Ra. Bronen et al., CT-GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS INSERTION OF INTERSTITIAL RADIOTHERAPY CATHETERS IN HEAD AND NECK TUMORS, Journal of computer assisted tomography, 18(1), 1994, pp. 163-165
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.