title: How to optimize therapeutic ratio in brachytherapy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma?
abstract: Considerable experience has been accumulated with low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx, 4 cm or less in diameter. Recent analysis of large clinical series provided data indicating that modalities of LDR brachytherapy should be optimized in treating these tumours for increasing therapeutic ratio. LDR brachytherapy is now challenged by high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy and pulsed dose rate (PDR) brachytherapy. Preliminary results obtained with the last two modalities are discussed in comparison with those achieved with LDR brachytherapy.
authors.affiliation: Centre des Tumeurs, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France. jean-jacques.mazeron@psl.ap-hsp-paris.fr
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mazeron
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerbaulet
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hardiman
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome