TY - JOUR T1 - Optimisation of bronchial brachytherapy catheter placement with a modified airway stent JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 902 LP - 903 DO - 10.1183/09031936.00081507 VL - 31 IS - 4 AU - Kennedy, M. P. AU - Jimenez, C. A. AU - Chang, J. AU - Fossella, F. AU - Eapen, G. A. AU - Morice, R. C. Y1 - 2008/04/01 UR - //www.qdcxjkg.com/content/31/4/902.abstract N2 - Brachytherapy is a modality of treatment available for lung cancer with tracheal involvement. Correct positioning of the brachytherapy catheter is vital to the optimisation of treatment effect and reduction of complications. Normal airway anatomy and tumour location can make this positioning difficult. The current study presents the case of a 65-yr-old male with invasive tracheal squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior main carina involving the proximal left and right bronchus. The patient was successfully treated with brachytherapy using a novel modified airway stent with a traversing suture for positioning and stabilising the brachytherapy catheters and maximisation of the radiation effect. This simple yet innovative modification of readily available bronchoscopic equipment permits approximation and fixation of a brachytherapy catheter to any part of the proximal airway. Further analysis of this technique, including a prospective controlled trial, is planned. ER -