title: Intraoperative single fraction high-dose-rate brachytherapy for head and neck cancers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on the use of single fraction high-dose-rate brachytherapy in delivering localized intraoperative radiation therapy to sites in the head and neck region inaccessible to intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy (IOERT).
  
  
  METHODS
  After maximal surgical resection, 7.5-20 Gy intraoperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy (IOHDR) was delivered to 65 patients using custom-made surface applicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 1-, 3-, and 5-year local control rates for the entire group were 77%, 69%, and 59%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 83%, 63%, and 42%, respectively, with a median overall survival of 50 months. There were no major intraoperative or postoperative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IOHDR can be used to treat selected locally advanced head and neck tumors arising at sites inaccessible to IOERT or at institutions not using IOERT. A prospective multi-institutional study with a larger number of patients treated with IOHDR is needed to firmly establish the efficacy of IOHDR in this population group.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiation Oncology, The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. nag.1@osu.edu
authors.forename: Subir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nag
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tippin
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Grecula
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome