[Clinical experiences with intraluminal irradiation using 198Au grains in the treatment of bile duct carcinoma].

Three cases of a bile duct carcinoma were treatment with radiotherapy, using intracatheterized 198Au grains. The intracatheter 198Au grains, placed in an inner tube, were inserted into a percutaneous transhepatic catheter. The number of 198Au grains used depended upon the length of the tumor. Tips of plastic were placed between the grains to improve the spatial and temporal dose allocation. The number of grains used can be changed quite easily, according to the length of the tumor, and the period of insertion in our cases was shorter than for a 192Ir wire. These three patients also received external irradiation and, since completion of treatment, two have continued to do well for the past 5 months. There have been no systemic or local complication.