Several approaches using perioperative brachytherapy (BT) in malignancies involving the skull base and/or orbit have evolved in the recent years. They include BT by seed implantation and BT in an afterloading technique. The benefit of perioperative BT in this management has been not yet defined. A systematic review of literature published in ''Medline'' and of own results was performed to analyze the role of BT in this regard, with special reference to orbital outcome.

These results show that a combined treatment of function-preserving surgery and a IABT is a feasible, successful and well-tolerated option for curative, salvage and palliative therapy for selected patients with advanced or recurrent carcinoma of the paranasal sinuses and orbit.