THE PLACE OF BRACHYTHERAPY IN THE THERAPE UTIC STRATEGY OF PEDIATRIC VESICOPROSTATIC RABDOMYOSARCOMAS

Because of its ballistic and physical characteristics, brachytherapy ( BT) represents the optimal irradiation treatment in pediatric tumors, especially in prostate or bladder rhabdomyosarcoma, In a limited serie s of 15 children treated with BT (including three patients treated wit h salvage BT), 8 out of 9 patients surviving with NED benefited from c onservative treatment among 12 patients treated with BT as first-line treatment, Sequelae were minimal consisting of one grade I cystitis an d one asymptomatic vesical and ureteral reflux. BT allows administrati on of high doses to limited volumes sparing normal tissues. BT - whene ver possible - represents the treatment of choice compared with extern al radiotherapy, Indications of BT depend on tumor accessibility and s ize (usually less than or equal to 4 cm).