How many times 125I seed implantation brachytherapy can be repeated for pulmonary metastases: clinical efficacy and complications

Effects of iodine-125 seed brachytherapy on patients with heterochronous pulmonary metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma: A propensity score matching study

Purpose

To investigate the effects of iodine-125 seed brachytherapy (ISB) on the overall survival (OS) of patients with heterochronous pulmonary metastasis (HPM) secondary to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials and Methods

The clinical and imaging data of 123 patients with HPM secondary to HCC treated at a single center from July 2012 to July 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into ISB and non-ISB groups based on ISB treatment. Propensity score matching yielded 46 pairs of patients. A total of 191 lesions were treated, and the data were evaluated for 6 months after ISB. The OS rates of the two groups were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. Independent prognostic factors were determined using a Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results

The percentages of lung lesions in complete remission, partial remission, disease stable, and disease progression stages were 49.2%, 32.8%, 9.6%, and 8.4%, respectively. The disease control rate was 91.6%. The median follow-up time from the initial diagnosis was 47 months and 33 months for the ISB and non-ISB groups, respectively. Patients in the ISB group had a longer OS than those in the non-ISB group (1-year: 95.7% vs. 80.3%; 3-year: 62.9% vs. 45.7%; 5-year: 37% vs. 20.9%; P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that ISB treatment, tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, and Child - Pugh score were independent prognostic factors for survival.

Conclusion

ISB improves local control and OS rates of HPM secondary to HCC; thus, it is an effective and feasible option for patients with HPM secondary to HCC.

Computed tomography-guided implantation of 125I radioactive seeds in patients with malignant airway compression induced by advanced lung cancer: effectiveness and safety in 40 patients

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided ¹²⁵I radioactive seed implantation in patients with malignant airway compression induced by advanced lung cancer.

Material and methods

Between June 2015 and June 2018, 40 patients from three medical institutions with malignant airway compression induced by advanced lung cancer were treated with ¹²⁵I seed implantation. The outcomes were measured in technical success and safety, objective response rate, complications, Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, and survival time.

Results

All 40 patients successfully underwent implantation procedure. No procedure-associated death occurred. The most common complications were irritable cough, temporary hemoptysis, chest pain, fever, and pneumothorax, which occurred in 26 (65.0%), 31 (77.5%), 12 (30.0%), 15 (37.5%), and 11 (27.5%) patients, respectively. The objective response rates were 100%, 100%, 100%, 87.5%, and 83.3% at the 3^rd, 6^th, 12^th, 24^th, and 36^th months post-procedure, respectively. The KPS score significantly improved at post-procedure. Median survival time was 25.1 months. Actuarial survival rates were 100%, 60%, and 15% at the 12^th, 24^th, and 36^th months after the procedure, respectively.

Conclusions

For patients with malignant airway compression induced by advanced lung cancer, implantation with ¹²⁵I seed is a safe and effective alternative treatment option.

Evaluation of radioactive 125I seed implantation for the treatment of refractory malignant tumours based on a CT-guided 3D template-assisted technique: efficacy and safety

Background

To observe the medium- and long-term clinical efficacy and safety of radioactive ¹²⁵I seed implantation for refractory malignant tumours based on CT-guided 3D template-assisted technique.

Methods

Twenty-five patients with refractory malignant tumours who underwent radioactive ¹²⁵I seed implantation based on CT-guided 3D template-assisted technique were selected. The post-operative adverse reactions were recorded. The number of puncture needles and particles used in the operation, dosimetric parameters, post-operative physical strength scores, and tumour response were statistically analysed. The overall survival time and survival rate were calculated, and the effect and prognosis were assessed.

Results

¹²⁵I seed implantation was successful in all patients without serious complications. The average number of implanted puncture needles was 17 (19.12 ± 13.00), and the median number of particles was 52 (55.12 ± 32.97). D₉₀ in the post-operative clinical target volume (CTV) (93.24 ± 15.70 Gy) was slightly lower than that in the pre-operative CTV (93.92 ± 17.60 Gy; P > 0.05). The D₉₀ in the post-operative planning target volume (PTV) (142.16 ± 22.25 Gy) was lower than the pre-operative PTV (145.32 ± 23.48 Gy; P > 0.05). The tumour responses at 6 months post-operatively: complete remission (CR), 20% (5/25); partial remission (PR), 48% (12/25); stable disease (SD), 24% (6/25); progressive disease (PD), 8% (2/25); CR + PR, 68% (17/25); and local control rate, 92% (23/25). The 6-, 12-, and 24-month survival rates were 100, 88, and 52%, respectively. The post-operative physical strength score (Karnofsky performance score, KPS) exhibited a gradual trend towards recovery, which rose to the highest value 12 months after implantation and then decreased slightly, but the average score was still > 90 points. There was one intra-operative pneumothorax, and two patients with superficial malignant tumours developed skin ulcerations. Multivariate analysis of prognosis showed that tumour sites and types were independent risk factors affecting survival. The number of needles and particles and template types were not the factors.

Conclusions

3D template combined with CT-guided radioactive ¹²⁵I seed implantation can improve the rational distribution of radiation dose in the tumour target area because accurate radioactive ¹²⁵I particle implantation was achieved. This technique has fewer complications and can further extend the overall survival and improve the quality of life.

Trial registration

Registration number: ChiCTR2000034566 2020/7/10 0:00:00

Retrospectively registered.

Iodine-125 seed implantation treatment of lung metastases < 2.5 cm using 5-ml syringe as a guide

PURPOSE

Small lung metastases change their location with respiration, making difficult to localize, therefore, increasing the number of punctures. Accurate puncture can reduce trauma to lung tissue and accelerate patient's recovery. The aim of the study was to present our experience with the technique of using local anesthesia 5-ml syringe as a guide for computerized tomography-guided iodine-125 seed implantation (CT-ISI).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study, including patients with small metastatic tumors in the lung, treated with CT-ISI between December 2013 and March 2018 at the Affiliated Hospital of the University. The patients were divided according to whether a 5-ml syringe was used as a guide during CT-ISI or not. The final follow-up was on March 31st, 2018. Implantation success and complications were examined.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients were included. A total of 840 seeds were used, with 44.2 ±33.6 (range, 10-160) seeds per patient. The mean D90 for CT-ISI was 134.5 ±7.5 Gy. Treatment intervention for eleven patients was performed using a 5-ml syringe as a guide during CT-ISI. There were no differences in total dose and number of implanted seeds between the two groups, but the number of punctures per lesion was lower in the syringe group than in the no-syringe group (1.9 ±0.5 vs. 2.9 ±0.6, p < 0.001), suggesting a higher puncture accuracy. The total number of SMTIL was 50 (median, 2; range, 1-10), and the median size was 1.9 cm (range, 0.8-2.4 cm). All SMTIL were well-controlled at 6-months follow-up (response rate [RR] = 100%). One patient in the no-syringe group experienced grade 2 chest tightness, chest pain, intraoperative needle tract bleeding, and post-operative blood in sputum.

CONCLUSIONS

Puncture with a 5-ml syringe as a guide during CT-ISI seems to be a more accurate option for patients with small (< 2.5 cm) lung metastasis.