INTRACRANIAL HDR BRACHYTHERAPY IN RECURRENT BRAIN TUMORS: 3 CASE REPORTS

Intracranial brachytherapy was applied to two cases of glioblastoma multiforme and one anaplastic astrocytoma who had postoperative external radiotherapy before but recurred. Implantation was performed during the operation following resection, according to the rules of the Paris system. After dosimetric calculations on orthogonal radiographs the treatment was given on the first day of operation. MicroSelectron-HDR machine with a 10 Ci of nominal active source was used. The fraction doses of 4.5 Gy for the first two cases and 5 Gy for the third one was given twice daily with at least 6-hour intervals. The treatment was completed in 3 days making 6 fractions totally. The treatment was tolerated well and no important complication was observed during implantation or treatment. The first 2 cases died after 3 and 14 months respectively, the other is still alive for 7 months.