Expandable Metallic Stents in the Palliative Treatment of Malignant Tracheobronchial Stenosis

PURPOSE: To report the outcome of using expandable metallic stent in the management of malignanttracheobronchial stenosis with dyspnea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Under fluoroscopic and bronchoscopic guidance,seven patients with malignant airway stenosis were treated with ten expandable metallic stents. The cause ofstenosis was metastasis from esophageal cancer in five patients, recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma of the tracheain one, and primary lung cancer in one. The major sites of obstruction were the trachea in four patients, the leftmain bronchus in one, the trachea and left main bronchus in one, and the trachea and both bronchi in one. Chestradiography(n=7), bronchoscopy(n=5), pulmonary function test(PFT)(n=3), and spirometry(n=1) were performed beforeand after stent placement. RESULTS: In all seven patients, the stent was successfully placed at the lesion sitesand dyspnea began to improve immediately. After the procedure, chest radiography and bronchoscopy showed anincrease in airway diameter. After stent placement, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume inone second(FEV1) improved 53% and 56%, respectively. Peak flow velocity also changed from 46 L/min to 200 L/min.During median follow-up of 67(41-1565)days, one stent migration occurred. In one patient, proximal tumorovergrowth occurred, and in one, tumor ingrowth was treated with balloon dilatation. CONCLUSION: For in thepalliative treatment of malignant tracheobronchial stenosis with dyspnea, placement of expandable metal steuts issafe and effective.