scholarly journals Is There Still a Place for Brachytherapy in the Modern Treatment of Early-Stage Oral Cancer?

Cancers ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 222
Author(s):  
Luboš Tuček ◽  
Milan Vošmik ◽  
Jiří Petera

Brachytherapy (BT) involves the direct application of radioactive sources to the tumour. This technique is characterised by a steep dose gradient, the delivery of high-dose radiation to the target volume centre, and the sparing of surrounding healthy tissues. Low-dose-rate (LDR) BT and manual afterloading played an important role in the treatment of early-stage oral cancer, with treatment outcomes that were comparable to surgery. Interest in BT as a primary treatment for oral cancer has declined in recent years due to the emergence of better surgical techniques, the switch from LDR BT to high-dose-rate (HDR) BT (which has a higher risk of complications), and to advances in external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). At present, the main indications for BT are in the postoperative setting due to the superior dose conformity and better quality of life offered by BT versus EBRT. Postoperative BT can be administered as monotherapy in early-stage (T1N0) cancers and in combination with elective neck dissection or EBRT to treat larger or deeper tumours. BT yields excellent results for lip carcinoma in older patients and in tumours with unfavourable localisations. BT is an effective salvage therapy for local recurrences in previously-irradiated areas. Despite its many advantages, brachytherapy is a complex treatment requiring meticulous technique and close cooperation between the radiation oncologist, physicist, and surgeon.

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 879-887 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiří Petera ◽  
Igor Sirák ◽  
Luboš Tuček ◽  
Miroslav Hodek ◽  
Petr Paluska ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 085-088
Author(s):  
Hanady Hegazy ◽  
Neamat Hegazy ◽  
Maher Soliman ◽  
Amr Elsaid

AbstractConcurrent chemoradiotherapy is considered the standard treatment for the locally advanced cancer cervix (LACC). Radiotherapy is commonly administered by a three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) approach followed by brachytherapy (BT). High dose rate (HDR) BT is commonly administered; however, several drawbacks exist including invasive technique, pain, requirement of anesthesia, and operative risks. We assessed the dosimetric difference between the HDR BT and the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) boost in those patients. Ten patients were selected retrospectively with LACC and all received whole pelvis radiotherapy followed by BT boost of 7 Gy in three fractions. The computed tomography (CT) image was transferred to the Varian system for the VMAT plan while the one with the applicator was transferred to the Sagi planning system and the high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV), bladder, rectum, sigmoid, and small bowel were delineate with a margin of 5 mm were added to the CTV to create the planning target volume (PTV). The D90 for the PTV in VMAT boost was lower than received by the HR-CTV in the BT boost. Mean volume of the PTV was higher than that of the HR-CTV. The D2cc was higher in VMAT for bladder, sigmoid, and rectum while the D2cc for the small bowel in BT was higher compared with the VMAT. The VMAT is an option that exists for patients who refuse BT or cannot tolerate it, or in case of nonavailability of BT or a nonworking machine.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1425
Author(s):  
Paweł Cisek ◽  
Dariusz Kieszko ◽  
Mateusz Bilski ◽  
Radomir Dębicki ◽  
Ewelina Grywalska ◽  
...  

Background: Eyelid tumors are rare skin cancers, the most common of which is basal cell carcinoma characterized primarily by local growth. In addition to surgery, radiotherapy is among the basic methods of treatment. External beam radiotherapy is associated with the risk of complications within ocular structures, especially the lens. In the case of interstitial brachytherapy, it is possible to administer a high dose to the clinical target volume (CTV), while reducing it in the most sensitive structures. Methods: This paper presents the results of an analysis of 28 patients treated with interstitial high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy for skin cancers of the upper and lower eyelid; medial and lateral canthus; and the cheek, nose and temples with the infiltration of ocular structures. The patients were treated according to two irradiation schedules: 49 Gy in 14 fractions of 3.5 Gy twice a day for 7 days of treatment, and 45 Gy in 5 Gy fractions twice a day for 5 days. The mean follow-up was 22 months (3–49 months). Results: two patients (6%) had a relapse: a local recurrence within the irradiated area in one of them, and metastases to lymph nodes in the other. The most common early complication was conjunctivitis (74%), and the most common late complication was dry eye syndrome (59%). Conclusions: Interstitial HDR brachytherapy for skin cancers of the upper and lower eyelid; medial and lateral cants; and the cheek, nose and temples with infiltration of ocular structures is a highly effective, short and relatively low burden type of treatment.


2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (12) ◽  
pp. 1787-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro J. Prada ◽  
Herminio González ◽  
José Fernández ◽  
Isabel Jiménez ◽  
Aránzazu Iglesias ◽  
...  

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