High Dose Rate Intraluminal Brachytherapy Research Articles

High-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (HDRIBT) for esophageal cancer

High-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (HDRIBT) for patients with esophageal cancer has been performed with and without external radiotherapy (ERT) in our department since May 1980. From May 1980 through December 1986, 92 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were treated with HDRIBT following ERT. These patients were divided into a limited disease (LD) group and an extensive disease (ED) group. Complete response and partial response rates after treatment were 48% and 38% in the LD group, and 9% and 65% in the ED group, respectively. The median survival time and 2-year survival rate was 13 months and 39% in the LD group, and 8.5 months and 7% in the ED group, respectively. The 5-year survival was 17% in the LD group. HDRIBT without ERT was used to treat six patients with small, superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma from August 1987 through July 1988. No patients were candidates for surgery because of coexisting medical problems. Each patient received 6 Gy per treatment, twice weekly with a total of 24 Gy; five of the six patients were treated on an outpatient basis. The tumor had disappeared completely in all six patients at the time of first follow-up endoscopic study less than 1 month after treatment, and no local recurrence had occured after 11 to 22 months in five of the six patients. Five of the six patients were alive after 11 to 22 months, and one died with mediastinal metastasis at 15 months.

High-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy for esophageal cancer: 10 years experience in Hyogo College of Medicine

From May 1980 through December 1989, 148 patients with thoracic esophageal cancer were treated with high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (HDRIBT) following external radiotherapy (ERT). The standard treatment protocol was 60 Gy/6 weeks of ERT and 12 Gy/1 week of HDRIBT. The patients were divided into two groups according to disease stage. Sixty-six patients had limited disease (LD), and 82 patients had extensive disease (ED). The 2-year survival rate was 37% in LD group, and 7% in ED group. The 5-year survival rate of LD group was 18%. The l- and 2-year actuarial local control rate was 66 and 64% in LD group, and 49% and 45% in ED group, respectively. In the total patients, ulceration, stricture, and fistula were found in 42 (28%), 15 (10 %)and 6 (4%) patients, respectively; however, major complication defined as one resulting in a second hospitalization or requiring surgical intervention was 3 of the 42 patients with ulceration, 1 of the 15 patients with stricture, and all of the six patients with fistula. As to cause of death, local failure, local failure with distant metastasis, intercurrent disease, and unknown reason was 14, 6, 15, 16 and 0 in LD group, and 13, 24, 30, 9 and 1 in ED group, respectively. The technique and method of combined treatment are described in detail.

High-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy for bile duct carcinoma after surgery

Five patients with recurrent or residual bile duct carcinoma after surgery were treated with high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (HDRIBT) using a remote afterloader. External radiotherapy was also given in three cases. HDRIBT is considered to be an effective mode of radiotherapy for residual or recurrent bile duct tumors.