title: Iodine-125 brachytherapy of brain stem tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on iodine-125 ((125)I) interstitial irradiation in the treatment of brain stem tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with brain stem tumors were treated with CT- and image fusion-guided (125)I stereotactic brachytherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By March 2003, the patients had been followed up for 47 and 13 months, respectively. In case 1, the tumor volume was 1.98 cm(3) on the control CT, indicating a 65.5% shrinkage as compared to a target volume of 5.73 cm3 at the time of brachytherapy. In case 2, shrinkage was more distinct. After irradiation, the cyst volume was 0.16 cm(3) on the control MRI, indicating a 97.4% shrinkage as compared to a target volume of 6.05 cm(3) at the time of brachytherapy, i. e., the metastasis had virtually disappeared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CT- and image fusion-guided (125)I stereotactic brachytherapy can be performed during the biopsy session. The procedure can be well planned dosimetrically and is surgically precise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, St. John's Hospital, Budapest, Hungary. h12494jul@ella.hu
authors.forename: Jenö
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Julow
authors.forename: Arpád
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viola
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Major
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valálik
authors.forename: Sarolta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sági
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mangel
authors.forename: Beáta R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Repa
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bajzik
authors.forename: Takácsi N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Zoltán
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Németh
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D011149:Pons; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes