Page 10 - ACCF Essentia | Vol. III | Issue 3 | June 2024

Brachytherapy as a Modality

in Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer
i n Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

u
Dr Thamizholi Selvaraju
Dr Thamizholi Selvaraj
og
Consultant Radiation Oncologist t
Consultant Radiation Oncol
is
Barpeta Cancer Centre
Barpeta C ancer C entr e
Dr Thamizholi Selvaraju is a Radiation Oncologist at Barpeta Cancer Centre. He
Dr Thamizholi Selvaraju is a Radiation Oncologist at Barpeta Cancer Centre. He
also served as Consultant and Head of Clinical Oncology at Madurai Cancer
also served as Consultant and Head of Clinical Oncology at Madurai Cancer
Centre. He has been serving in the eld of Oncology for eight Years.

eld of Oncology for eight Years.
Centre. He has been serving in the
He completed Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Vinayaka
He completed Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Vinayaka
Mission Medical College, Pondicherry and post graduation in Radiation Oncology
Mission Medical College, Pondicherry and post graduation in Radiation Oncology
from Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka.
from Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka.
An expert in handling precision Radiotherapy Techniques like 3DCRT, IMRT, VMAT,
An expert in handling precision Radiotherapy Techniques like 3DCRT, IMRT, VMAT,
IGRT, 4DCT, and SBRT, his area of Interest in Head and Neck cancer, Breast,
IGRT, 4DCT, and SBRT, his area of Interest in Head and Neck cancer, Breast,
Thoracic and Gynecological Malignancy. He is also experienced in handling
Thoracic and Gynecological Malignancy. He is also experienced in handling
Chemotherapy for all solid tumors. He currently holds the position as President
Chemotherapy for all solid tumors. He currently holds the position as President
IAPEN- Guwahati chapter, Assam.
IAPEN- Guwahati chapter, Assam.
oco regional failure remains the predominant
o co regional failure remains the predominant
ite of recurrence and cause of death in Head
s
Lsite of recurrence and cause of death in Head
ement of this
g
and Neck cancers, and the mana
and Neck cancers, and the management of this
g
problem represents a major clinical challenge.
problem represents a major clinical challenge.
Most recurrences (76%) manifest in the rst two
Most recurrences (76%) manifest in the rst two
ears followin
g
y
years following the primary treatment and a
the primary treatment and a
y
ear.
further 11% do so in the third
further 11% do so in the third year.
Second primary tumours have a reported
Second primary tumours have a reported
incidence of about 3% per year. Management
incidence of about 3% per year. Management
of these patients possesses similar problems
of these patients possesses similar problems
when the tumours occur in previously irradiated
when the tumours occur in previously irradiated
regions.
regions.
Following three factors needs to be taken into
Following three factors needs to be taken into
considerations before planning.
considerations before planning.
Patient related factor is very heterogeneous
1.
1. Patient related factor is very heterogeneous
in terms of prognostic factor, especially
in terms of prognostic factor, especially
performance status as well as associated
performance status as well as associated
medical conditions such as chronic
medical conditions such as chronic
alcoholism, liver damage, and lung disease.
alcoholism, liver damage, and lung disease. Brachytherapy Set Up
Set Up
y
Brachyther
ap
2. Tumour related factors such as site and type
2. Tumour related factors such as site and type
of recurrence.
of recurrence.
3. Treatment related factors such as
3. Treatment related factors such as
type of modality Surgery / Radiation or
type of modality Surgery / Radiation or
Chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy.
These factors make it dif cult to draw any, but
These factors make it dif
cult to draw any, but

World Cancer Day (2015) theme:
2015
(
World Cancer Day
)
theme:
10
“Not Beyond Us”
“Not Beyond Us”