The Effect of Iridium-192 Implant in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

두경부암에서 방사성이리디움 삽입치료의 효과

Brachytherapy is known to be a good modality to achieve local control as a boost treatment following limited external irradiation, which may reduce the external beam related acute radiation sickness, particularly in head and neck cancer. The authors developed iridium-192 ribbons recently to replace the radium needles. Total of 13 head and neck cancer patients had been treated with Ir-192 ribbons during last one year from October 1986 to September 1987, and the results were analysed to assess the applicability of the fabricated sources. The conclusion is as follows; 1) Iridium implant achieved 54% (7/13) of complete response and 69% (9/13) of overall response rate in head and neck cancer. 2) Iridium is superior to radium and cecium in brachytherapy because of easier to use and lesser exposure to the personnel. 3) Afterloading technique is useful to modify dose distribution, to expand treatment site and method, and to develop interstitial hyperthermia.