This preliminary treatment trial was performed to evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of intracavitary therapy with (186)Re-colloid in patients with recurrent otitis media and paranasal sinusitis, resistant to pharmacotherapy and surgical treatment. METHODS: Thirty-nine applications of 5-35 MBq (186)Re-colloid into the tympanon and the paranasal sinuses were performed in 6 patients. Biodistribution and biokinetics were studied by gamma-camera imaging. Clinical success was documented 6-20 mo after therapy by each patient's self-evaluation and by rhinootologic follow-up, using a 4-step score. RESULTS: No harmful side effects were seen. There was good-to-excellent clinical improvement with a score of +1.44 +/- 0.5 by each patient's self-evaluation and by physicians scoring of +0.81 +/- 0.9 with only negligible extracranial tracer deposition. CONCLUSION: This novel treatment option using intracavitary application of (186)Re-colloid in chronic otitis media and sinusitis is safe and effective. The term "radio-tympano-sinu-orthesis" might be proposed analogously to the well-known radiosynoviorthesis.
