A national surveillance study of the current status of reirradiation using brachytherapy in Japan

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the current status and pattern of practice for reirradiation using brachytherapy (ReRT-BT) through a survey in Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS:We distributed an e-mail-based questionnaire to 153 institutions equipped with high-dose-rate brachytherapy facilities. RESULTS: We received responses from 76 institutions (49.7%). Forty-three of these institutions performed ReRT-BT and 42 institutions (55%) performed ReRT-BT during 2009e2018. However, 29 of the 42 institutions (69%) reported difficulty in obtaining ReRT-BT case information from their respective databases. Almost all the institutions encountered insufficient database system to extract details about the ReRT-BT cases. Responses from 33 institutions included the number of ReRT-BT cases; this increased from 90 in the period 2009e2013 (institution median 5 0.5; 0e 16) to 172 in the period 2014e2018 (institution median 5 2; 0e26). Nine institutions had to perform ReRT-BT for more than one case per year. The major location for cancer treatment was the pelvis (94%), followed by the head and neck (5%) and others (1%). In six site-specific scenarios, barring uterine corpus cancer recurrence, more than 90% of radiation oncologists agreed to perform ReRT-BT, whereas other areas (head and neck, prostate, and rectal cancer) gained 16e37% agreement. CONCLUSIONS: This decade saw an increase in the number of ReRT-BT cases in Japan and radiation oncologists' interest in ReRT-BT as a viable therapeutic option. However, scarce availability, immature education system, and insufficient database system are barriers to further consensus building.