11 Lip and buccal mucosa

Lip and buccal mucosa

13

THE GEC ESTROHANDBOOKOF BRACHYTHERAPY | Part II Clinical Practice Version 1 - 10/05/2019

14. KEY MESSAGES

• Lip carcinoma is well managed with brachytherapy

• Local control with LDR is more than 90%

• Functional results are better than with surgery in many cases, because microstomia is avoided.

• HDR and PDR brachytherapy can be safely used with similar results as LDR.

• Complications with HDR or PDR are probably fewer than with LDR due to dose optimization.

• With HDR a fractionation of 4-5Gy twice a day is recommended, for 8-10 fractions.

• Parallel rigid needles with templates or plastic tubes can be used.

• Buccal mucosa cancers can be treated with brachytherapy alone or as a brachytherapy boost after EBRT.

• Local control for buccal mucosa cancer is not as high as for lip carcinomas, but if brachytherapy is part of the treatment, outcome is better than with EBRT alone.