This study evaluated if iodine-125 brachytherapy prophylaxis after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) prolongs time to recurrence (TTR) and overall survival (OS) of patients in high risk of locoregional hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence. 116 patients with total tumor necrosis after RFA were divided into iodine-125 brachytherapy prophylaxis treatment group and control group. The primary endpoint was TTR, and secondary endpoints were OS and treatment-related adverse events. There were no significant differences among the baseline characteristics of two subgroups patients. The mean iodine-125 particles were 29.8 (26.59 ± 12.51 mCi) per patient. The mean follow-up was 25 months, and mean TTR of treatment and control groups were 21.7 and 15.9 months (P = 0.733); mean OS of two subgroups were 41.7 and 40.9 months (P = 0.316). There were no significant differences of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-and 5-years TTR and OS and patients’ immunity pre- and 1 month post-treatment. Extrahepatic metastasis was found to have a statistically significant influence on TTR, and AFP, extrahepatic metastasis were found to have a statistically significant influence on OS by multivariate analysis. There was no major complications and procedure related death. Iodine-125 brachytherapy prophylaxis after RFA can’t improve TTR and OS of HCC patients who were in high risk of locoregional tumor recurrence.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided interstitial iodine-125 (I) seed implantation for metastatic malignant melanoma treatment. From November 2008 to May 2011, 24 patients with metastatic malignant melanoma who had undergone surgery for excision of primary lesions and repeated chemotherapy underwent CT-guided I seed implantation. Their clinical situations, biochemical indicators, MRIs, and CTs were observed. The follow-up time ranged from 5 to 24 months (mean 19.6 months). The local control rates of metastatic malignant melanoma after surgery excision for primary lesion after 2, 6, 12, and 24 months were 86.8, 78.6, 62.1, and 55.0%, respectively. One patient died of liver failure 5 months after brachytherapy and another died of a metastatic brain tumor 8 months after brachytherapy. Two patients died of lung dysfunction from pulmonary metastases 15 months after brachytherapy. All other patients survived throughout the follow-up period. The 2-year survival rate was 83.3%. During the procedure, one patient presented with minimal bleeding from the applicator route and another presented with pneumothorax with 20% pulmonary compression, which improved after intraprocedure suctioning. Four patients had low-grade fever on day 3. Three showed mild decreases in their white blood cell counts. CT-guided I seed implantation is a safe, feasible, and promising approach to the treatment of patients with metastatic malignant melanoma after surgery excision for primary lesions and repeated chemotherapy, but large-scale randomized clinical trials should be conducted before the technique can be used routinely.