Trans-osseous passage of head and neck brachytherapy tubes

Brachytherapy following surgical resection of head and neck malignancy is a useful adjunct if full dose external beam radiotherapy has been performed previously. Percutaneous tube placement has been described but accurate placement can be technically difficult in certain areas of the head and neck. A case report is presented of trans-osseous brachytherapy tube placement through the zygoma bone to allow for optimum surgical bed irradiation without kinking of the tubes. It is proposed that the trans-osseous placement is a useful technique when siting of the tubes is difficult. (C) 2000 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons.