title: Clinical outcome of high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy in patients with oral cavity cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcome of high-dose-rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy (IBT) in patients with oral cavity cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients with oral cavity cancer treated with HDR remote-control afterloading brachytherapy using (192)Ir between 2001 and 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Brachytherapy was administered in 11 patients as the primary treatment and in five patients as salvage treatment for recurrence after the initial surgery. In 12 patients, external beam radiotherapy (50-55 Gy/25 fractions) was combined with IBT of 21 Gy/7 fractions. In addition, IBT was administered as the sole treatment in three patients with a total dose of 50 Gy/10 fractions and as postoperative adjuvant treatment in one patient with a total of 35 Gy/7 fractions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year overall survival of the entire group was 70%. The actuarial local control rate after 3 years was 84%. All five recurrent cases after initial surgery were successfully salvaged using IBT ± external beam radiotherapy. Two patients developed local recurrence at 3 and 5 months, respectively, after IBT. The acute complications were acceptable (≤grade 2). Three patients developed major late complications, such as radio-osteonecrosis, in which one patient was treated by conservative therapy and two required surgical intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HDR IBT for oral cavity cancer was effective and acceptable in diverse clinical settings, such as in the cases of primary or salvage treatment.
authors.affiliation: Proton Therapy Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Uk
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Proton Therapy Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea. ; Center for Specific Organs Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwan Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Proton Therapy Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea. ; Center for Specific Organs Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Center for Specific Organs Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Weon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Center for Specific Organs Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Center for Specific Organs Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Tak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Center for Specific Organs Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Proton Therapy Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Proton Therapy Center, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Chi Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Jeong
keywords: Brachytherapy; High dose rate; Oral cancer; Radiotherapy