Guidance
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Preoperative high dose rate brachytherapy for rectal cancers, in August 2015.
Description
Endorectal HDR brachytherapy for rectal cancer is usually carried out under sedation. Before treatment the tumour size and stage are determined using imaging techniques, and a 3-dimensional CT-based treatment planning system may be used to guide source positioning and appropriate dosing. Radio-opaque clips may be placed to mark the margins of the tumour, using proctoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.
A rigid or flexible endorectal applicator is used to deliver radiation to the tumour within the rectum. A balloon may be placed over the applicator to displace the uninvolved rectal mucosa away from the radioactive source to reduce toxicity. When the balloon is inflated, it immobilises the applicator and also helps to facilitate close contact with the tumour. Catheters within the applicator are subsequently loaded with the radioactive source (this is sometimes called ‘afterloading’), according to the treatment plan.
A few weeks after completion of brachytherapy, residual tumour is removed surgically.
Coding recommendations
The OPCS-4 codes for Pre-operative high dose rate brachytherapy for rectal cancer are:
X65.2 Delivery of a fraction of intracavitary radiotherapy
Note: Use a subsidiary code to identify introduction of radioactive material (Y35, Y36)
Y35.4 Introduction of radioactive substance into organ for brachytherapy NOC
Y89.1 High dose rate brachytherapy treatment
Z29.1 Rectum
In addition the ICD-10 code C20.X Malignant neoplasm of rectum would be recorded.
C20.X Malignant neoplasm of rectum