Abstract
Background: To define the impact of interstitial boost of the oropharynx on local control and complications using iodine-125 (I-125) brachytherapy. Methods: Between October 1986 and September 1991, 19 patients with cancer of the oropharynx received treatment at William Beaumont Hospital. Primary tumors consisted of 13 base of tongue, 4 tonsillar, and 2 pharyngeal wall lesions. All patients received 45-66 Gy (median, 54 Gy) external beam irradiation to the primary and regional nodes, followed by an interstitial implant of 22-32 Gy (median, 25 Gy) with I-125. Results: Median follow-up was 58 months (range, 12-89 months). Three patients failed within the tumor bed, for a 5-year actuarial rate of local control of 83% (T1/T2, 82%; T3/T4, 86%). Two of the three local failures were salvaged surgically, for an overall 5- year actuarial local control rate of 94%. The 5-year actuarial overall survival rate was 64%. Complications included one case of soft tissue ulceration and two cases of osteoradionecrosis, all managed conservatively. Conclusions: Patients with cancer of the oropharynx judged to be candidates for boosts with interstitial implants can be effectively treated with I-125. Local control was excellent, and complications were minimal.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 219-226 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Head and Neck |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1997 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Brachytherapy/adverse effects
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnosis
- Disease-Free Survival
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Iodine Radioisotopes/adverse effects
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/diagnosis
- Prognosis
- Salvage Therapy
- Survival Rate