title: mTHPC mediated interstitial photodynamic therapy of recurrent nonmetastatic base of tongue cancers: Development of a new method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interstitial photodynamic therapy (iPDT) can be an option in the management of locally recurrent base of tongue cancer after (chemo)radiation treatment. The purpose of the current study was to develop a technique to implant light sources into the tumor tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with previously irradiated locally recurrent base of tongue cancers who were not candidates for salvage surgery or reirradiation or refused these therapies were included in this study. The treatment planning was done on MRI. The light sources were implanted using modified brachytherapy techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The iPDT could be conducted in all patients without short-term complications. At 6 months, 9 patients had complete response with 4 patients still free of disease (46-80 months). Long-term complications included pharyngocutaneous fistula in 6 patients, serious bleeding in 1 patient, and cutaneous metastasis in 2 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial results are encouraging. There is room for improvement to control the destructive potential of iPDT through planning and monitoring tools.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.karakullukcu@nki.nl
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karakullukcu
authors.forename: Heike J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nyst
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: van Veen
authors.forename: Frank J P
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Hoebers
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hamming-Vrieze
authors.forename: Max J H
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Witjes
authors.forename: Sebastiaan A H J
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: de Visscher
authors.forename: Fred R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Burlage
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Levendag
authors.forename: Henricus J C M
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sterenborg
authors.forename: I Bing
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome