Brachytherapy of Primary Liver Lesions

Abstract

Numerous pilot studies and randomized comparisons have shown that interstitial brachytherapy (iBT) is capable of achieving high to very high rates of tumor control, for various tumor entities. These rates vary up to >90% after 12 months, even for large or very large tumors. A dose-dependence was demonstrated, and hepatic metastases of most tumor entities, including primary liver tumors, could be brought excellently under control with a 15–20 Gy radiation dose. In a randomized study, superiority of iBT compared with transarterial chemoembolization was shown, with a significantly longer time to progression and time to untreatable progression.