OBJECTIVE To perform a comparative dosimetric analysis, based on computer simulations, of temporary balloon implants with (99m)Tc and balloon brachytherapy with high-dose-rate (HDR) (192)Ir, as boosts to radiotherapy. We hypothesized that the two techniques would produce equivalent doses under pre-established conditions of activity and exposure time. MATERIALS AND METHODS Simulations of impla...

In this thesis, we aim to develop fundamentally new techniques and algorithms for efficiently computing rotating-shield brachytherapy (RSBT) treatment plans. We propose that these algorithms will pave the way for making RSBT available in clinical practices. RSBT is an intensity modulated high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) technique. Theoretically, RSBT offers advantages over the conventional...

High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy has become a popular treatment modality for localized prostate cancer. Prostate HDR treatment involves placing 10 to 20 catheters (needles) into the prostate gland, and then delivering radiation dose to the cancerous regions through these catheters. These catheters are often inserted with transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance and the HDR treatment plan is bas...

BACKGROUND Although radical prostatectomy for localized disease is considered as a standard of care, external-beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy are equally effective. We report on the technique and preliminary results of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy using a temporary iridium-192 implant technique. METHODS The authors reviewed the literature on the techniques, treatment protocols, and ...

PURPOSE High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy has been accepted as an effective and safe method to treat prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to describe acute toxicity following HDR brachytherapy to the prostate, and to examine the association between dosimetric parameters and urinary toxicity in low-risk prostate cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with low-risk prostate cance...

AIMS To describe our institutional experience with high dose rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (IBT) compared with previously reported results on the low dose rate (LDR) practice for head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-four patients with oral cavity (n=70) or oropharyngeal cancer (n=14) were treated with 192Ir HDR-IBT. Seventy-eight patients had stage I or II tumour. The pa...

BACKGROUND It has been demonstrated that the outcome of primary radiotherapy in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck is strongly influenced by overall treatment time. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of high-dose-rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (ISBT) for early mobile tongue cancer and to examine whether the non-irradiated period affected treatment results. ...

PURPOSE To evaluate the prognostic factors for patients with local or locally advanced prostate cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy (RT) and high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) according to the RTOG-ASTRO Phoenix Consensus Conference. MATERIALS AND METHODS The charts of 209 patients treated between 1997 and 2005 with localized RT and HDR as a boost at the Department of Radiation Onc...