title: Interstitial brachytherapy of malignant brain tumors using computed tomography-guided stereotaxis and available imaging software: technical report.
abstract: The implantation of radioactive sources into malignant intraaxial brain tumors, interstitial brachytherapy, is a theoretically attractive treatment for these nearly uniformly fatal lesions. Optimal application of this treatment modality requires careful preoperative planning, computer-assisted dosimetry, and computed tomography-guided stereotactic implantation of the isotope-bearing catheters. A method is presented by which available computed tomographic imaging software can be used with a standard radiotherapy treatment planning computer and the Brown-Roberts-Wells stereotactic system for preoperative imaging, dosimetry planning, and brachytherapy catheter insertion. Dedicated computer facilities are not required, making this method available to any neurosurgeon with access to a current generation computed tomographic scanner.
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005910:Glioma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D012984:Software; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*