CT-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS INSERTION OF INTERSTITIAL RADIOTHERAPY CATHETERS IN HEAD AND NECK TUMORS

We describe a new method of placing interstitial radiation therapy cat heters in patients with head and neck tumors. In three patients with r ecurrent inoperable head and neck tumors CT guidance was utilized to i nsert interstitial radiation therapy catheters percutaneously. This me thod enabled palliative radiation therapy to be administered without t he need for surgical placement of seeds or catheters. The detailed ana tomical localization of tumor and vascular structures provided by CT e nabled precise percutaneous placement of afterloading catheters while ensuring safety. Pain was reduced and tumor size was decreased in all three patients. The CT-guided percutaneous insertion of afterloading c atheters is a simple yet effective method of providing interstitial ra diation therapy for head and neck tumors.