Perioperative high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy in unresectable locally advanced pancreatic tumors.

CONCLUSIONS: The authors claim that the modification of catheter implantation using specially designed cannula, facilitates the process of inserting the catheter into the tumor, shortens the time needed for the procedure, and reduces the risk of complications. Mean survival time was 5.7 months. In the group of performed brachytherapy, the mean survival time was 6.7 months, while in the group of no brachytherapy performed - 4.4 months. In the group of brachytherapy, only one patient increased the dose of painkillers in the last month of his life. Remaining patients took constant doses of medicines. Perioperative HDR-Ir192 brachytherapy could be considered as a practical application of adjuvant therapy for pain relief in patients with an advanced pancreatic cancer. PMID: 27895674 [PubMed - in process]
Source: Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: J Contemp Brachytherapy Source Type: research