Treatment of equine cutaneous neoplasia by radiotherapy using iridium 192 linear sources

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Abstract
The treatment of equine cutaneous tumors by conventional or cryosurgical techniques can be limited where the position of the tumor makes radical excision or freezing impractical or dangerous. Radiotherapy provides an effective and practical alternative. The use of Ir pins with guide needles allows accurate positioning of sources and uniform radiation fields to be achieved. The subsequent removal of the pins reduces the period of incapacity and reduces the radiation risk when compared to permanently implanted sources. Twenty-seven tumors on 26 horses were treated by this method with a 100% success rate after a single irradiation. The technique of implantation is described; the criteria used to select cases and to assess the efficacy of this treatment are discussed.