PERCUTANEOUS TANTALUM 182 WIRE IMPLANTATION USING A GUIDING-NEEDLE TECHNIQUE FOR HEAD AND NECK TUMORS

¹ Instructor in Radiology
² Resident in Radiology

An improved technique of Ta¹⁸² wire implantation through a percutaneous route is discussed. This technique was used in 6 patients who had recurrent or extensive lesions in the head and neck area. Ta¹⁸² wire implantation was carried out as an adjunct to external beam therapy, chemotherapy or radium needle implantation. New instruments, such as a lead jig, guiding-needle, needle-holder, and space-maintainer are described. This technique was satisfactorily tried in 4 cases under local anesthesia. Disease was successfully controlled in I case. Local disease was controlled in 3 cases for as long as 4 months, when the patients succumbed to distant disease. Adequate palliation was not obtained in 2 cases, one of which was a result of overdosage. Expediency of the technique and adequate shielding minimized the exposure hazard. This technique was found satisfactory in encompassing a complex tumor volume in areas inaccessible otherwise. We feel strongly that the inclusion of this technique is a valuable addition to the existing therapeutic armamentarium.

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