Radioactive 125I particles for recurrent malignant tumors of the head and neck

There are many types of head and neck organs, complex functions and special anatomical structures, and tumors in this area are highly invasive and have a high rate of recurrence and metastasis. Patients with recurrent head and neck tumors are challenging to treat again due to radical surgical resection, chemotherapy and adequate radiotherapy, and only about 20% of patients can be treated with late restorative surgery. [2, 3] Combination treatments such as three-dimensional conformal precision radiotherapy (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated conformal radiotherapy (IMRT) combined with chemotherapy seem to solve some of the problems, but the severe associated complications after treatment, such as radiation osteonecrosis, bone marrow suppression, hemorrhage and fibrosis, affect the quality of life and survival of patients. For patients who are older, in poorer physical condition, unable to tolerate chemotherapy after surgery or relapse after chemotherapy, the opportunity for treatment is often lost, and the use of B-ultrasound or CT-guided radioactive 125I particle inter-tissue implantation for internal irradiation of head and neck malignancies has achieved good efficacy and improved the local control rate and survival rate of these tumor patients. Radioactive particle implantation is the use of radioactive particles, which are permanently implanted into the tumor weave, to treat the tumor with local conformal radiotherapy by the radiation released from the radioactive particles, so that the tumor gets high dose while the surrounding normal tissues receive very little, which increases the difference in dose distribution between the tumor and normal tissues, reduces complications and increases the efficacy of treatment. Decreased local control rate, lower dose rate, less dependence on oxygen, reduced oxygen increase ratio, enhanced radiation effect, partly overcome the radioresistance of lack of oxygen cells, to achieve better therapeutic effect, radioactive particles for malignant tumors have been reported at home and abroad [4-7], research has proved that this ray has the ability to kill tumor cells for an effective period of 4 to 5 half-lives, up to 280d, so It can kill tumor cells in a long-lasting and maximum way, thus increasing the efficacy. In the actual treatment, we can accurately determine the zoning, morphology and size of recurrent tumor foci and metastases by preoperative CT and B-ultrasound examinations, and carry out preoperative planning by TPS, and 125I particle implantation under B-ultrasound and CT guidance, so it has the features of precise localization, high cumulative local dose, low complications, high safety, high reproducibility and good therapeutic effect for those who have lost the chance of surgery. This method is particularly suitable for patients with advanced recurrent head and neck malignancies and patients with poor systemic condition who cannot tolerate surgery and radiotherapy recurrence. We summarized 35 patients with recurrent head and neck malignancies after comprehensive treatment from July 2008 to May 2010, with an overall effective rate of CR+PR 77.1% (27/35); the overall survival rates at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years were 100%, 55.2% and 30.2%, respectively. Acute mucosal and cutaneous radiotherapy reactions grade I/II were 11 cases, and there were no grade III reactions. There was no significant decrease in blood picture and no gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting. It can be seen that 125I particle implantation has safe, effective and minimally invasive features in the treatment of recurrent malignant tumors of the head and neck [8-10]. In addition, there are some other issues that need to be noted: (1) In the evaluation criteria, we mostly use CT or MIR, but studies have pointed out that when solid tumor response rate is used as the evaluation criterion, it appears that although the tumor is necrotic after particle radiotherapy, it is not absorbed, or it is accompanied by fibrosis, and the volume does not shrink or shrink significantly, which cannot accurately reflect the treatment effect. (2) according to the TPS calculation implantation, in principle, the dose distribution should be uniform; the radiation sources should be arranged in a straight line, parallel to each other; and the sources (particles) should be equidistant from each other. However, in practice, it is often difficult to achieve such requirements due to intrinsic radiological factors (such as scattering and anisotropy), the influence of surrounding vessels and organs, the influence of operator’s operation, uneven spacing of particles and skewing of the direction of needle feeding. Therefore, a CT scan should be performed immediately after surgery for TPS postoperative verification, and the actual irradiation measurement of the tumor should be obtained according to the measurement of a volume histogram, and supplemental implantation should be performed if necessary to avoid dose cold areas, while an increase of 15% to 20% of the dose based on the total activity of the conventional design can be considered to ensure treatment; (3) The effective range of radiation irradiation of 125I particles is 1.7 cm, and 80% of the dose distribution is within The prescription dose should be strictly controlled within 1cm, and if combined with external irradiation, the external irradiation dose should be left out. The distance from the skin, blood vessels, trachea and other organs should be about 1cm. Encourage water and liquid food, and reduce acidic and amino acid-rich food. Particle rays are mostly inside the patient’s body, and pregnant women and children should be 6 inches away from the patient for 1 to 2 months after treatment. Oral antibiotics can be given for 1 week after particle treatment, analgesics and symptomatic management medications are used as appropriate. The particles continue to act for up to 18 months , day 1 after implantation, followed by 4-6 weeks and every 3 months thereafter for 2 years. In conclusion, implantation of 125I particles under ultrasound and CT guidance for in vivo tumor irradiation is an effective method for the treatment of head and neck malignant tumors because of its precise and controlled implantation, minimally invasive, safe, and definite recent efficacy.