TO STUDY THE IMPLICATIONS OF ADVANCED EXTERNAL BEAM RADIOTHERAPY (EBRT) TECHNIQUES ON CURRENT BRACHYTHERAPY (BT) PRACTICES IN INDIA.

Dr. Vinod Pandey; Mr.Chhape Ram; Dr. Kailash Chandra Pandey

Volume : IX, Issue : VI, June - 2020

TO STUDY THE IMPLICATIONS OF ADVANCED EXTERNAL BEAM RADIOTHERAPY (EBRT) TECHNIQUES ON CURRENT BRACHYTHERAPY (BT) PRACTICES IN INDIA.

Dr. Vinod Pandey, Mr. Chhape Ram, Dr. Kailash Chandra Pandey

Abstract :

Purpose: To study the implications of advanced external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) techniques on current achytherapy (BT) practices in India. Material and methods: The role of BT in the treatment of cancer is well recognized either as a solo radiotherapy modality or in combination with EBRT. We performed a survey on the practice of achytherapy in India covering various cancer sites namely head and neck, lung, esophagus, east, cervix-uteri, prostate, anal canal, and some soft-tissue malignancies to ascertain the current scenario. In this study we have included both Government and private institutions which are using achytherapy. Results: Our e-survey found that the site-wise eak-up of different achytherapy centers is as follows: head and neck over all 26.98% (eye 4.6%, tongue 48.84%, cheek 41.86%, nasopharynx 13.95%, lip 25.58%); lung 11.63%; esophagus 53.59%; east 37.21%; cervix (intracavitary radiotherapy 100%, interstitial implant 44.19%); prostate 6.98%; rectum and anal canal 20.93%; soft tissue 46.51%; and skin 25.58%.Conclusion: It was found that all the centers in India having achytherapy were performing intra-cavitary achytherapy for cervical cancer. The premier academic centers were practicing achytherapy for many more sites as compared to smaller and private centers. From the responses received in the survey it was observed that there was a decline in use of BT for sites such as eye, nasopharynx, lung and prostate mainly due to the availability of advances EBRT techniques such as Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and Volumetric Arc Therapy(VMAT) along with lack of infra-structure , unavailability of skilled man power, treatment cost( private centers). In addition, due to invasiveness of BT many patients preferred EBRT over BT.