Intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy in the treatment of bile duct and gallbladder carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
The prognosis of biliary tract carcinomas is poor, and therapeutic efforts are limited mostly only to palliation. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of intraluminal high dose rate brachytherapy in the treatment of bile duct and gallbladder carcinomas.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with bile duct and gallbladder carcinomas were treated by brachytherapy administered through high dose rate remote afterloading system. Five patients after Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunoanastomosis were treated by intraluminal brachytherapy inserted via a diahepatal drain, and 8 inoperable patients were treated by intraluminal brachytherapy via a percutaneous biliary drain.


RESULTS
After intraluminal brachytherapy, a control of icterus was observed in all patients. The treatment was well tolerated and mean survival was 275 days.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of intraluminal brachytherapy may be beneficial to patients with carcinomas causing biliary obstruction in whom bile drainage can be established.
Dvorák
Josef
J
Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charles University Medical School and Teaching Hospital, 50005 Czech Republic. dvorakj@fnhk.cz
Jandík
Pavel
P
Melichar
Bohuslav
B
Jon
Bohumil
B
Mergancová
Jindriska
J
Zoul
Zdenek
Z
Vacek
Zdenek
Z
Petera
Jirí
J
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000713:Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007582:Jejunostomy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome