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Purpose The aim of this study was to report individual surface mould multi-catheter high-dose-rate (IMM HDR) application as a salvage treatment for a head and neck angiosarcoma patient, previously treated with surgery followed by external beam radiotherapy. Material and methods A 74-year-old male reported to our center with an uncommon malignant neoplasm of blood vessels. The patient was qualified for a wide local excision (WLE) of tumor with simultaneous reconstruction using a free-flap collected from the patient's thigh. After surgery, the patient was qualified for adjuvant external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Volumetric arc therapy (VMAT; RapidArc®, Varian Medical Systems) was used to deliver 52.8 Gy/1.6 Gy in 33 fractions. Overall treatment time was 51 days. Six months after radiotherapy, an incisional biopsy of non-healing ulcer of the nasal bridge revealed angiosarcoma. Wide local excision with skin graft reconstruction was planned. Due to multifocal disease and lack of possibility for further margin, the resection surgery was completed after skin graft reconstruction from the right thigh. Surface IMM HDR was considered as an alternative option for further treatment. Total dose of 48 Gy (12 fractions) was planned. Results One month after surface IMM HDR, healing process of the skin was observed in the treated regions and six months later, the irradiated areas recovered. General condition of the patient deteriorated two years after diagnosis and one year after HDR. He was hospitalized to receive palliative care. Conclusions HDR brachytherapy may be a valuable option for angiosarcoma treatment. Difficult lesion location may yield non-radical surgery. Surface IMM HDR provides highly conformal plan and allow adjusting the dose to individual clinical situation.

PURPOSE To report the outcomes for 76 patients with penile cancer treated with high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) at a single institution. METHODS Seventy-six patients with penile cancer treated with HDR-BT in our department between October 1998 and September 2018 were analyzed. Seventy underwent interstitial HDR-BT (fractionation dose range of 3–3.5 Gy given twice a day with an interval of at least six hours between the fractions), and six underwent superficial treatment with mold applicators (fractionation dose range of 4–7 Gy given once or twice a week). RESULTS Median follow-up was 76 months (7–204 months). In the whole group, 22/76 local failures (28.9%) were observed: 14/76 (18.4%) local recurrences and 8/76 (10.5%) cases of persistent disease. Median time to recurrence was 24 months (9–54 months). Inguinal lymph node metastases were observed in 18/76 cases (23.7%). Distant metastases occurred in 12/76 (15.8%) cases. Patients with local recurrence and persistent disease underwent salvage penectomies, except four who refused surgery and underwent a second course of interstitial HDR-BT. Five- and 10-year cause-specific survival were 85.0% and 77.8%, respectively. Local control at 5 and 10 years was 65.6%. Five- and 10-year penile preservation were 69.5% and 66.9%, respectively. There was no G3 or G4 acute toxicity. One urethral stenosis (1.3%) occurred in a patient with a T3 tumor and was treated successfully with dilatation. CONCLUSIONS HDR-BT provides good local control of penile cancer and is a good option for penis preservation therapy and in our experience achieves a penile preservation rate at 10 years of 66.9%.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to report the outcomes of pre-operative high-dose-rate brachytherapy (pHDRBT), followed by hysterectomy in patients with early cervical cancer. Material and methods: From January, 1998 to December, 2003, 113 women with IB1, IB2, and IIA1 cervical cancer (according to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] 2018) were treated with pHDR-BT, and 6 to 8 weeks later followed by radical hysterectomy. Patients found to have positive lymph nodes, residual cervical cancer, involved parametria, or lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) received post-operative adjuvant therapy. Results: Post-operatively, 81.4% of patients had a complete response to pHDR-BT in the cervix, and 18.6% had residual cervical cancer. Failures occurred in 11/113 (9.7%) patients (all were stage IIA1), with pelvic recurrences in 5/113 (4.4%) and distant metastasis (DM) in 6/113 (5.3%). The 5- and 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 100% for IB1 and IB2, and 86.4% and 81.3% for IIA1, respectively. Lymph node involvement and/or residual cervical cancer correlated with worse DFS. Two vesicovaginal fistulas were observed (one in a patient treated only with pHDRBT and one in a woman, who underwent adjuvant external-beam radiotherapy [EBRT]). Two rectovaginal fistulas and one case of proctitis were observed in patients treated with adjuvant EBRT. Conclusions: pHDR-BT in early cervical cancer is well-tolerated and effective in sterilizing tumor cells in the cervix. The growing number of publications in this area may help define an optimal therapeutic scheme, but randomized trials are required to determine the best candidates for this treatment modality. In our opinion, cervical cancer patients with FIGO stage IIA1 are not good candidates for pHDR-BT, and could be given this treatment only after rigorous selection, including assessment with state-of-the-art imaging, due to higher probability of treatment failure.

Introduction: Sarcoidosis and tuberculosis (TB) are the diseases that share many similarities. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) culture results are the gold standard for the diagnosis of TB, but false positive results are not rare. The aim was to evaluate the utility of QFT in detecting latent TB infection in a group of sarcoidosis patients with negative history of TB and negative culture/BACTEC results, and checking sarcoidosis activity influence on the QFT results. Additionally, we assessed if QFT negative result may strengthen the suspicion that positive culture/BACTEC results are false positive. Material and methods: 37 culture-negative and 6 culture-positive sarcoidosis patients were enrolled. On the basis of clinical and radiological data TB was considered unlikely (false-positive results). A control group consisted of age-matched subjects with excluded TB (n = 37). QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube (QIAGEN, USA) was used according to the manual. Test validity was checked basing on the results obtained from a low-risk (n = 21) and active TB group (n = 23). Results: The frequency of positive results tended to be higher in MTB(–) sarcoidosis (24.3% vs. 13.5% for the control group, p = 0.37), but was similar to the general population. None of culture-positive sarcoidosis patients was QFT-positive. The positive results were equally distributed among patients with active and inactive sarcoidosis. Conclusions: QFT has been found to be the useful test for the detection of latent TB infection in sarcoidosis patients. In addition, we confirm that sarcoidosis activity does not negatively influence the result of QFT. Moreover, QFT would be proposed as a cost-saving diagnostic test providing additional diagnostic information when false positive MTB culture result in the sarcoidosis patient is highly suspected. However, in each case clinical, radiological and epidemiological data should be considered before taking the therapeutic decision.

Vulvar cancer is one of the rarest gynaecological cancers [1, 2], but for last decades the number of new cases has increased, especially among young patients [1, 3, 4]. It accounts for 2-5% of all gynaecological carcinomas and about 0.6% of all malignant neoplasms in women [1, 5, 6]. Nowadays about 30% of patients who report with the advanced disease [5] are unable to undergo the standard treatment which is radical vulvectomy with inguinal lymph node dissection. Recurrences in vulvar cancer are serious problems. Local failures are the most frequent while and groin recurrences are less common [6]. It is estimated that even in multimodality treatment, about 10-20% of patients with FIGO I and 50-70% with the advanced disease will recur [5, 7–9] and 40% of them will die [5]. Summary

INTRODUCTION The largest group of patients with secondary hypertension comprises individuals with renovascular hypertension resulting from renal artery stenosis that is a potentially removable condition. It is caused by atherosclerosis in 70-80% of patients. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT) procedure performed after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) on left ventricular (LV) function, mass regression and type of hypertrophy (LVH) determined on echocardiography during long-term follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty-two patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis complicated by severe hypertension were treated with PTRA and randomly assigned to group 1 (PTRA alone) or group 2 (PTRA followed by IVBT). Subsequent IVBT was performed with the PARIS catheter and the Microselectron HDR (Nucletron) system for peripheral arteries. Treatment outcomes during follow-up were assessed with quantitative coronary angiography. LV mass and mass index (LVM and LVMI) and functional parameters prior to PTRA and during follow-up were determined by echocardiography with regard to the type of procedure. RESULTS The degree of renal artery stenosis was significantly different in groups 1 and 2. In both groups elevated LVMI was observed (p = 0.94). There were no significant differences in interventricular septum (IVS) to LV posterior wall (LVPW) ratio, relative LV wall thickness, volumetric parameters and LV ejection fraction between both groups. During follow-up the values of LVMI and IVS to LVPW ratio were significantly lower (p = 0.021 and p = 0.004, respectively) in the PTRA + IVBT group compared to the PTRA group. Analysis of the LV geometry and type of hypertrophy revealed a marked reduction in concentric LVH in the IVBT group during long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Echocardiographic evaluation comparing several LV parameters in the PTRA alone and PTRA + IVBT groups showed that PTRA with subsequent brachytherapy were associated with better control of blood pressure and greater LVM regression, especially concentric hypertrophy, during long-term follow-up.

Background and purpose To evaluate high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR BT) as a salvage modality for locally recurrent prostate cancer after primary radiotherapy failure. Materials and methods Eighty-three prostate cancer patients, who locally relapsed after radiotherapy, were treated with salvage HDR BT. The schedule was three implantations, every two weeks, with 10Gy per implant, to a total dose of 30Gy. Acute and late toxicity rates were evaluated. Overall survival (OS) and biochemical control were calculated using Kaplan–Meier method. Results Median follow-up after salvage HDR was 41months. The 3-year and 5-year OS were 93% and 86%, respectively. The 3-year and 5-year biochemical disease-free survival (bDFS) were 76% and 67%, respectively. The single factor associated with biochemical control was time to achieve salvage PSA nadir ( p -.006). OS was linked significantly with primary nadir level ( p -.001) while primary biochemical relapse interval was of borderline significance ( p -.07). Conclusions Salvage HDR BT is a promising treatment option for patients with localized relapse of previously irradiated prostate cancer. Lower PSA nadir after primary radiotherapy and longer primary disease-free interval influence the outcome.

Background Clinical data that compare external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) combined with high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) boost versus EBRT alone are scarce. The analysis of published studies suggest that biochemical relapse-free survival in combined EBRT and HDR-BT may be superior compared to EBRT alone. We retrospectively examined the effectiveness and tolerance of both schemes in a single center study. Methods Between March 2003 and December 2004, 229 patients were treated for localized T1-T2N0M0 prostate cancer. Median age was 66 years (range, 49 – 83 years). PSA level ranged from 0.34 to 64 ng/ml (median 12.3 ng/ml) and Gleason score ranged from 2 to 10. The analysis included 99 patients who underwent EBRT with HDR-BT (group A) and 130 patients who were treated with EBRT alone (group B). Results Median follow-up was 6 years. Biochemical relapses occurred in 34% vs. 22% (p = 0.002), local recurrences in 17% vs. 5% (p = 0.002), and distant metastases in 11% vs. 6% (p = 0.179) of patients in groups A and B, respectively. Five-year biochemical relapse-free survival was 67% vs. 81% (p = 0.005), local recurrence-free survival 95% vs. 99% (p = 0.002), metastases-free survival 95% vs. 94% (p = 0.302) for groups A and B, respectively. Five-year overall survival was 85% in both groups (p = 0.596). Grade 2/3 late GI complications appeared in 9.2% and 24.8% (p = 0.003), respectively. Grade 2/3 late GU symptoms occurred in 12% in both groups. Conclusions Although because of the retrospective character of the study and nonrandomized selection of fractionation schedule the present conclusions had limitations EBRT alone appeared more effective than EBRT combined with HDR-BT. It was likely the result of the less frequent use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for combined scheme group, too low dose in a single BT fraction or inadequate assumptions regarding fractionation sensitivity of prostate cancer.

Summary Background The paper present the “real time” brachytherapy for planning prostate cancer. The differences between treatment planning for “traditional” and “real time” brachytherapy, from the point of view of the medical physicist, are taken into account and each step of treatment planning is presented. Aim The aim of the paper was to present the difference between in “conventional” and “real time” planning treatment from the point of view of medical physicist. Materials/Methods Two significant aspects of treatment planning in “real time” brachytherapy are underlined. The first is connected with the place of work of the medical physicist (operating room), and the second one regarding the time (patient is under spinal anesthesia). Results/Conclusions Treatment planning and patient treatment, based on Ultrasound examinations, allows us to minimize topographical errors during the application of brachytherapy.

Purpose: To estimate safety and feasibility of vascular brachytherapy in iliac arteries. Methods: Fourteen patients (11 men; mean age 56.7±9.9 years, range 44–81) with occlusive disease in 15 iliac arteries (7 external, 8 common) were treated with balloon dilation followed by irradiation from an iridium 192 source (15 Gy at 3 mm from the inner surface of the artery wall) applied with a PARIS centering catheter and bilateral 10-mm margins. Patients receiving stents for suboptimal angioplasty were prescribed a 6-month course of antiplatelet treatment with ticlopidine. Angiography was routinely scheduled for 6 months after intervention. Results: There were no complications of the angioplasty procedure or EVBT treatment; 7 patients received stents for dissection or residual stenosis. Mean follow-up was 12.4±6.0 months. At 6-month angiography, 1 (6.7%) restenosis in a common iliac artery stent was found. Another patient with a common iliac artery stent developed transient lower limb ischemia at 4 months, probably due to temporary suspension of antiplatelet treatment and distal disease. Conclusions: Brachytherapy in the iliac arteries appears to be feasible and safe; longer follow-up in more patients is needed to determine its clinical utility in the prevention of restenosis.

Purpose: The article presents the results of treatment with vascular brachytherapy (VBT) in superficial femoral arteries. This method aims to minimize frequency of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Method: Treatment was carried out in 20 cases. The patients with severe stenoses or total occlusions verified in angiography were selected. In the group of 19 patients, two were women (the average age of the patients was 58.7 years). VBT was performed immediately after PTA. A 15-Gy dose, with high dose rate, was applied. The dose was calculated based on individually chosen distance from the internal surface of the artery wall, which varied from 2 to 3 mm. The mean observation time after treatment was 8 months. The shortest time was 1 month and the longest 14 months. At the end of the observation time, the control DSA angiography was performed on every patient. Results: During the first 2 months, in three cases, an acute thrombosis in treated artery was observed. In the third month, one treated artery occluded. In the sixth month of observation, one case of acute thrombosis was observed. The rest of the patients were free of restenoses. Conclusions: (1) In superficial femoral arteries, a low value of ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI; below 0.4) is very probably responsible for acute thrombosis after PTA with or without stent implantation followed by VBT. (2) Diabetes, rest ischaemia before treatment, poor vessel status confirmed in angiography may also be responsible for acute thrombosis after VBT. (3) Anticoagulants or antiplatelet (ticlipidine) treatment must be ordered for 6 months after VBT in patients with implanted stents.

Purpose: In early stage mobile tongue cancer radical radiotherapy offers good local control and organ preservation, which is especially important in the group of young patients. In our department, for many years HDR-BT has been performed in mobile tongue cancers as a sole treatment or as a "boost" with EBRT. The aim of the study was to show our experience with HDR-BT in early stage mobile tongue cancers among young patients. Material and methods: From 2001 to 2006 in Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, five patients under 45 years with mobile tongue cancer were treated with HDR brachytherapy (T1N0M0 - 3/5 and T2N0M0 - 2/5); 4 with HDR brachytherapy "boost" and 1 as a sole treatment. One woman was previously treated with tumour resection, but because of positive surgical margins was referred for radiotherapy. All patients had clinically negative lymph nodes, without dissection. They were treated with interstitial HDR-BT (3-8 catheters). In 4 patients treated with HDR-BT as a "boost", total doses ranged from 18 to 21 Gy given in 6-7 fractions (twice a day, 3 Gy per fraction). Total doses in EBRT (to local lymph nodes and tumour bed) ranged from 50 to 60 Gy (1.8-2 Gy per fraction 5 days/week). One patient, treated with radical HDR brachytherapy, received 45 Gy in 10 fractions and 50 Gy in EBRT to regional lymph nodes. Results: We did not notice local recurrences or distant metastases in our group of patients. Median follow-up was 67 months (range 47-79 months). All patients preserved normal tongue function. A severe late complication occurred in 1 patient - fracture of the mandible. Conclusions: In the analysed group of young patients with mobile tongue cancer interstitial HDR brachytherapy in combination with EBRT was an effective and well tolerated treatment modality which allowed preservation of the tongue and its function. J Contemp Brachyther 2010; 2, 2: 61-63 DOI: 10.5114/jcb.2010.14403

Background: Adenocarcinoma in cervical cancer has poorer response rate to treatment and requires longer time to achieve complete remission than squamous cell carcinoma [1]. Lower response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy is observed [2,3,4,5] and the optimal management remains undefined [1,4,6,7]. Case: We report a case of a 58-year-old woman with bulky mucinous adenocarcinoma endocervical-type G1, treated previously with radiochemotherapy with no visible response. After subsequent interstitial HDR brachytherapy (iHDR-BT) complete local remission was achieved. Conclusion: Interstitial HDR brachytherapy in bulky mucinous adenocarcinoma endocervical-type may be the best treatment choice that allows to receive a complete local response.

Purpose The aim of the study was to analyze early effects and toxicity of salvage high dose rate brachytherapy for local recurrences of adenocarcinoma of the prostate after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Material and methods In MCS Memorial Institute of Oncology in Gliwice a research programme on salvage HDR brachytherapy for local recurrences of prostate cancer treated previously with EBRT has been ongoing since February 2008. The treatment consisted of 3 fractions of 10 Gy each given every 14 days. Maximal urethral doses were constrained to be ≤ 120% of the prescribed dose. Maximal bladder and rectum doses were constrained to be ≤ 70% of the prescribed dose. Results Fifteen eligible patients were treated and analyzed from February 2008. All patients completed the treatment without major complications. The most common early complications were: macroscopic haematuria, pain in lower part of the abdomen, and transient dysuria. During the first week after the procedure a transient increase in IPSS score was noticed. The Foley catheter was removed on day 2 to 5. No complications after spinal anaesthesia were observed. Acute toxicity according to EORTC/RTOG was low. For bladder EORTC/RTOG score ranged from 0 to 2. Only in two patients grade 1 toxicity for rectum was observed. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 9 months. In one patient grade 2 rectal toxicity was observed, and one had urethral stricture. Other patients did not have any other significant late toxicity of the treatment. Two patients developed bone metastases. Conclusions Salvage brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer (3 × 10 Gy every 14 days) seems to be a safe and well tolerated procedure. A significant decline in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level is seen in patients with hormone-responsive cancer. Long-term efficiency and toxicity of the procedure are yet to be established.

Scarce data exist concerning the long-term effect of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) enhanced with intravascular gamma brachytherapy (IVBT) in patients with renovascular hypertension.Seventy one patients aged 52 +/- 8 years with refractory renovascular hypertension were randomized to Group I (PTRA + IVBT) or Group II (PTRA). For the IVBT procedure, the PARIS catheter and Microselectron HDR (Nucletron) system was employed. Both baseline and 9-month follow-up quantitative computerized angiography (QCA) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring analysis was performed to assess luminal parameters of restenosis and the effect of treatment on blood pressure.Thirty three patients from Group I and 29 patients from Group II underwent successful procedure. During nine months of follow-up, three patients died; including two patients in Group I (cardiac causes) and one patient in Group II (stroke). The follow-up lumen diameter stenosis was 30.6 +/- 13.7% and 40.4 +/- 11% in Groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.004). Late lumen loss in quantitative computerized angiography was 1.2 +/- 0.7 mm and 1.7 +/- 0.7 mm in Groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.004).Intravascular gamma brachytherapy using self-centering source performed after balloon angioplasty is a safe and effective method of prevention of restenosis after PTRA in patients with renovascular hypertension.

Background: In HDR brachytherapy precision of catheter implantation is crucial for conformal treatment planning as a starting point for better optimization process. Aim: The aim was to investigate differences between virtual and real needle position and the effect of needle displacement on dosimetric parameters as a function of prostate volume for better evaluation of "real" implant with respect to final dose distribution. Materials/Methods: Thirty treatment plans calculated by Nucletron SWIFT™ were randomly selected. Dosimetric data including V100 for prostate gland and D10 for urethra were analyzed as a function of prostate volume and needle displacement. Needle displacement was determined by measuring the distance between virtual and real positions of respective needles in three sectional images: at the base, apex of the prostate gland and reference image. Dosimetric parameters were determined for consecutive computer plans: virtual (before implantation), live (after implantation and renewed optimization). For the purpose of this study a new parameter, VD (Volume-Dose), was created. Results: VD indicates the quality of "real" dose distribution with respect to "virtual" treatment plan. In order to realize the assumption of virtual plan (VDacceptable according to the formula: racceptable (Vp) ∝ Vp2. For larger glands (above 30cc) final dose distribution is less dependent on needle displacement than smaller ones. Conclusions: The experiment determined maximum values of needle displacement for a given Vp parameter, allowing one to take advantage of optimization algorithms and to improve the final dose distribution.

Background/Aim: Scarce data exist concerning the long-term effect of renal balloon angioplasty (PTRA) enhanced by intravascular γ-brachytherapy (IVBT) in patients with renovascular hypertension. The aim of this randomized study was to evaluate long-term outcome after PTRA with IVBT in patients with renal artery stenosis. Patients and Methods: 71 patients with renovascular hypertension were randomized into group I (PTRA + IVBT) or group II (PTRA). 9 patients who required stent implantation were excluded. Both baseline and 9-month follow-up quantitative computerized angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis were performed to assess restenosis. During the 9-month follow-up, 3 patients died – 2 from group I and 1 from group II. Results: The restenosis rate was 16.1% in group I and 32.1% in group II. The 9-month lumen loss in angiography was 1.2 ± 0.7 and 1.7 ± 0.7 mm (p = 0.004) and the area loss (IVUS) was 6.5 ± 4.8 and 10.1 ± 5.6 mm2 in groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.01). eGFR increased both in group I (from 75 ± 22 to 84 ± 31 ml/min/1.73 m2; p < 0.001) and in group II (from 74 ± 23 to 77 ± 23 ml/min/1.73 m2; p = 0.04). Only the diastolic blood pressure in group I decreased significantly (65 ± 17 and 77 ± 18 mm Hg; p = 0.048). The rate of blood pressure normalization was low in both groups (6.1 and 6.9%). Conclusions: IVBT after PTRA with a self-centering source is a safe and effective method for prevention of restenosis in patients with renovascular hypertension.

Etiology of the pleural exudate is not always easy to establish with the routine diagnostic procedures. We report the history of a 55-year-old man, driver--without evident occupational exposure to asbestos dust. Patient was treated in hospital because of recurrent bilateral sanguineous pleural fluid. Repeated basic laboratory examinations of pleural exudate did not contribute to establishing etiology of the disease. At the beginning of hospital stay antituberculosis therapy was applied but was unsuccessful. Rapid accumulation of the fluid, deterioration of general condition of the patient, presence of dysplasia in the cells of the sediment of the exudate indicated possibility of diagnosis of neoplasm of the pleura. Intravenous injections of cisplatin and intrapleural application of bleomycin did not influence, however, the course of the disease. Final diagnosis was possible only after pleural biopsy (with Abrams needle) was performed. Histopathologic examination of the specimen disclosed: malignant mesothelioma biphasic type. Patient died after 3 months of observations and attempt at treatment.

Glucocorticosteroids (GCS), as the inhibitors of inflammatory reaction in the pleura, may exert a favourable influence on the course of tuberculous pleurisy (TP). GCS applied as an adjuvant therapy to antituberculosis treatment accelerate the regression of symptoms and signs and absorption of pleural fluid in a significant percent of patients. The controlled trials of treatment with GCS failed to show, however, any significant advantages in comparison to placebo with respect to prevention of pleural adhesions or restrictive disturbances of ventilation. Pleural thickening is observed in more than half of the patients, independently of antituberculosis treatment regimen and adjuvant therapy with GCS. A reduction of respiratory disability can be achieved as a result of early initiation of respiratory physiotherapy programme, even before completion of evacuation of pleural fluid. In the treatment of TP the same regimen is applied as in chemotherapy of pulmonary tuberculosis, although a tendency is observed for reduction of the number of antituberculosis drugs administered in combination. Nowadays, with increasing efficacy of antituberculosis chemotherapy, application of GCS is limited to selected cases of TP (mainly complicated by toxaemia and/or respiratory failure).

Alm Endobronchial HDR brachytherapy (E-HDR-BT) is a well-established method of palliative treatment in patients with lung cancer. There is, however, no consensus on optimal radiation and the rate of complications. The aim of the work is to evaluate early effectiveness and tolerance of E-HDR-BT in palliative treatment of patients with lung cancer treated in Oncology Centre in Gliwice. Material and methods Since 2000 in Oncology Centre in Gliwice HDR (Ir192) E-HDR-BT is used in palliative treatment of patients with bronchial obturation due to lung cancer. Regression of bronchial obturation and improvement in dyspnoea, cough and haemoptysis after therapy was analyzed for the first thirty patients. The total dose was 18 Gy, calculated at 1cm from the source, in 3 fraction (of 6 Gy) given everyweek. Results Twenty-five patients finished therapy as planned. Five patients didn’t complete treatment: two of them (6.6%) died because of massive haemoptysis; one patients suffered from exaggeration of angina pectoris, one patients developed high hectic fever not responding for antibacterial treatment, one suffered from exaggeration of their symptoms prohibiting continuation of the treatment. Changes in obturation of the bronchi and in patient's symptoms are shown in Table 1 . Table 1 . Changes in obturation of the bronchi and in patient's symptom. Symptoms Improvement Nochanges Exaggeration Obturation #/% 22/88% 3/12% 0 Dyspnoea #/% 15/54% 11/40% 2/7% Cough #/% 4/27% 10/67% 2/7% Haemoptysis #/% 2/14% 10/72% 2/14% More detailed analysis of improvements in symptoms has been carried out according to own scoring system for dyspnoea, cough and haemoptysis. Mean duration of palliative response was 55 days (1–405). Mean survival time was 114 days (2–406). Conclusion E-HOR-BT is an effective method of palliation of symptoms related to bronchial obturation in course of lung cancer. The most frequent serious treatment complication of E-HOR-BTwas massive haemoptysis.