Objective To investigate combined percutaneous and endobronchial cryotherapy therapy for the treatment of central type lung cancer (CTLC).

Forty-seven patients with unresectable CTLC can be divided into 3 parts: 22 cases of endotracheal tumors, 26 cases of tracheal wall tumors, and 21 cases of extratracheal type tumors. Sixty-nine times of combined percutaneous cryosurgery, endobronchial cryosurgery, and airway stenting were carried out in these patients. The progression-free survivals (PFS) of enrolled patients were assessed, and the influence of tumor location, pathologic type, and differentiation to PFS were discussed later.

Result Within 3 days after treatment, ventilatory capacity and performance status had obviously increased, and symptoms of cough, dyspnea, hemoptysis, and atelectasis improved significantly. However, symptoms of pneumothorax and pleural effusion emerged. After 2 weeks, all complications had disappeared completely. PFS for endotracheal tumors (8±4 months) was shorter than that for tracheal wall (13.4-6 months, P<0.05) and extratracheal (14.4-8 months, P<0.01) tumors. The PFS of NSCLC (11±5 months) was significantly longer than that of SCLC (4±2 months, P<0.0001). PFS of medium or well-differentiated CTLC (15±8 months) was significantly longer than that of poorly differentiated CTLC (7±3 months, P<0.0001).

Conclusion In conclusion, combined cryotherapy is a safe and effective treatment for CTLC. PFS can be influenced by tumor location and pathologic type.

[Key words] Central type lung cancer; Percutaneous cryosurgery; Airway stenting; Endobronchial Cryosurgery