Feasibility and Clinical Value of CT-guided125I Brachytherapy for Bilateral Lung Recurrences from Colorectal Carcinoma

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate the feasibility and clinical value of computed tomography (CT)-guided iodine 125 ((125)I) brachytherapy to treat bilateral lung recurrences from colorectal carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center Institutional Review Board and all patients provided informed written consent. Seventy-two patients with bilateral lung recurrences from colorectal carcinoma were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. Thirty-three were percutaneously treated with CT-guided (125)I brachytherapy (group A) and the other 39 were only given symptomatic and supportive treatments (group B). Follow-up contrast agent-enhanced CT scans were reviewed and efficacy of treatment was evaluated. (125)I brachytherapy was considered a success if it achieved the computerized treatment planning system criteria 1 month after procedure. Analyses included Kaplan-Meier, Mantel-Cox log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: In group A, 37 (125)I brachytherapy procedures were performed in 33 patients with 126 lung metastatic lesions and the success rate was 87.9% (29 of 33 patients). The local control rate of 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months was 75.8%, 51.5%, 33.3%, 24.2%, and 9.1%, respectively. A small amount of pulmonary hematoma occurred in five patients, and six patients presented with pneumothorax with pulmonary compression of 30%-40%. No massive bleeding or radiation pneumonitis occurred. The mean overall survival (OS) of group A was significantly longer than that of group B, and (125)I brachytherapy was an independent factor that affected the OS (group A, 18.8 months; group B, 8.6 months; hazard ratio, 0.391 [95% confidence interval: 0.196, 0.779]; P = .008). CONCLUSION: CT-guided (125)I brachytherapy is feasible and safe for the treatment of bilateral lung recurrences from colorectal carcinoma.