GEC-ESTRO ACROP recommendations for head & neck brachytherapy in squamous cell carcinomas: 1st update – Improvement by cross sectional imaging based treatment planning and stepping source technology

• Published in: Radiotherapy and oncology Vol. 122; no. 2; pp. 248 - 254
• Main Authors: Kovács, György, Martinez-Monge, Rafael, Budrukkar, Ashwini, Guinot, Jose Luis, Johansson, Bengt, Strnad, Vratislav, Skowronek, Janusz, Rovirosa, Angeles, Siebert, Frank-André
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier B.V 01-02-2017
• Subjects: Brachytherapy; Brachytherapy - methods; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; Dose Fractionation, Radiation; GEC-ESTRO; Head & neck; Head and Neck Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Head and Neck Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Radiotherapy Dosage; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; Recommendation; Salvage Therapy; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; GEC-ESTRO; Brachytherapy; Head & neck; Recommendation
• ISSN: 0167-8140; 1879-0887
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2016.10.008

Abstract The Head and Neck Working Group of the GEC-ESTRO (Groupe Européen de Curiethérapie – European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) published in 2009 the consensus recommendations for low-dose rate, pulsed-dose rate and high-dose rate brachytherapy in head & neck cancers. The use of brachytherapy in combination with external beam radiotherapy and/or surgery was also covered as well as the use of brachytherapy in previously irradiated patients. Given the developments in the field, these recommendations needed to be updated to reflect up-to-date knowledge. The present update does not repeat basic knowledge which was published in the first recommendation but covers in a general part developments in (1) dose and fractionation, (2) aspects of treatment selection for brachytherapy alone versus combined BT + EBRT and (3) quality assurance issues. Detailed expert committee opinion intends to help the clinical practice in lip-, oral cavity-, oropharynx-, nasopharynx-, and superficial cancers. Different aspects of adjuvant treatment techniques and their results are discussed, as well the possibilities of salvage brachytherapy applications.