PERMANENT IMPLANTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF HEAD AND NECK CANCER BY RADIOTHERAPY

The results of treatment of carcinoma of the buccal mucosa, gingiva, tonsillar area and posterior pharyngeal wall using permanent interstitial implantation are reported.

In spite of the fact that many of the lesions were locally advanced, this method of treatment offered an effective means of controlling local tumor.

For patients with adequate operative risk, the combination of external beam megavoltage therapy and interstitial implantations offers a better rate of local tumor control than external beam radiation therapy alone.

Interstitial gamma-ray therapy may be used even when the indications are unusual, and good results may be obtained with a minimum of late changes and undue complications.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?