Permanent Implantation of Iodine-125 Seeds as a Salvage Therapy for Recurrent Head and Neck Carcinoma After Radiotherapy

Seventeen patients with head and neck recurrent carcinoma underwent I-125 seed implantation under CT or ultrasound guidance. The actuarial D90 of the I-125 seeds implanted was 90-160 Gy (median, 126 Gy). Median follow-up was 10 months (range, 3-48 months). The median local control time was 16 months; the 1- and 2-year local control rates were 66.5% and 49.9%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 51.3% and 38.5%, respectively (median, 16 months). None of the patients experienced grade 4 toxicity. I-125 seed implantation was a feasible and effective salvage treatment for patients with recurrent head and neck cancers.