Reirradiation for recurrent head and neck carcinoma using high-dose-rate brachytherapy: A multi-institutional study.

Abstract

AIM:

This study presents multi-institutional individual data of reirradiation (ReRT) for head and neck cancer using brachytherapy (ReRT-BT) collected by national surveillance in Japan.

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

We distributed an e-mail-based questionnaire to 153 institutions equipped with high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy facilities and received responses from 76 institutions (49.7%). Of these 76 institutions, only four (5.2%) performed ReRT-BT for head and neck cancers, and three provided individual patient's data.

RESULTS:

Six ReRT-BT cases of patients with recurrent head and neck cancer, treated with HDR brachytherapy in seven ReRT sessions, were identified from three institutions. Three patients (two cases of lips and one case of gingiva) who underwent curative-intent treatment achieved complete response at the treated area. Three patients who received palliative treatment (one case of tongue and two cases of maxillary sinus) had sustained tumor growth at the treated site, but with improvement in symptoms. No grade ≥3 toxicity was found after HDR ReRT-BT.

CONCLUSIONS:

ReRT-BT for head and neck cancer using HDR brachytherapy is a safe and useful approach to treat recurrent cancer after initial radiotherapy with curative and palliative intent. However, the scarce availability of ReRT-BT is a barrier to the wider utility of this effective procedure.

• Authors: Hideya Yamazaki, Koji Masui, Gen Suzuki, Ken Yoshida, Satoaki Nakamura, Fumiaki Isohashi, Tadayuki Kotsuma, Yuji Takaoka, Eiichi Tanaka, Hironori Akiyama, Naoya Ishibashi
• Journal: Brachytherapy (Brachytherapy) 2022 May-Jun Vol. 21 Issue 3 Pg. 341-346 ISSN: 1873-1449 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35307301 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2022 American Brachytherapy Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Brachytherapy (methods)
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Japan
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (etiology, radiotherapy)
• Palliative Care
• Radiotherapy Dosage
• Re-Irradiation