Reirradiation Using ¹⁹⁸Au Grain Brachytherapy for Recurrent Oral Cancer Cases Previously Treated by Definitive Radiotherapy

Abstract

Background/Aim: We investigated treatment outcomes and complications during reirradiation of patients with oral cancers. Patients and Methods: Six patients who received definitive radiotherapy for oral cancer as the initial treatment and brachytherapy for recurrence were included. Local control and overall survival rates, soft tissue and mandibular complications, and tooth extraction were investigated. Results: The five-year local control and overall survival rates were 83.3% and 100%, respectively. The occurrence rate of grade 2 soft tissue and mandible complications was 33.3%, and the primary sites were the buccal mucosa and the floor of mouth. The positions of the extracted tooth in the two cases were adjacent to the tumor, and one case developed grade 2 complication of the mandible. Conclusion: During recurrence of the buccal mucosa and the floor of mouth cancers, reirradiation should be avoided considering mandibular complications. To avoid reirradiation-related complications, tooth extraction near the radiation field should be avoided.