmonary lab by the radiation oncologist and pulmonologist. After a short recovery time, the patient is escorted to the radiation therapy department. The bronchial tube may be left in place one to two hours while positioning films and computerized planning is done. The actual treatment takes approximately ten minutes in a special radiation therapy room.
Radiation given during an implant treatment cannot be felt and does not burn. It does not cause nausea, although there may be some localized discomfort from the presence of the bronchial catheter.
Whenever high doses of radiation are given to treat cancer, it is possible to cause injury to the normal tissues in the area. When implant radiation treatment is used in the treatment of endobronchial cancer it is possible for side effects to occur which develop several months or even years after the implant is done. These specific side effects will be reviewed by your Doctor.
