Beginning in August, four Cesium-131 lung implants were performed at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City by Bhupesh Parashar, MD, from the department of radiation oncology, and Nasser Altorki, MD, of the department of cardiothoracic surgery.

IsoRay, makers of the Cesium-131 brachytherapy seed, said that the isotope was chosen due to its short half life and higher dose rate. Made possible by the half life, 99.8 percent of the treatment dose is delivered by the time the patient’s sutures and mesh dissolve. Cesium-131 is also said to reduce the longevity of common brachytherapy side effects, according to the firm.

“Our patients tolerated the procedure well and have had no evidence of cancer recurrence or any side effects that can be attributed to the Cesium-131 seed implants as of the last follow-up visits,” Parashar said.

Prior to the lung implants Cesium-131 was used in the treatment of prostate cancer and ocular melanoma. At present, however, Cesium-131 has been cleared by the FDA for use in the treatment of malignant disease (head and neck, lung, brain, breast, etc.), as well as surface, interstitial and intracavitary applications for tumors with known radiosensitivity.