Radiation esophageal stent.

e15514Baclground:Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) produce palliative dysphagia relief for esophageal cancers (EC) which is enhanced by brachytherapy. We present a brachytherapy stent designed to deliver radiation to ECs with brachytherapy sources in the porcine esophagus. Methods: A radioactive carrier stent containing I 125 seeds was designed to deliver 60 Gy to 5mm depth over 2 months. One dummy,non-radioactive seeds, and 3 radioactive stents were implanted into the esophagus of Yucatan minipigs. Stents were left in place for up to 43 days after implant, and one pig survived 10 weeks after stent removal. Animals were monitored biweekly via endoscopy and fluoroscopic imaging throughout the study collecting tissue at necropsy. Results: Swine esophageal tissue received doses ranging from 39-48 Gy at the prescription depth of 5mm and 132-160 Gy at the mucosal surface. Tissues were assessed pathologically at 0, 1, and 10 weeks after stent removall. Endoscopic assessment of all irradiated animals found incr...