Removal of endobronchial malignant mass by cryotherapy improved performance status to receive chemotherapy

Yueh Fu Fang, Meng Heng Hsieh, Tsai Yu Wang, Horng Chyuan Lin, Chih Teng Yu, Chun Liang Chou, Shu Min Lin, Chih Hsi Kuo, Fu Tsai Chung

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4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Although malignant endobronchial mass (MEM) has poor prognosis, cryotherapy is reportedly a palliative treatment. Clinical data on postcryotherapy MEM patients in a university-affiliated hospital between 2007 and 2011 were evaluated. Survival curve with or without postcryotherapy chemotherapy and performance status (PS) improvement of these subjects were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. There were 59 patients (42 males), with median age of 64 years (range, 51-76, and median performance status of 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 2-3). Postcryotherapy complications included minor bleeding (n=12) and need for multiple procedures (n=10), while outcomes were relief of symptoms (n=51), improved PS (n=45), and ability to receive chemotherapy (n=40). The survival of patients with chemotherapy postcryotherapy was longer than that of patients without such chemotherapy (median, 534 versus 106 days; log-rank test, P=0.007; hazard ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.69). The survival of patients with PS improvement postcryotherapy was longer than that of patients without PS improvement (median, 406 versus 106 days; log-rank test, P=0.02; hazard ratio, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.81). Cryotherapy is a feasible treatment for MEM. With better PS after cryotherapy, further chemotherapy becomes possible for patients to improve survival when MEM caused dyspnea and poor PS.

Original languageEnglish
Article number369739
JournalScientific World Journal
Volume2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 1 2014
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Environmental Science

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