TY - JOUR T1 - Successful use of high dose rate brachytherapy for non-malignant bronchial obstruction JF - Thorax JO - Thorax SP - 415 LP - 416 DO - 10.1136/thorax.56.5.415 VL - 56 IS - 5 AU - M R Kramer AU - A Katz AU - A Yarmolovsky AU - D Schifter AU - E Fenig Y1 - 2001/05/01 UR - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/56/5/415.abstract N2 - High dose rate (HDR) endobronchial brachytherapy is a palliative treatment for symptomatic airway obstruction by malignant tumours. We report a novel use of HDR brachytherapy for treating non-malignant bronchial obstruction. The patient had a metal stent placed in a reconstructed airway after a bronchial tear to ensure patency. Granulation tissue formation in and around the stent caused symptomatic occlusion of the airway, necessitating multiple laser applications. A single treatment of HDR brachytherapy (1000 cGy) was delivered following laser therapy. The patient remains well 15 months after treatment with no evidence of recurrent granulation tissue formation on bronchoscopy. HDR brachytherapy is an effective treatment for non-malignant airway obstruction. ER -