Optimal source position for irradiation of coronary bifurcations in endovascular brachytherapy with catheter based beta or iridium-192 sources.

Background And Purpose: Intracoronary brachytherapy after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is usually performed with catheter-based treatment techniques in a straight vessel segment. There is a growing interest for treatment of bifurcations, which requires consecutive positioning of the source in main vessel and side branch.

Materials And Methods: In-house developed software (IC-BT doseplan) is used to explore the optimal positioning of the source in modelled bifurcations with different shape for the source types available in our hospital, i.

External beam radiation therapy to prevent anastomotic intimal hyperplasia in prosthetic arteriovenous fistulas: results of a randomized trial.

External beam irradiation has a documented effect on intimal hyperplasia reduction. However, it did not result in less reinterventions or stenoses after radiation treatment of the venous anastomosis in polytetrafluoroethylene dialysis access.

High dose rate brachytherapy for the palliation of malignant dysphagia.

Background And Purpose: High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is a commonly used palliative treatment for esophageal carcinoma. We evaluated the outcome of HDR brachytherapy in patients with malignant dysphagia.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis over a 10-year period was performed of 149 patients treated with HDR brachytherapy, administered in one or two sessions, at a median dose of 15Gy.

The role of intravascular ultrasound imaging in vascular brachytherapy.

Intracoronary brachytherapy has recently emerged as a new therapy to prevent restenosis. Initial experimental work was achieved in animal models and the results were assessed by histomorphometry. Initial clinical trials used angiography to guide dosimetry and to assess efficacy.

Application of beta-irradiation through the struts of a previously deployed stent.

The application of beta-radiation in coronary arteries is a promising new technique for the treatment of in-stent restenosis. This is the first case in which the 5 F. delivery catheter of the Beta-Cath trade mark system was advanced through the struts of a stent, previously deployed in an adjacent branch, so as to deliver radiation to the target vessel.

Inaccuracy in manual multisegmental irradiation in coronary arteries.

Purpose: Retrospective evaluation of the accuracy of manual multisegmental irradiation with a source train for irradiation of long (re)stenotic lesions in coronary arteries, following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

Material And Methods: Thirty-six patients were treated with intracoronary irradiation following PTCA with manual multisegmental irradiation. These patients were included in the multicenter, multinational 'European Surveillance Registry with the Novoste Beta-Cath system' (RENO).