Single-fraction image-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy for head and neck cancer: three cases of palliative brachytherapy

Yoshiaki Ota; Koji Masui; Gen Suzuki; Hideya Yamazaki; Kei Yamada

doi:10.5114/jcb.2020.96870

eISSN: 2081-2841
ISSN: 1689-832X

Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy

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3/2020
vol. 12

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abstract:

Case report

Single-fraction image-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy for head and neck cancer: three cases of palliative brachytherapy

Yoshiaki Ota

¹

,

Koji Masui

¹

,

Gen Suzuki

¹

,

Hideya Yamazaki

¹

,

Kei Yamada

¹

Department of Radiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

J Contemp Brachytherapy 2020; 12, 3: 273–278

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/jcb.2020.96870

Online publish date: 2020/06/30

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Introduction
To present a small series of cases, in which single-fraction image-guided high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy was provided as palliative treatment for inoperable head and neck cancer cases.

Case presentation
We used this technique to treat 3 patients with symptomatic head and neck cancer (tongue cancer, gingival metastasis of osteosarcoma, and external auditory canal cancer), who were not eligible for a definitive treatment. The purpose of palliative brachytherapy in all 3 patients was the relief of symptoms such as difficulty in eating, talking, and hearing. All patients were treated with computed tomography (CT) image-guided interstitial HDR brachytherapy under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting, with a single dose of 10 Gy. Satisfactory palliative effects were achieved in all cases without serious side effects. The palliative effects were sustained in 2 patients until death, and 1 patient lived for 39 weeks before a relapse.

Conclusions
Our palliative treatment technique appears to be safe, effective, and less invasive, and could be a treatment option for symptomatic patients with head and neck cancer.

keywords:

Single-fraction image-guided high-dose-rate brachytherapy for head and neck cancer: three cases of palliative brachytherapy

Yoshiaki Ota 1 , Koji Masui 1 , Gen Suzuki 1 , Hideya Yamazaki 1 , Kei Yamada 1

brachytherapy, palliative care, image-guided brachytherapy, head and neck neoplasms

Yoshiaki Ota

¹

,

Koji Masui

¹

,

Gen Suzuki

¹

,

Hideya Yamazaki

¹

,

Kei Yamada

¹