Endobrochial brachytherapy as an additional procedure for patients with endobrochial neoplastic lesions. A 10 year experience of our anticancer institute.

<bold>Introduction:</bold> Brachytherapy delivers local radiotherapy to neoplastic tumors. EBBT is carried out while a catheter is inserted through broncoscope proximally to endobrochial lesions and perform local radiotherapy. <bold>Purpose:</bold> This study aims to highlight the effect of EBBT in patients with endobronchial obstruction due to lung cancer or metastatic disease based on the 10 year experience of our institute. <bold>Methods:</bold> 110 patients registered during 2011-2014 and 2017-today.91 patients(74 m and 17 f)with a mean age of 65.60 ±10.28 were studied. The distribution was: lung 82.4%, colon 5.5% melanoma 3.3%, thyroid 2.2%, breast 2.2%, other 4.4%. Obstruction was divided into 3 categories(<29%,30%-49%, >50%)and compared before and after treatment. The plan included two sessions of 8Gy within a week and control of the result one month later. <bold>Results:</bold> The Response Rate(RR)was statistically significant between patients with and without mMRC improvement. The mRR of patients with mMRC improvement was 58.97 ±24.91% while without mMRC improvement was 21.07 ±21.96% (p<0.001). Univariate logistic regression found that patients with response > 50% were 19.3 times more likely to improve mMRC than patients with<50% (OR=19.3, 95% CI: 5.2 – 71,7 p<0.001). The mRR of patients with lung cancer was 46.20 ±27.52, while that with other primary was 52.50 ±38.94(p=0.378). The RR did not differ statistically significant according to the type of lung cancer. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> EBBT is a palliative care method that reduces dyspnea in oncological patients improving their quality of life. We propose it as an option that should be implemented.