Grover Surbhi, Longo John, Einck John, Puri Priya, Brown Derek, Chino Junzo, Mahantshetty Umesh, Yashar Catheryn, Erickson Beth
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI.
Semin Radiat Oncol. 2017 Apr;27(2):136-142. doi: 10.1016/j.semradonc.2016.11.005. Epub 2016 Nov 10.
Gynecologic carcinomas, including cervical cancer, present a significant burden on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Brachytherapy plays an integral role in the treatment of gynecologic carcinomas, as it is essential for both curative and palliative treatment. However, there are numerous geographic and economic barriers to providing brachytherapy to cancer patients in LMICs. This article examines the role and delivery of brachytherapy in gynecological cancer treatment; brachytherapy capacity in LMICs, including infrastructure, equipment, and human resources considerations; commissioning, training, and clinical implementation of brachytherapy in LMICs; other challenges, and strategies for improvement in brachytherapy delivery in LMICs, including innovation and current and upcoming international initiatives.
包括宫颈癌在内的妇科癌症给低收入和中等收入国家(LMICs)带来了沉重负担。近距离放射治疗在妇科癌症治疗中发挥着不可或缺的作用,因为它对根治性治疗和姑息性治疗都至关重要。然而,在低收入和中等收入国家为癌症患者提供近距离放射治疗存在诸多地理和经济障碍。本文探讨了近距离放射治疗在妇科癌症治疗中的作用和实施情况;低收入和中等收入国家的近距离放射治疗能力,包括基础设施、设备和人力资源方面的考量;低收入和中等收入国家近距离放射治疗的调试、培训和临床实施;其他挑战,以及改善低收入和中等收入国家近距离放射治疗实施的策略,包括创新以及当前和即将开展的国际倡议。