ABSTRACT
Brachytherapy (BT) for locally advanced cervical cancer is vital for optimal outcomes. There is heterogeneity in brachytherapy treatment practice for cervical cancer across India. In an attempt to standardize various processes involved in cervical cancer brachytherapy, the expert members of the Indian Brachytherapy Society (IBS) developed a document related to radiation therapy treatment of cervical cancer with special emphasis on brachytherapy. The guidelines are based on high quality clinical evidence, expert opinion and consensus wherever evidence was lacking. The document provides a guide for external beam radiation and details of all the processes involved in high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy including patient selection, preparation, principles and technique of BT applications, target and normal tissue definition, dose prescriptions, BT planning, reporting parameters, common complications of BT and their management, scope for research, etc. In summary, we present here practical tips and tricks, recording and reporting of cervical cancer brachytherapy, which can be implemented in various clinical environments and forms the basis of this report.
ABSTRACT
Two young male patients treated seven and four years back, for malignant glioma, returned with recurrence at the same site, with a World Health Organization (WHO) Performance Score of four and two. Both underwent resurgery and received postoperative reirradiation of 5040 cGy in 28 fractions and concurrent Temozolomide 75 mg/m(2) body surface area (BSA) daily, and one patient received additional adjuvant Temozolomide 250 mg (150 mg/m(2) BSA). Both patients tolerated the treatment well with 16 and 14 months follow-up from the time of recurrence. They were symptom-free, with normal physical function and good mental state, and resumed their respective jobs.
