High dose rate brachytherapy improves resectability in squamous cell lung cancer.

A 44-year old man with squamous cell carcinoma of the left lower lobe extending to the mucosa of the main carina, was treated with high dose rate brachytherapy prior to surgery. A significant reduction of tumor infiltration was achieved allowing a radical pneumonectomy instead of a sleeve pneumonectomy with resection of the main carina. He remains disease-free after a follow-up period of 43 months.