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Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas arising from immature mesenchymal cells that are intended to form striated skeletal muscles. Brachytherapy delivers high-dose of precised radiation to the target tissue with high conformity, sparing the nearby normal tissues, hence allowing dose escalation and reducing the likelihood of normal tissue toxicity. There is a scarcity of reports on the use of brachytherapy for extremity RMS. We report the case of pediatric extremity RMS treated with re-brachytherapy in recurrent setting. A 4-year-old boy diagnosed with RMS of right upper arm underwent local excision of the lesion. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed suspicious residual lesion. Revision surgery followed by brachytherapy with 30 Gy in 10 fractions twice a day over 5 days was delivered. The child developed local recurrence after 12 months. Reexcision and re-irradiation with brachytherapy were done delivering 27 Gy in 9 fractions twice a day over 5 days. The child is disease-free 18 months posttreatment with no significant disparity in limb length suggestive of successful preservation of growth epiphysis. Re-irradiation with interstitial brachytherapy can be considered as an option for the treatment of recurrent pediatric extremity rhabdomyosarcoma, in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy, despite treated previously with brachytherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Brachytherapy (BT) forms major treatment modality in squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck cancers (HNC). However, there is a dearth of literature and guidelines for the use in various indications. High-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) in Indian scenario is an important treatment modality, and the recommendations in this guidelines aim to provide the necessary recommendations for the use of HDR-BT for uniform application across the country in patients with HNC. Material and methods: A panel consisting of members of the Indian Brachytherapy Society (IBS), based on their clinical experience was invited. The process involved defining important steps, precautions, target volumes and indications, thorough literature review, and discussion with fellow members. The guidelines were established and formulated the recommendations for HDR-BT based on available evidences and individual experience for sites, relevant to Indian settings. Results: The IBS recommends the use of HDR brachytherapy as a part of treatment of head and neck tumors. The scope of these guidelines and recommendations included practical suggestions, ensuring efficient use of brachytherapy treatment as radical with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) boost, palliative and adjuvant as definitive, or re-radiation as salvage for HNC in India. The IBS has made specific site-wise recommendations for previously untreated and recurrent HNC patients on their selection criteria, implant techniques, target volume definition, and HDR treatment parameters, such as time, dose rate, total dose, and fractionation schedules. Limited experience exists with HDR-BT in patients with head and neck cancers in India and across the globe. Conclusions: IBS provided a consensus statement and guidelines for the head and neck brachytherapy and believed that these recommendations will overcome the fear of practicing radiation oncologists. This should generate interest amongst students and will help radiation oncologists all across the country to use the art of brachytherapy carefully in HNC patients, with better curative and salvage options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment outcomes with high-dose-rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (HDR-BRT) in head and neck cancers (HNC). Material and methods: Fifty-eight patients with HNC as per American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging criteria were analyzed retrospectively between 2008 and 2015. Forty-two patients received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with HDR-BRT and 16 patients received BRT alone. The survival was calculated with respect to median biological equivalent doses (BED) and median 2 Gy equivalent dose (EQD2), keeping α/β = 10 for tumor. Loco-regional control and disease free survival was assessed. Results: The median follow-up period was 25 months (2-84 months). The disease-free survival (DFS) probability at year 1 was 82.7%, and 68% at year 7. The overall survival probability was 91.3% at year 1 and 85.8% at year 7. The local control rate was 70%. The rate of recurrence was 30%. Distant metastasis rate was 17.2%. The median BED and EQD2, respectively, were 86.78 Gy and 71.6 Gy. The DFS was 74.1% and 75.9% in patients receiving a dose more than median BED and EQD2, respectively, and was 64.8% and 61.5% for less than the median dose. Conclusions: The overall outcome was good with implementation of HDR-BRT used alone or as boost, and shows DFS as better when the dose received is more than the median BED and median EQD2. The role of HDR-BRT in HNC is a proven, effective, and safe treatment method with excellent long term outcome as seen in this study, which reflects the need for reviving the forgotten art and science of interstitial brachytherapy in HNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High Dose Rate (HDR) Interstitial Brachytherapy has an established role in head and neck malignancies and offers good survival rates, however, there are scant data on improved local control (LC) and treatment-related complications in patients with recurrent head and neck (H&N) cancers. We report our results in patients with recurrent H&N cancers treated with interstitial HDRBT. Methods and materials Twenty patients with recurrent H&N cancers were treated with HDR interstitial brachytherapy between January 2010 and December 2016. Of these, 75% received radical brachytherapy and 25% received external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) followed by brachytherapy boost. The treatment sites were oral cavity (12/20) and oropharynx (8/20). The median dose was 4.5 Gy twice per day with median total dose with brachytherapy of 40.5Gy in radical and 27Gy for EBRT cases. The EBRT median total was 46Gy. HDR Interstitial Brachytherapy was initiated from next day of implant and after removal of the catheters, the patients were followed up as per the institutional protocol and were assessed for survival outcomes and toxicities. Results With a median follow-up of 18 months, 4 local recurrences were observed within first year of follow up after the procedure. The 2-year local control and overall survival outcomes for the entire group were 58.3% and 83.3%, respectively. The 4-year disease free survival was 50% and distant metastases was seen in 33.3% at 5 years. There were 3 patients with Grade II and 4 with Grade III complications and one patient developed osteoradionecrosis. A median BED of 88Gy showed improved survival outcomes in these patients. Conclusion The results of HDR Interstitial brachytherapy have shown an acceptable local control and overall survival rates along with tolerable toxicities and morbidity in recurrent H&N cancers. Based on these encouraging results, prospective clinical trials are warranted using HDR Interstitial Brachytherapy in recurrent H&N cancers to decrease late toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]