Schwarz SB, Thon N, Nikolajek K, Niyazi M, Tonn JC, Belka C, Kreth FW. Iodine-125 brachytherapy for brain tumours--a review.
Radiat Oncol 2012;
7:30. [PMID:
22394548 PMCID:
PMC3354996 DOI:
10.1186/1748-717x-7-30]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2012] [Accepted: 03/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Iodine-125 brachytherapy has been applied to brain tumours since 1979. Even though the physical and biological characteristics make these implants particularly attractive for minimal invasive treatment, the place for stereotactic brachytherapy is still poorly defined.An extensive review of the literature has been performed, especially concerning indications, results and complications. Iodine-125 seeds have been implanted in astrocytomas I-III, glioblastomas, metastases and several other tumour entities. Outcome data given in the literature are summarized. Complications are rare in carefully selected patients.All in all, for highly selected patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent primary or metastatic tumours, this method provides encouraging survival rates with relatively low complication rates and a good quality of life.
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