title: Interstitial HDR brachytherapy for advanced recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical treatment remains the mainstay therapy for recurrence of head and neck cancer after previous radiotherapy. In inoperable cases, interstitial high-dose rate brachytherapy is a treatment option for local dose escalation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of all patients who were treated solely with brachytherapy for advanced non-resectable recurrences of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck and who previously received radiotherapy was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 12 patients with advanced recurrences were treated with interstitial brachytherapy with a fraction dose of 2-3 Gy and a total focal dose of 20-33 Gy. The shortest survival after brachytherapy was 4 weeks. The longest clinical course without evidence of local recurrence is 4 years and 11 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In selected cases brachytherapy can be used as the last-line or palliative therapy for patients with advanced recurrence head and neck carcinomas. Possible complications and the reduction of quality of life due to tracheostomy should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Campus Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35033 Marburg, Germany. swiegand@med.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.forename: Andreas M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sesterhenn
authors.forename: Annette P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strassmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilhelm
authors.forename: Jochen A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Werner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D014139:Tracheostomy