4 Gy single fraction palliative radiotherapy for the treatment of painful recurrent soft plate carcinoma by high-dose-rate mold brachytherapy: A case report

Abstract

We herein report a case of the effectiveness of 4 Gy single fraction high-dose-rate mold brachytherapy in the palliative treatment of a painful recurrent soft palate carcinoma in a previously irradiated field. A 73-year-old man with a painful recurrent squamous cell carcinoma in the right soft palate in a previously irradiated field was treated with high-dose-rate mold brachytherapy. Although only 4 Gy could be delivered, the patient showed a reduction in the degree of pain in the right soft palate after the treatment. Unfortunately, the patient died of interrecurrent disease with pleural metastases five months after the brachytherapy.