This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kishino, M Articles by Watanabe, H Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kishino, M Articles by Watanabe, H

A retrospective analysis of the use of brachytherapy in relation to early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx and its relationship to second primary respiratory and upper digestive tract cancers

¹ Department of Radiology, ² Department of Oral Radiology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan

Correspondence: Hitoshi Shibuya, MD, Department of Radiology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital, 5-45, Yushima 1-Chome, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate brachytherapy for early stage squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (SCO) in relation to second primary respiratory and upper digestive tract cancers (RUDT). Between 1976 and 2001, 111 previously untreated patients with stage I or II SCO were treated with Au-198 seed brachytherapy alone (36 cases) or Au-198 seed brachytherapy plus external irradiation (75 cases). Of the 111 patients, 28 patients had stage I disease and 83 patients had stage II disease. Each patient was evaluated for therapeutic efficacy, post-treatment quality of life (QOL) and a second cancer. The 5-year and 10-year cause-specific actuarial survival rates for stage I and II SCO were 87% and 86%, respectively. We found that the 5-year and 10-year survival rates for all SCOs combined with second primary RUDT cancers were 71% and 45%, respectively. 51 second primary RUDT cancers occurred successively in 41 patients following treatment for early stage oropharyngeal cancer and this was the sole prognostic factor by the multivariate analysis. Au-198 seed brachytherapy with or without ipsilateral external irradiation of up to 30 Gy was associated with fewer late complications in the oral cavity and salivary gland. We concluded that our treatment policy of brachytherapy with or without external irradiation for patients with early stage SCO was effective and acceptable from the standpoint of tumour control and post-treatment QOL.