Remote afterloading intraluminal brachytherapy in the treatment of rectal, rectosigmoid, and anal cancer: A feasibility study Journal Article


Authors: Kaufman, N.; Nori, D.; Shank, B.; Linares, L.; Harrison, L.; Fass, D.; Enker, W.
Article Title: Remote afterloading intraluminal brachytherapy in the treatment of rectal, rectosigmoid, and anal cancer: A feasibility study
Abstract: From 1981 to 1986, 28 patients (27 evaluable) were treated with intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) using a remote afterloading technique for persistent or recurrent anal, rectal and rectosigmoid cancers. Eighty-nine percent underwent previous surgery for colorectal cancer. Seventy-seven percent of the patients received external beam irradiation (ERT) as a part of the present treatment. Intraluminal brachytherapy was given with a 2 cm diameter cylinder and the dose per fraction ranged from 440 cGy to 840 cGy at 0.5 cm from the surface of the cylinder. Follow-up ranged from I to 74 months with a median of 12 months. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 15 patients receiving elective ILBT; Group II: 13 patients with recurrent disease. Seventy-one percent of the patients in Group I and 39% of the patients in Group II achieved local control. The majority of patients tolerated treatment well with only transient reactions. However, three patients (11%) developed grade 3 (G3) complications requiring surgical intervention. Eight patients developed moderate complications-grade 2 (G2)-requiring only conservative treatment. This study has identified several factors which appear to influence the risk of developing complications with this combined treatment, using remote afterloading apparatus, among which are technique of previous external beam irradiation, treatment length, anatomical location, intraluminal brachytherapy fractionation, and total cumulative dose (ERT + ILBT). This experience suggests that intraluminal brachytherapy appears to be an acceptable form of treatment, as a boost to external beam radiation therapy, in the management of rectal and colorectal cancers. © 1989.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; aged; aged, 80 and over; combined modality therapy; methodology; feasibility studies; brachytherapy; radioisotope; rectum carcinoma; rectal neoplasms; iridium 192; radioisotope therapy; rectal cancer; middle age; anus neoplasms; anus carcinoma; sigmoid neoplasms; sigmoid carcinoma; intraluminal brachytherapy; human; male; female; priority journal; remote afterloading brachytherapy
Journal Title: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0360-3016
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 1989-09-01
Start Page: 663
End Page: 668
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/0360-3016(89)90121-1
PUBMED: 2777655
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 14 April 2020 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Warren E. Enker
    70 Enker
  2. Louis B Harrison
    123 Harrison
  3. Daniel E. Fass
    29 Fass
  4. Brenda M. Shank
    45 Shank
  5. Dattatreyudu Nori
    38 Nori