title: High-dose rate brachytherapy in the treatment of penile carcinoma--first experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interstitial low-dose rate brachytherapy (BRT) allows a conservative treatment of T1-T2 penile carcinoma. High-dose rate (HDR) BRT is often considered as a dangerous method for interstitial implants because of higher risk of complications. However, numerous reports suggest that results of HDR-BRT may be comparable to low-dose rate BRT. There are no data available in the literature regarding HDR interstitial BRT for carcinoma of the penis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with early penile carcinoma were treated by interstitial hyperfractionated HDR-BRT at the dose of 18 times 3Gy twice daily between years 2002 and 2009. Breast interstitial BRT template was used for fixation and precise geometry reconstruction of stainless hollow needles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median followup was 20 months. Our BRT technique and fractionation schedule was well tolerated by all patients. Acute reaction consisted predominantly of penis edema and Grade 2 radiation mucositis that dissolved during 8 weeks after the treatment. We neither observed any postradiation necrosis nor urethral stenosis. The worst late side effects recorded were mild telanagiectasias in the treatment region. At the last followup, all patients were alive without evidence of the tumor and with fully functional organ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperfractionated interstitial HDR-BRT with 18 times 3 Gy per fraction twice daily is a promising method in selected patients of penile carcinoma and deserves further evaluation in a larger prospective study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. petera@fnhk.cz
authors.forename: Jiří
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petera
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sirák
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kašaová
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mačingová
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paluska
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zouhar
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kutílek
authors.forename: Miloš
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brod'ák
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vošmik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome