Contributions of Airway Stent for Long-term Outcome in Patients With Malignant Central Airway Stenosis or Obstruction

Background: Although an airway stent is used for malignant central airway stenosis or obstruction, long-term outcomes are unknown. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of patients who required stenting for malignant central airway stenosis or obstruction. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 116 patients with stenting for central airway stenosis or obstruction who underwent treatment at Toho University Hospital from 1998 to 2018. We evaluated the clinical features, prognoses, and complications for stenting in these patients. Results: The distribution of the 116 patients was as follows: lung cancer, 53; esophageal cancer, 40; thyroid cancer, 8; and others, 15. Patients with thyroid cancer had a significantly higher rate of complications after stenting than patients with lung cancer (P=0.0062), esophageal cancer (P=0.0029), and others (P=0.0062). Patients with esophageal cancer had a significantly worse prognosis than patients with lung and thyroid cancer. In patients with lung cancer the prognosis was significantly different between patients who underwent additional treatment for lung cancer after stenting and patients with no treatment (P=0.0398), and patients who received chemoradiotherapy for lung cancer after stenting had a significantly better prognosis than patients with no treatment (P=0.0306). Conclusion: Stenting for airway stenosis/obstruction may improve prognosis in patients with lung or thyroid cancer, especially if patients with lung cancer undergo additional treatments after stenting, although airway stenting for patients with esophageal cancer was palliative. New treatment strategies may be necessary for patients with esophageal cancer after stenting to improve prognosis.