CT-guided iodine-125 seed permanent implantation for recurrent head and neck cancers

BACKGROUND: To investigate the feasibility, and safety of (125)I seed permanent implantation for recurrent head and neck carcinoma under CT-guidance. RESULTS: A retrospective study on 14 patients with recurrent head and neck cancers undergone (125)I seed implantation with different seed activities. The post-plan showed that the actuarial D90 of (125)I seeds ranged from 90 to 218 Gy (median, 157.5 Gy). The follow-up was 3 to 60 months (median, 13 months). The median local control was 18 months (95% CI, 6.1-29.9 months), and the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5- year local controls were 52%, 39%, 39%, and 39%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5- survival rates were 65%, 39%, 39% and 39%, respectively, with a median survival time of 20 months (95% CI, 8.7-31.3 months). Of all patients, 28.6% (4/14) died of local recurrence, 7.1% (1/14) died of metastases, one patient died of hepatocirrhosis, and 8 patients are still alive to the date of data analysis. CONCLUSION: CT-guided (125)I seed implantation is feasible and safe as a salvage or palliative treatment for patients with recurrent head and neck cancers.