Cryotherapy for advanced carcinoma of the trachea and bronchi.

Cryotherapy was used to relieve symptoms in 75 patients suffering from advanced carcinoma of the trachea or bronchi. In all patients surgical resection, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy had been tried and been unsuccessful or had been thought to be unsuitable because of the patients' poor general condition. In cryotherapy the intraluminal tumour was frozen through a Stortz bronchoscope. Localised necrosis increased the patency of the lumen of the trachea or bronchi, resulting in relief of symptoms. Cryotherapy is effective and easily performed and causes the patient little discomfort.