Modern therapeutic approach for high grade astrocytoma: intracranial Ir-192 brachytherapy

Prognosis of high-grade astrocytoma has been extremely disappointing and the median survival of patients with this tumor is less than 10 months at best. The most common cause of failure is local persistence of the tumor. Many neuro-oncologists have now turned to an alternative therapeutic approach involving brain brachytherapy (interstitial implantation) for the treatment of high-grade astrocytomas because in this manner a higher dose can be delivered to the tumor bed without excessively irradiating the surrounding normal brain tissue. Brachytherapy has shown some evidence of superior results in survival of malignant astrocytomas if properly performed by a qualified brachytherapy team. The objective of this report is to discuss the rationale and technique of brachytherapy in the management of high-grade astrocytoma as well as future prospects concerning this particular treatment modality.