• 11/9/2006
  • United Kingdom
  • M Kishino et al.
  • British Journal of Radiology 2006, doi:10.1259/bjr/69420116

Purpose:
To retrospectively evaluate the brachytherapy for early-stage squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (SCO) in relation to second primary upper digestive tract cancers (RUDT).

Method:
Between 1976 and 2001, 111 previously untreated patients with stage I or II SCO were treated by Au-198 seed brachytherapy alone (36 cases) or Au-198 seed brachytherapy plus external irradiation (75 cases). Of the 111 patients, 28 had stage I and 83 had stage II disease. Each patient was evaluated for therapeutic efficacy, post-treatment quality of life (QOL), and a second cancer.

Findings:
The 5-year and 10-year cause-specific actuarial survival rates for stage I and II SCOs were 87% and 86%, respectively. Although, the 5-year and 10-year survival rates for all SCO combined with second primary RUDT cancers were 71% and 45%, respectively. 51 second primary RUDT cancer occurred successively in 41 patients following treatment for early stage oropharyngeal cancer and was the sole prognostic factor by the multivariate analysis. Au-198 seed brachytherapy with/without ipsilateral external irradiation up to 30 Gy was associated with fewer late complications in the oral cavity and salivary gland.

Conclusions:
Our treatment policy of brachytherapy with/without external irradiation for patients with early stage SCO was effective and acceptable from the standpoint of tumour control and post-treatment QOL.

Authors:
M Kishino 1, H Shibuya 1, R Yoshimura 1, S M Miura 2, H Watanabe 2

Authors’ affiliations:
1 Department of Radiology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 5-45, Yushima 1-Chome, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
2 Department of Oral Radiology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 5-45, Yushima 1-Chome, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan