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Abstract Background We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intraluminal iodine-125 seed strand brachytherapy and percutaneous nephrostomy in patients with ureteral carcinoma. Methods From January 2014 to January 2023, 48 patients with ureteral cancer not suitable for surgical resection were enrolled. Iodine-125 seed strand was inserted in 26 patients under c-arm CT and fluoroscopic guidance (Group A), and 22 patients underwent percutaneous nephrostomy without seed strand (Group B). The clinical outcomes (technical success rate, tumor sizes, hydronephrosis Girignon grade, complications, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and survival time) were evaluated and compared. Results A total of 53 seed strands were successfully inserted and replaced in Group A, with a technical success rate of 100%. No procedure-related death or severe complications occurred in both group. Migration of seed strand or drainage tube was the most common complication. The Girignon grade of hydronephrosis was significantly improved 1, 3 and 6 months after procedure in both groups. DCR in Group A were 96.2%, 80.0%, and 70.0% at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow up, respectively. At 1 and 6 months later, ORR in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B (p

Background: We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intraluminal iodine-125 seed strand brachytherapy and percutaneous nephrostomy in patients with ureteral carcinoma. Methods: From January 2014 to January 2023, 48 patients with ureteral cancer not suitable for surgical resection were enrolled. Iodine-125 seed strand was inserted in 26 patients under c-arm CT and fluoroscopic guidance (Group A), and 22 patients underwent percutaneous nephrostomy without seed strand (Group B). The clinical outcomes (technical success rate, tumor sizes, hydronephrosis Girignon grade, complications, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and survival time) were evaluated and compared. Results: A total of 53 seed strands were successfully inserted and replaced in Group A, with a technical success rate of 100%. No procedure-related death or severe complications occurred in both group. Migration of seed strand or drainage tube was the most common complication. The Girignon grade of hydronephrosis was significantly improved 1, 3 and 6 months after procedure in both groups. DCR in Group A were 96.2%, 80.0%, and 70.0% at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow up, respectively. At 1 and 6 months later, ORR in Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B (p < 0.05). The median overall survival were 30.0 months in Group A and 16.1 months in Group B, respectively (p = 0.04). The median progression-free survival were 11.1 months in Group A and 6.9 months in Group B, respectively (p = 0.09). Conclusion: Intraluminal Iodine-125 seed strand brachytherapy and percutaneous nephrostomy is safe and effective in patients with ureteral carcinoma, with higher ORR and median overall survival than patients underwent percutaneous nephrostomy without seed strand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The purpose of this study is to compare local tumor control, dysphagia-free survival, and complication in patients with locally advanced carcinoma esophagus using external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) alone (Arm A) and EBRT followed by intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) (Arm B). Materials and Methods: A total of 50 histopathologically proven patients of locally advanced unresectable cancer esophagus were taken for the study from March 2019 to February 2020 and were divided into two arms, 25 patients each. Arm A was treated by standard concurrent chemotherapy–radiotherapy (CTRT) alone (a total dose of 50 Gray (Gy) in 25 fractions (fr), 2 Gy/fr administered daily 5 days per week with weekly injection cisplatin 40 mg/m2) and Arm B received 44 Gy through two definitive radiation therapies along with computed tomography followed by ILBT (5 Gy/fr; 2 fr 1 week apart). Assessment was done weekly during RT and 3 and 6 months post treatment for local control of disease and dysphagia-free survival and complication. Results: The local tumor control was observed 80% and 84% at 6 months in Arm A and Arm B, respectively (P = 0.82). Six-month dysphagia-free survival was 52% versus 68% (P = 0.248) and stricture formation was found 16% and 24% (P = 0.479) in Arm A and Arm B, respectively. Conclusion: This study shows comparable results of CTRT-ILBT over CTRT alone in locally advanced esophageal cancer patients.

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of iodine-125 seed strand for intraluminal brachytherapy on ureteral carcinoma. Methods: From November 2014 to November 2021, 22 patients with ureteral cancer not suitable for surgical resection were enrolled. Iodine-125 seed strand was inserted under c-arm CT and fluoroscopic guidance. The technical success rate, complications, disease control rate, and survival time were evaluated. Hydronephrosis Girignon grade and ureteral cancer sizes before and after treatment were compared. Results: A total of 46 seed strands were successfully inserted and replaced, with a technical success rate of 100% and median procedure time of 62 min. No procedure-related death, ureteral perforation, infection, or severe bleeding occurred. Minor complications were observed in eight (36.4%) patients, and migration of seed strand was the most common complication. Six months after seed strand brachytherapy, one complete response, three partial responses, and five stable diseases were evaluated, and the disease control rate was 64.3%. The Girignon grade of hydronephrosis was significantly improved 1 to 3 months after seed strand insertion. Disease control rates were 94.4, 62.5, and 64.3% at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. Twenty patients were successfully followed up, with a mean follow-up of 18.0 ± 14.5 months. The median overall survival and progress-free survival were 24.7 and 13.0 months, respectively. Conclusion: Iodine-125 seed strand is safe and effective for intraluminal brachytherapy and can be used as an alternative to patients with ureteral carcinoma who are not suitable for surgical resection or systemic combined therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the efficacy and side effects of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) + intraluminal brachytherapy (IBT) with EBRT alone in patients with primary thoracic esophageal cancer. Between 2013 and 2020, 64 patients with primary thoracic esophageal cancer without surgery received radiotherapy. Thirty-two patients received EBRT + IBT. EBRT dose was 50 Gy, 2 Gy/f, 5 times a week, and IBT dose was 10 Gy, 5 Gy/f, once a week. Thirty-two patients received EBRT alone, and the total dose was 60 Gy. The median followup was 19 months. The local control rates (LCR) of EBRT + IBT and EBRT alone group at 1, 2, and 3 years after treatment were 88% and 72%, 53% and 22%, 25%, and 9%, respectively. The overall survival (OS) of the EBRT + IBT and EBRT alone group at 3 years after treatment were 38% and 9%. The 3-year local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rates of EBRT + IBT and EBRT alone group were 25% and 9%. Univariate analysis showed that EBRT + IBT could be the prognostic factor improving OS (p = 0.04), and tumor located in the mid-thoracic region exhibited a poorer prognosis on LRFS (p = 0.03). Grade 3 or higher acute side effects included two cases of dysphagia and three cases of bone marrow suppression. Severe late side effects included three cases of fistula, three cases of radiation pneumonia, and five cases of stenosis requiring treatment. Compared with EBRT alone, EBRT + IBT is an effective treatment modality for T1∼3NanyM0 primary thoracic esophageal cancer with good local control. It can prolong the survival time of patients and has acceptable toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common cause of malignant biliary tract obstruction. • HDR intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) resulted in longer duration of stent patency. • HDR ILBT resulted in improved survival with low rates of complication and toxicity. • Future studies should consider HDR ILBT with stenting prior to chemotherapy. • This approach may improve patient quality of life, and potentially prolong survival. To conduct a systematic review evaluating the impact of high dose rate (HDR) intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) in the management of malignant biliary obstruction and cholangiocarcinoma with specific focus on stent patency, clinical outcomes and toxicities. A review of published articles was conducted using Medline, Embase and Cochrane databases using the search terms "bile duct carcinoma" or "cholangiocarcinoma" or "bile duct neoplasms" in combination with "brachytherapy" or "high dose rate brachytherapy" or "HDR brachytherapy". Studies published in English and reporting outcomes of ≥10 patients were included in the review. Only the most recent experience was included if same patients were included in sequential publications. Seventeen studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Significant heterogeneity was observed in treatment regimens, which included use of surgery, external beam radiation (EBRT), and/or intra-arterial and intravenous chemotherapy in conjunction with ILBT. Nevertheless, among the included studies, use of ILBT appeared to result in longer duration of stent patency: 10 months with ILBT compared to 4–6 months without ILBT. A trend was observed towards prolonged local control and improved complete and partial response rates in patients treated with ILBT with or without EBRT. Weighted mean overall survival of patients treated with ILBT alone was 11.8 months compared to 10.5 months for those that received EBRT +/− chemotherapy in addition to ILBT. The included studies reported low complication rates and toxicity related to ILBT. Brachytherapy can be an effective and safe tool in the management of malignant biliary tract obstruction in combination with stenting. Both retrospective and prospective studies have suggested improved outcomes when HDR ILBT is combined with percutaneous stenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Esophageal cancer is known for its poor outcome despite multimodality treatment. In this study, we report our experience with concurrent capecitabine-based chemoradiotherapy followed by intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) for middle third esophageal cancer. Materials and Methods Twenty patients of histology-proven middle third esophageal cancer were treated with 45 Gray (Gy)/25 fraction (fr) of external beam radiation on telecobalt using two-dimensional technique with concurrent cisplatin 40 mg/m2 weekly with five such cycles along with tablet capecitabine 825 mg/m2 twice daily for the first 2 weeks and last 2 weeks of radiotherapy. This was followed by ILBT of 4 Gy × 3 fr placed 1 week apart from a total biologically effective dose of 60 Gy. Patients were followed up with clinical examination and serial barium swallow to assess response and toxicity. Results Out of 20 patients, disease-free survival at 2 years was 60%. At 5 years, the actuarial survival was 47% with five patients alive and two patients lost to follow-up at 3 years. One patient had grade 3 toxicity in the form of tracheoesophageal fistula (5%). Two patients had distal failure. Two patients had second primary tumor in the upper aerodigestive tract at the end of 7 years. Conclusion A combination of chemotherapy with cisplatin and capecitabine given concurrently with radical radiation therapy followed by ILBT boost is a safe and feasible protocol in the treatment of carcinoma esophagus involving middle third of esophagus. The local control and survival are comparable to historical studies with minimal toxicity.

While brachytherapy applications are not widely used for cancer diagnoses in the upper GI tract (including the esophagus, liver, stomach, and pancreas), they have a clear role in palliation and symptom management and occasionally definitive locoregional treatment. With the increasing use of image-guided techniques, the incidence of side effects and complications has shown to be lower than many other alternative treatment modalities, making brachytherapy approaches a preferred treatment option. This review examines procedural complications and acute and chronic adverse effects from radiation associated with esophageal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic brachytherapy and their management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the long-term outcomes and prognostic features of intraluminal brachytherapy with Iodine-125（125I）seed strands combined with biliary metal stent placement for treatment of malignant obstructive jaundice （MOJ） patients. Methods From Jan 2009 to Dec 2014，126 consecutive MOJ patients were treated with intraluminal placement of 125I seed strands and biliary metal stents. A retrospective analysis of long-term outcomes was conducted，including overall survival（OS）， stent patency rate，complications and prognostic features. Patients were followed up until Dec 31，2016. Results A total of 120 were implanted 125I seed strands and metal stents successfully. The median follow-up time was 373.5（8-1 527）days，and the median OS was 370.0（95% confidence interval：319.6-420.4） days. The cumulative OS rates at 3，6，12，and 24 months were 95%，78%，53%，and 19%，respectively. The median stent patency time was 322.0（95% confidence interval：237.0-407.0）days，and cumulative patency rates at 3，6，12，and 24 months were 91%，73%，46%，and 16%，respectively. Patient receiving further treatment （P<0.001） was the prognostic factor of OS indicated by multivariate analysis. No statistical prognostic factors for stent patency were found. Conclusion The intraluminal placement of 125I seed strands and biliary metal stents is a safe and efficient therapy of MOJ. Patients who received further treatment have a longer-time survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Carcinoma esophagus is a highly malignant disease with very low cure rate. Concurrent chemoradiation is the standard of care in patients deemed unfit for surgery. Intraluminal brachytherapy (ILRT) is effective for palliation of dysphagia and is also used as a boost to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in curative intent. Aims: The aim of the study was to compare the clinical outcome of definitive concurrent chemoradiation followed by ILRT boost with concurrent chemoradiation alone in locally advanced carcinoma esophagus in terms of tumor response and toxicities. Settings and Design: A single institutional prospective study was carried out between January 2014 and June 2015. Subjects and Methods: Fifty-seven patients of locally advanced carcinoma esophagus were allocated to study and control arms. Both groups were treated with definitive concurrent chemoradiation with 44 Gy of EBRT. The chemotherapy consisted of injection cisplatin 70 mg/m2 intravenous on day 1 with capecitabine 800 mg/m2 b.i.d. daily from day 1 to 4 orally on days 1 and 22 of EBRT. After 2 weeks, the control group was treated with EBRT boost of 10 Gy in 5 fractions, while the study group received intraluminal high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy boost of 10 Gy in 2 fractions. No concurrent chemotherapy was administered during ILRT. The treatment outcome was assessed in terms of tumor response and toxicities using the CTCAE version 4.0 criteria. Results: At a median follow-up of 10 months, the overall response rate was 89.2% in the control group (25/28) and 93.10% in the study group (27/29). Acute hematological and gastrointestinal toxicities were noted. Conclusions: HDR ILRT in combination with EBRT is effective for treating dysphagia in cancer esophagus with low incidence of severe complications.

Purpose Nasobiliary high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy has emerged as an effective tool to boost the radiation dose for patients with unresectable perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. This work describes a quality assurance (QA) tool for measuring the HDR afterloader's performance, including the transit dose, when the source wire travels through a tortuous nasobiliary catheter path. Methods and Materials The nasobiliary QA device was designed to mimic the anatomical path of a nasobiliary catheter, including the nasal, stomach, duodenum, and bile duct loops. Two of these loops, the duodenum and bile duct loops, have adjustable radii of curvature, resulting in the ability to maximize stress on the source wire in transit. The device was used to measure the performance over time for the HDR afterloader and the differences between intraluminal catheter lots. An upper limit on the transit dose was also measured using radiochromic film and compared with a simple theoretical model. Results The QA device was capable of detecting performance variations among nasobiliary catheter lots and following radioactive source replacement. The transit dose from a nasobiliary treatment increased by up to one order of magnitude when the source wire encountered higher than normal friction. Three distinct travel speeds of the source wire were observed: 5.2, 17.4, and 54.7 cm/s. The maximum transit dose was 0.3 Gy at a radial distance of 5 mm from a 40.3 kU 192 Ir source. Conclusions The source wire encounters substantially greater friction when it navigates through the nasobiliary brachytherapy catheter. A QA tool that mimics the nasal, stomach, duodenum, and bile duct loops may be used to evaluate transit dose and the afterloader's performance over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyze the long-term outcomes, including safety, efficacy, and prognostic features, of intraluminal brachytherapy with Iodine-125 ( 125 I) seed strand and stent placement for treatment of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ). Methods and Materials From January 2009 to December 2013, 107 consecutive patients with MOJ were treated with intraluminal placement of 125 I seed strands and metal stents. A retrospective evaluation of therapeutic outcomes, including overall survival (OS), stent patency rate, complications, and prognostic features, was conducted in 101 patients. Results 125 I seed strands and stents were all successfully implanted. The median followup time was 231 (45–1015) days, and the median OS was 394.0 (95% confidence interval: 319.1–468.9) days. The cumulative OS rates at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were 95%, 77%, 53%, and 20%, respectively. The median stent patency period was 278.0 (95% confidence interval: 164.1–391.9) days, and cumulative patency rates at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were 92%, 69%, 45%, and 13%, respectively. Multivariate analysis indicated that the serum conjugated/total bilirubin ≥88% before procedure ( p = 0.032) and whether the patient receiving further treatment ( p = 0.041) appear to be the prognostic factors of OS. There is no statistical prognostic factor for stent patency. Conclusions The intraluminal placement of 125 I seed strands and stents appears to be a safe and efficient therapy on MOJ. The patient with serum conjugated/total bilirubin ≥88% before procedure and receiving further treatment seems to live longer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Cholangiocarcinoma patients who are potential candidates for liver transplantation may be treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy using a minimally invasive nasobiliary catheter in an effort to escalate the radiotherapy dose to the tumor and maximize local control rates. This work describes the equipment, procedures, and quality assurance (QA) that enables successful administration. Methods and Materials This work describes the nasobiliary catheter placement, simulation, treatment planning, treatment delivery, and QA. In addition, a chart review was performed of all patients who received endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for HDR bile duct brachytherapy at our institution from 2007 to 2017. The review evaluated how many patients were treated and the number of patients who could not be treated because of anatomic and/or equipment limitations. Results From 2007 to 2017, 122 cholangiocarcinoma patients have been treated with HDR brachytherapy using a nasobiliary catheter. Three patients underwent catheter placement but did not receive brachytherapy treatment due to catheter migration between placement and treatment or because the HDR afterloader was unable to extend the source wire into the treatment site. Periodic QA is recommended for ensuring whether the HDR afterloader is capable of extending the source wire through an extensive and curved path. Conclusions Intraluminal HDR brachytherapy with a nasobiliary catheter can be successfully administered. Procedures and QA are described for ensuring safety and overcoming technical challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare efficacy and toxicity between concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) and CCRT in inoperable, locally advanced esophageal carcinoma. Material and methods: Thirty-four patients with inoperable, locally advanced esophageal carcinoma were randomized into two arms. In the CCRT + ILBT arm (arm A), eighteen patients received 50.4 Gy at 1.8 Gy per fraction over 5.6 weeks, along with concurrent cisplatin (75 mg/m2) intravenously on day 1, and 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2) continuous intravenous infusion on days 1-5, starting on the first day of irradiation and repeated after 28 days. This was followed by ILBT boost with a dose of 10 Gy in 2 fractions, one week apart. In the CCRT arm (arm B), sixteen patients received two cycles of chemotherapy, using the same schedule, along with external beam radiotherapy fractionated in a similar manner without brachytherapy boost. The endpoints were tumor response, acute and late toxicities, disease and progression-free survival. Results: With a median follow-up of 13 months, the complete response rate was 88.89% in arm A and 87.50% in arm B (p = 0.71). Acute esophageal toxicity was higher in CCRT followed by ILBT arm (p = 0.60). There was no significant difference between the Kaplan Meier survival plots of disease-free survival (p = 0.68) and progression-free survival (p = 0.55). Conclusions: In our study, addition of brachytherapy as a boost following concurrent chemoradiation failed to improve treatment outcomes without additional toxicity in locally advanced esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The main objective of our study is to evaluate response and toxicity profile in patients receiving external beam radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy followed by intraluminal brachytherapy boost for a carcinoma of the oesophagus. Material and methods Twenty patients with biopsy-proven carcinoma of the oesophagus received external beam radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fractions) with concurrent chemotherapy (cisplatin: 40 mg/m 2 ). After a gap of two to three weeks, intraluminal brachytherapy (10 Gy in two fractions each 1 week apart by a high dose rate 60 Co source) was given. Response was evaluated at 1 month and at 1 year of completion of treatment. In addition, acute and chronic toxicity was evaluated at 1 month and 6 months of treatment. Results Complete response were seen in 80% of patients and partial response in 20% at 1 month. Moreover, there were 65% complete response, 10% local recurrences, 15% patients showed local control with distant metastasis and 10% patients died at 1 year. Grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 oesophagitis were seen in 10%, 70% and 20% of patients respectively. Stricture was seen in 40% of patients and fistula in 10% of patients. There was no spinal cord, cardiac and nephrotoxicity found. Conclusions With the concept that high tumoricidal dose for adequate tumor control achieved by intraluminal brachytherapy as a mean of dose escalation, while sparing surrounding normal tissue and potentially improving therapeutic ratio, external beam radiotherapy followed by intraluminal brachytherapy could be a better choice for oesophagus carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate therapeutic outcomes of intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) for malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ) against stent alone.Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wan Fang, VIP and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched for all relevant comparative studies from the earliest available date up to 1 May 2017. Subgroup analyses were performed according to the type of study design and type of stent.Results: Twelve studies that compared ILBT versus stent alone were eligible. A total of 641 participants with MOJ were included in our meta-analysis. A total of 340 participants were treated with intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT); the other 301 participants were treated with biliary stent alone (stent group). ILBT was associated with lower risk of stent occlusion (OR 0.19; 95% CI 0.13-0.28; P < 0.00001) and better mean survival (MD = 3.15; 95% CI 2.64-3.66; P < 0.00001) compared with stent alone. However, the two groups were similar in number of complications (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.45-1.56; P = 0.578), post-treatment reduced level of total bilirubin (TBIL) (MD = 22.71; 95% CI - 7.24-52.65; P = 0.14), post-treatment reduced level of direct bilirubin (DBIL) (MD = - 3.67; 95% CI - 14.09-6.75; P = 0.49), post-treatment reduced level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (MD = 21.09; 95% CI - 5.09-47.28; P = 0.11) and post-treatment reduced level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (MD = 20.86; 95% CI - 45.86-87.58; P = 0.54).Conclusions: ILBT was significantly superior to stent alone in terms of stent occlusion and mean survival. Meanwhile, ILBT had comparable outcomes to stent alone in terms of complications and post-treatment reduced levels of TBIL, DBIL, ALT and AST. Therefore, ILBT may be considered a preferable technique for MOJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Airway stent placement is an effective treatment for the immediate palliation of malignant airway obstruction. However, restenosis caused by tumor ingrowth and/or overgrowth after stenting is common. The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility and safety of a novel self-expandable stent loaded with 125I seeds in healthy beagle dog.Materials and Methods: Under fluoroscopic guidance, forty-eight self-expandable airway stents loaded with 125I seeds were perorally placed in the main trachea of 48 healthy beagle dogs, who were randomly divided into four groups (Group A: 0.3 mCi; Group B: 0.6 mCi; Group C: 0.9 mCi; Control group: 0 mCi). The estimated radiation dose was calculated using the isotropic point source approximation. Radiological follow-up examinations and histopathological examinations of stented tracheal segments and their adjacent organs and tissues were performed at 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks following the stenting.Results: All stents were successfully deployed in the targeted tracheal segment in the beagle dogs without procedure-related complications. Tracheal stenosis became severe gradually in all the four groups, which was not associated with the radioactivity of 125I seeds (p > 0.05). The tracheal injury scores increased along with the higher dose of radioactive seeds which reached peak at 8 weeks and then turned back slightly at 16 weeks. The adjacent tissue did not show pathohistological changes under microscope, while mild and reversible ultrastructure changes were showed under electronic microscope.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that it is feasible and safe to insert this novel self-expandable airway stent loaded with 125I seeds in healthy beagle dog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of iodine-125 seed strand for intraluminal brachytherapy on ureteral carcinoma., Methods: From November 2014 to November 2021, 22 patients with ureteral cancer not suitable for surgical resection were enrolled. Iodine-125 seed strand was inserted under c-arm CT and fluoroscopic guidance. The technical success rate, complications, disease control rate, and survival time were evaluated. Hydronephrosis Girignon grade and ureteral cancer sizes before and after treatment were compared., Results: A total of 46 seed strands were successfully inserted and replaced, with a technical success rate of 100% and median procedure time of 62 min. No procedure-related death, ureteral perforation, infection, or severe bleeding occurred. Minor complications were observed in eight (36.4%) patients, and migration of seed strand was the most common complication. Six months after seed strand brachytherapy, one complete response, three partial responses, and five stable diseases were evaluated, and the disease control rate was 64.3%. The Girignon grade of hydronephrosis was significantly improved 1 to 3 months after seed strand insertion. Disease control rates were 94.4, 62.5, and 64.3% at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. Twenty patients were successfully followed up, with a mean follow-up of 18.0 ± 14.5 months. The median overall survival and progress-free survival were 24.7 and 13.0 months, respectively., Conclusion: Iodine-125 seed strand is safe and effective for intraluminal brachytherapy and can be used as an alternative to patients with ureteral carcinoma who are not suitable for surgical resection or systemic combined therapy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Bi, Jiao, Zhang, Ren, Han, Guo and Tu.)

Paraneoplastic autoimmune multiorgan syndrome (PAMS), also known as paraneoplasic pemphigus, involves the skin, internal organs and mucosa. PAMS-associated mortality may occur as a result of autoantibody formation against internal tumors and their infiltration into organs other than the skin lesions that characterize PAMS. The most common symptoms of PAMS include pain associated with continuous oral ulceration and resistance to pharmacological treatment. The present study reports the case of a 42-year-old female patient who was admitted with an 8-month history of erosive skin lesions within the trunk region, oral mucosa and vaginal mucosa. The patient was diagnosed with PAMS based on computed tomography scans and histological analyses of the lesions. The lymphoid hyperplasia in the retroperitoneum and lesions in the vaginal mucosa and trunk area were improved following pharmacological treatment and resection of the lymph node showing hyperplasia. However, the oral lesion was treated with intraluminal brachytherapy due to its resistance to long-term pharmacological treatment. The majority of the lesions were improved following treatment, in the absence of any severe side effects. In addition, neither worsening nor progression of the oral lesion was observed during the 4-year follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Palliation of dysphagia is a challenge in advanced esophageal cancer. The addition of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) has shown significant improvement in dysphagia relief and symptom scores. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of combined use of ILBT and EBRT. Material and methods: The medical records of 148 patients with advanced/metastatic esophageal cancer were screened from January 2008 to April 2014, and 74 patients were found eligible for the analysis. All patients received two fractions of 8 Gy each of ILBT, followed by EBRT. Patients were assessed for the symptom scores of dysphagia, odynophagia, regurgitation, and chest pain and weight was recorded periodically. Results: For a median follow-up of 6 months, the median OS was 9.5 months (95% CI: 7.5-10.5). The median dysphagia free survival was 6 months (95% CI: 4.8-7.1). The scores for dysphagia significantly improved after completion of 1st ILBT (p = 0.000), 2nd ILBT (p = 0.000), and at 3 months after EBRT compared to ILBT (p = 0.02). Overall 47% had improvement in dysphagia scores and 35% maintained the improvement of scores till last follow up. There was significant improvement in weight after completion of ILBT (p = 0.001) and at 3 months after completion of EBRT (p = 0.00). Twenty nine (39%) patients required nasogastric (NGT) insertions and 12 (16%) needed hospitalization for supportive care. 36.4% had complications in the form of stricture (27%), fistula (5.4%), and bleeding (4%). Conclusions: Palliative radiotherapy is an effective alternative for palliation of dysphagia with improvement in symptom scores being evident and sustained. The results of this clinical audit were comparable with those from the trial setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of male urethral cancer is rare with age preponderance of 50 to 60 years. The standard management approach is surgery. Here, we present a novel treatment approach for male urethral cancer. Thirty-six year old male, case of primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of urethra who refused surgery, underwent cystoscopic assisted intraluminal HDR brachytherapy. Patient received a dose of 36 Gy in 9 fractions (4 Gy per fraction) followed by a boost of 24 Gy in 6 fractions. At 11 months post treatment, disease is well controlled with no post treatment toxicity so far. Intraluminal brachytherapy seems to be an effective novel treatment for male urethral cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy in palliation of dysphagia in patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of esophagus and to see the quality of life (QoL) following radiotherapy. This was a prospective clinical study done between September 2006 and May 2008. All consecutive patients with SCC of the esophagus, who are not candidates for definitive treatment, were included in the study. Dysphagia and QoL were assessed using modified Takita's grading and modified questionnaire based on EORTC QLQ 30 respectively. External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) was delivered to all patients using linear accelerator 6 Mv photons. Patients who had good response with EBRT were further subjected to intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) at 700 cGy using Iridium-192. The cumulative dose each patient received was 65 Gy. Patients were followed up at 6 weeks from completion of treatment to look for any difference in dysphagia grade and QoL following therapy. Thirty-three patients were included in the study. The mean age among males and females was 60.9 and 49.8 years, respectively. Nineteen patients (57.6 %) received EBRT followed by ILBT; the remaining patients received only EBRT. Seven were lost during follow-up, and seven (21.2 %) died during the study period of 6 weeks. Nineteen (57.6 %) were followed up. On follow-up endoscopy, evidence of residual stricture was observed in 57.9 %, and growth in 36.8 %. Of the patients, 27.8 % had biopsy-confirmed residual disease. The median dysphagia score decreased from 4 to 3 after treatment ( p = 0.002) in 17 (89.5 %) patients. The mean QoL score improved from 107.5 to 114.1 at 6-week follow-up. Following radiotherapy, 26.3 % had persistent chest pain, increased cough with expectoration in 15.8 %, and hyperpigmentation of skin in 10.5 %. Radiotherapy gives significant relief of dysphagia and improves QoL in 90 % of patients with SCC of esophagus. However, following radiotherapy, a number of patients will have persistent stricture, ulceration, and residual disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: To report the results of treatment with intraluminal brachytherapy (ILRT) after concurrent chemoradiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma with respect to disease free survival (DFS), dysphagia free interval (DFI), and complications of treatment. Materials and Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed the records of 26 eligible patients with nonmetastatic carcinoma of the esophagus treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy followed by ILRT between 2008 and 2011. The DFS and DFI were estimated and factors likely to influence them were analyzed. Results: Nineteen (73%) patients were males. The mean age at presentation was 60 years (range: 47-90 years). All the patients had squamous cell carcinomas. Following treatment, the median DFS was 12.7 months (range: 0-27 months). Sixteen patients (61.5%) had local control of their disease, while one had residual disease at completion of treatment. Other than three patients who were not evaluated for recurrent dysphagia, six (23.1%) had proven local recurrence on follow-up. The estimated mean DFI was 13.8 months (range: 0-27 months). One patient died of tracheoesophageal fistula following treatment. On statistical analysis, only the location of tumor was prognostically significant, with lower third tumors performing worse. Other probable predictors of poor outcome included large volume (> 40 cc), tumor length (> 6 cm), and eccentric location. Conclusion: ILRT boost following concurrent chemoradiotherapy is well tolerated and potentially improves outcomes. It might be beneficial in selected patients with esophageal carcinoma. Further studies are required to identify its role in definitive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by progressive inflammation affecting the entire biliary tree and leading to biliary symptoms and complications. It is of unclear etiology and is usually associated with inflammatory bowel diseases. Despite advances in modern medicine, treatment options remain very limited, and without liver transplantation, survival rates are reduced. We aim in this review to highlight available endoscopic methods to evaluate, diagnose, and manage symptoms and complications associated with this disease, including diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma and endoscopic palliative treatment for advanced cholangiocarcinoma not amenable to surgical resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy treatments can be delivered using as few as one or two afterloading catheters, delivering doses of up to 10 Gy at 10 mm, leading to high dose gradients and extreme hot spots close to the catheter. These conditions have the potential to damage the patient's health tissues, possibly leading to necrosis, or even death from uncontrolled bleeding. Ionisation chambers and solid state detectors are limited in their usefulness for near-catheter dosimetry because of their physical size and in some cases energy and dose rate dependence. In contrast, radiochromic film has a large dose-response range, excellent spatial resolution, near-energy independence for megavoltage photons and the ability to measure dose in two dimensions, making it ideal for this application. The aim of this study was to measure the location and relative magnitude of any dosimetric hot spots produced by a typical endobronchial treatment plan. The study also investigated the effect of the step size of the Ir source on both the dose hot spots and dose distribution. Our measurements show that for a typical single catheter treatment with 2.5 mm step size the maximum dose hot spots at the catheter surface are up to 37 times the prescription dose, up to 40 times for a 5 mm step size, and up to 46 times for a 10 mm step size. It is important that brachytherapy clinicians and physicists understand that hot spot magnitude increases with source step sizes and are aware of the risks associated with this form of brachytherapy treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ) is relieved by stenting via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancre-atography (ERCP) or percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography and biliary drainage (PTCD). Stent occlusion rates of 30-45% have been reported in literature due to tumor ingrowth or overgrowth. We prospectively evaluated the feasibility and the role of intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) in preventing stent blockage in patients with MOJ after PTCD and stenting. Material and methods: Twelve patients with MOJ who underwent PTCD followed by self expanding metallic stent (SEMS) placement were prospectively enrolled in this study. Written informed consent was obtained. Intraluminal brachytherapy was done once patient was stable and serum bilirubin was less than 2 mg% or 50% of baseline value. On the day of ILBT, 6 French brachytherapy catheters were placed across malignant stricture under fluoroscopic guidance with placement of the tip 1 cm distal to stricture. A dose of 10 to 14 Gy was delivered at 1 cm from central axis of the source. Suitable patients also received external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with weekly concurrent chemotherapy. Results: All patients tolerated the procedure well with minimal acute and late toxicities. Duodenal ulceration was observed in 1 patient. At a mean follow up of 10.25 months (5-24 months), stents were patent in 10/12 subjects and stent patency duration of 9.8 months (5-22) was reported. Conclusions: Intraluminal brachytherapy post PTCD is feasible and effective in preventing stent occlusion with minimal acute and late toxicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stent occlusion by tumor ingrowth or overgrowth is the main cause of jaundice recurrence after metal stent insertion in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice (MOJ). The application of intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) in patients with MOJ results in local control of malignant tumors, which prolong stent patency. Purpose: To evaluate the safety of ILBT in pig bile ducts using ribbons of iodine-125 (125I) seeds. Material and Methods: Sixteen healthy pigs were randomly assigned to four groups of four pigs each. A 125I seed ribbon was implanted into the common bile duct of each animal through an incision in the duct wall, and was fixed by suturing. The four groups of animals were sacrificed at 15, 30, 60, and 120 days after ribbon implantation, respectively. Serum bilirubin concentrations, alanine aminotransferase concentrations, and white blood cell counts before and after implantation were compared within each group. Pathological changes to the bile duct wall were observed using a light microscope. Morphological changes in biliary epithelial cells and organelles were observed with electron microscopy. Results: 125I ribbons were successfully implanted in all animals without surgery-related death. We found no significant difference in pre- and post-implant serum bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, or white blood cell counts. Light and electron microscopy showed that the most severe bile duct damage occurred in the 15-day group, which exhibited necrosis and detachment of numerous epithelial cells, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Repair and proliferation of the bile duct epithelium began 30 days after implantation and was nearly complete at 60 days. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the safety of ILBT using a 125I ribbon in the pig bile duct. 125I seed ribbons may be used in the treatment of MOJ in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the role of high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) through percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in patients with malignant biliary obstruction, in terms of improvement in symptoms, quality of life (QOL), and survival. Methods and Materials: From August 2004 to October 2006, 18 patients aged 30–70 years, who were found unsuitable for surgical resection or were inoperable because of poor general condition, were taken up for palliative ILBT through PTBD. All patients underwent PTBD followed by internal–external drainage. After a gap of 1 week, high-dose-rate ILBT was performed by delivering a dose of 800cGy prescribed at 1cm from the central axis of the catheter. Two such sessions were given 1 week apart. Results: The mean fall in bilirubin was 11.37mg% after PTBD and further 2.94mg% after ILBT. The overall response rates were 100% and 80% for pruritus and icterus, respectively. Improvement in appetite and weight gain was seen in 93.3% and 86.7% patients, respectively, at last followup. The median followup and survival duration were 7.3 and 8.27 months, respectively. Actuarial survival at 6 months was 61.11%. Treatment-related major complications were not seen in any of the patients. QOL showed significant improvement in global health status and most functional and symptom scales. Conclusions: This prospective pilot study demonstrated that PTBD followed by ILBT is a feasible procedure with good symptom control, definite impact on QOL, and minimal complications in such patients. A prospective randomized study is required to more accurately assess the benefit of ILBT compared with biliary drainage alone. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To compare the efficacy and the incidence of complications of high-dose-rate (HDR) and low-dose-rate (LDR) intraluminal brachytherapy (IBT) boost after external beam radiation therapy in patients with superficial esophageal cancer. Methods and Materials: Fifty-four consecutive patients with Stage I thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who were treated with definitive radiotherapy using IBT between 1991 and 2007 were studied retrospectively. LDR-IBT and HDR-IBT were performed for 19 and 35 patients, respectively. After external beam radiation therapy of 56–60Gy with a conventional fractionation, LDR-IBT (5Gy×2) or HDR-IBT (3Gy×3) was given within 2 weeks. The median follow-up was 47 months (7–151 months). Results: Overall, the 5-year overall survival, cause-specific survival (CSS), and locoregional control (LRC) rates were 61%, 86%, and 79%, respectively. The 5-year overall survival, CCS, and LRC rates did not differ significantly between the LDR-IBT and HDR-IBT groups (68% vs. 58% (p =0.50), 83% vs. 85% (p =0.63), and 84% vs. 75% (p =0.42), respectively). Salvage treatment was given in 8 locally recurrent patients, and 6 patients were rescued. The Grade ≥2 late morbidities of esophagus and heart/lung were observed in 5 patients (4 in the LDR-IBT group and 1 in the HDR-IBT group) and 2 patients (one from each group), respectively. Conclusions: In view of the safety profile and effectiveness, our results encourage the continued adoption of HDR-IBT as radiation boost in medically inoperable or elderly superficial esophageal cancer patients undergoing definitive radiotherapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of definitive radiation therapy in patients with potentially curable esophageal cancer and to evaluate the side-effects of this treatment. Methods and materials: Sixty-two patients with esophageal cancer, who were treated with definitive, curatively intended radiotherapy consisting of external radiotherapy (60Gy in 30 fractions), preceded and followed by LDR or HDR intraluminal brachy (12Gy in 2 fractions) were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Recurrences were reported in 38 patients (61%), of which 25 (64%) failed locally first. The overall survival rates at 1, 2 and 5years were 57%, 34% and 11%, respectively. The median overall survival was 15months. No prognostic factors could be identified. Most frequently reported treatment related toxicities were esophagitis, ulcerations, (11%) and strictures (16%). In 10 patients (16%) severe toxicities, were reported including grade III ulceration (2 cases), stricture (1 case), radiation pneumonitis (1 case), perforation (1 case), esophageal-pleural-tracheal fistula (1 case), and acute esophageal bleeding (4 cases). A history of gastrectomy was significantly associated with the development of severe toxicity. Conclusion: Curatively intended radiotherapy alone can be offered to esophageal cancer patients, even when surgery and/or chemotherapy are not feasible. However, we observed severe toxicity in a substantial part of the patients. Given the relatively high rate of severe complications and the uncertainties regarding dose escalation, the addition of brachytherapy, with consequently high surface doses, should be limited to well-selected patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The treatment strategy of central lung tumors is not established. Intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) is widely used for palliative treatment of endobronchial tumors, however, it is also a promising option for curative treatment with limited data. This study evaluates the results after ILBT for endobronchial carcinoma. Method: Sixteen-endobronchial carcinoma of 13 patients treated with ILBT in curative intent for 2000 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. ILBT using high dose rate 192 iridium thin wire system was performed with 5 Gy/fraction at mucosal surface. The patient age ranged from 57 to 82 years old with median 75 years old. The 16 lesions consisted of 13 central endobronchial cancers including 7 roentgenographically occult lung cancers and 3 of tracheal cancers. Of them, 10 lesions were treated with ILBT of median 20 Gy combined with external beam radiation therapy of median 45 Gy and 6 lesions were treated with ILBT alone of median 25 Gy. Results: Median follow-up time was 32.5 months. Two-year survival rate and local control rate were 92.3% and 86.2%, respectively. Local recurrences were observed in 2 lesions. Three patients died due to lung cancer (1 patient) and intercurrent disease (2 patients). Complications greater than grade 2 were not observed except for one grade 3 dyspnea. Conclusions: ILBT combined with or without EBRT might be a curative treatment option in inoperable endobronchial carcinoma patients with tolerable complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Purpose: High-dose-rate (HDR) intraluminal brachytherapy for advanced or inoperable tumors of the rectum has been used both palliatively and to dose escalate after chemoradiation for curative treatment. Methods: Between 1993 and 2007, 79 patients were treated with HDR afterloading brachytherapy for rectal cancer; 70 patients had adenocarcinoma of the rectum; and 9 patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal. Fifty-two patients had localized disease but were unfit for major surgery and received radiotherapy with radical intent. Twenty-seven patients with advanced or metastatic disease received palliative treatment. The median age was 82 years (range, 33–97). Radical treatment comprised either chemoradiation followed by intraluminal brachytherapy delivering 12Gy at 1cm in two fractions or radical monotherapy delivering up to 36Gy at 1cm in six fractions two to three times weekly. Palliative HDR brachytherapy schedules were predominantly 10Gy at 1cm single dose. Results: Objective local tumor response was seen in 41 of 48 assessable patients (85%); of whom, 28 patients (58%) had a complete response and 13 (27%) had a partial response. The most common symptom was rectal bleeding, which was controlled with a complete response rate of 63%. The median duration of the symptom response was 3 months (range, 1–73), and the median survival of the palliative patients was 6 months (range, 1 week–37 months). The median survival for patients treated with radical intent was 18.5 months (range, 2–119). Six patients reported late toxicity with three cases of rectal ulcer, two strictures, and one fistula. Conclusions: Intraluminal HDR brachytherapy is effective as local treatment in both the radical and palliative setting, with high tumor and symptom response rates, and acceptable late toxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate technical feasibility and acute and subacute radiotolerance of a self-expandable stent loaded with 125I seeds in the rabbit esophagus. Methods: A self-expandable stent designed for esophageal application was made of 0.16mm nitinol wire and loaded with 125I seeds (CIAE-6711). Twenty-seven stents with three different radioactive dosages (n =9 in each dosage group) were implanted in the esophagus of healthy rabbits, while nine stents alone were used as controls. The stents were perorally deployed into the esophagus under fluoroscopic guidance. Radiological follow-up included plain chest film, CT scan, and barium esophagography which were undertaken in all rabbits of each group at 2, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively, which were correlated to histopathological findings. The stented esophageal segments along with their adjacent tissues were harvested for histopathological examinations. Results: The stent was successfully deployed into the targeted esophageal segment in all rabbits. Neither 125I seeds dislodged from the stent during the deployment, nor they did during the follow-up period. The greatest (16.2Gy) absorbed dose was found in the tissue 10mm from 125I seeds at 8 weeks. Slight epithelial hyperplasia on the stent surface and submucosal inflammatory process developed at 2 weeks, which reached the peak at 8 weeks after the procedure. Significant thickness of the esophageal muscular layer was found at 8 weeks only in the groups with 125I seeds. On radiologic follow-up, moderate strictures on both ends of the stents developed at 4 weeks and became severe at 8 weeks after the procedure in all groups. Conclusion: Deployment of a self-expandable stent loaded with 125I seeds is technically feasible and safe within the first 8 weeks. Acute and subacute radiotolerance of the treated esophagus and its adjacent tissues by 125I seeds is well preserved in a healthy rabbit model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To analyze retrospectively the long-term results of external beam radiotherapy (RT) with or without intraluminal brachytherapy (ILBT) for patients with Stage I esophageal cancer. Methods and Materials: A total of 34 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, clinically diagnosed as having Stage I disease, were treated with definitive RT, with or without ILBT. The median age was 69 years. Seven patients were treated with external beam RT alone (median, 64 Gy), and 27 were treated with external beam RT (median, 52 Gy) plus ILBT (8–12 Gy in two to three fractions). Results: The 5-year overall survival, local relapse-free survival, and cause-specific survival rate was 58.9%, 68.4%, and 80.0%, respectively, with a median follow-up of 61 months. Of 9 patients with local recurrence after initial therapy, 7 were successfully treated, and the 5-year cumulative rate of esophagectomy was 19.6%. The 2-year local relapse-free rate for patients with and without ILBT was 79.1% and 53.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Although local recurrence was frequent within 2 years, the disease-specific survival rate was high owing to effective salvage therapy. Definitive RT is a reasonable treatment option for highly comorbid and elderly patients with Stage I esophageal cancer. The role of ILBT needs to be clarified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]