Interstitial Brachytherapy of Malignant Gliomas: The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Experience

Abstract

Malignant gliomas remain incurable primary brain tumors despite the dedicated efforts over many decades of hundreds of clinical scientists worldwide. Any new procedure that offers a rationale for better tumor control is seized upon and applied in the hope that theory can be translated into practice, and that treatment can be translated into longer survival. One of these new techniques is interstitial brachytherapy, the stereotactic implantation of radioactive seeds directly into the tumor. In Europe this technique has been most widely applied to the treatment of low-grade gliomas, as discussed by Dr. Ostertag at this symposium. In North America the emphasis during the past 10 years has been on the application of this method to the treatment of malignant gliomas. In 1990 at least 50 institutions in North America were licensed by the manufacturer of ¹²⁵I seeds to treat patients with brain tumors. This chapter reviews the experience with interstitial brachytherapy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center since 1986.

Adapted from: Malkin MG (1992) Interstitial Irradiation of Malignant Gliomas. Rev Neurol (Paris) 148, 6–7: 448–453