Pictorial Essay
Penile cancer brachytherapy HDR mould technique used at the Holycross Cancer Center

Case report

Penile carcinoma is a rare type of cancer. In Poland it occurs in about five cases in a million men. The exact cause is not known (as in other cancer types). The most suspected is HPV infection and bad hygiene status; early circumcision may prevent development of this tumour. The most common treatment for patients is surgery. It is effective but often connected with loss of the penis or its functionality. Brachytherapy has been used as an alternative, organ-preserving treatment option for several decades. Results achieved with this method were comparable to surgery. Brachytherapy initially was used as LDR and then as PDR or HDR technique [1-12].

There are two types of application and treatment: 1) interstitial, requiring anaesthesia and short hospitalization; 2) mould technique based on individual contact applicator. In our department we decided to choose the second one for patients’ convenience, the possibility to introduce 3D CT based planning and potentially better cosmetic effect using HDR sources (more homogeneous irradiation). This method allows treatment to be applied on an outpatient basis. We used the following treatment schema: Total dose: 15 fractions, 3 Gy per fraction; 5 days/week on 19 consecutive days. We present our whole procedure from qualification through preparing the applicator, irradiation to the early results.

Conclusions: Mould based HDR brachytherapy used at the Holycross Cancer Center for penile cancer is a very convenient, repeatable method. It allows preservation of the treated organ with full functionality. The procedure can be done on an outpatient basis. Use of this type of HDR brachytherapy is safe (afterloading) and precise (CT based planning). Efficacy could not be assessed due to the small group (n = 5) of patients but early results are promising.

References

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