Klin Onkol 2005; 18(5): 166-171.
Summary: Primary tumours of the brain represent about 1,5% of all cancers. Patients presenting with malignant glioma will undergo local excision and/or external radiation therapy. Despite this therapy, nearly all tumours will recur. Moreover, it has been shown that 90% of recurrences occur within 2 cm of the initial tumour. This is mainly due to the poor radiosensitivity of gliomas, and to the fragility of normal brain tissue. Brachytherapy may represent an interesting therapeutic alternative, since its rapid dose fall-off offers an opportunity to spare normal brain tissue.
