Brachytherapy: what are the benefits?
Monday, 30 November 2026, 2:40 pm
Cristina Picardi
Cristina Picardi argues that, for selected rectal-cancer patients, Papillon contact X-ray brachytherapy enables highly targeted intratumoral dose escalation – a key factor in achieving a complete clinical response and, consequently, successful organ preservation. Her Swiss experience, together with her involvement in the randomized OPERA trial, highlights the potential of this approach to increase organ-preservation rates and avoid radical surgery. For colorectal surgeons, Papillon therefore represents an important component of a multidisciplinary organ-preservation strategy.
About Cristina Picardi
Cristina Picardi is a Swiss FMH-certified radiation oncologist based in Zürich, with a particular focus on gastrointestinal tumours and organ-preservation strategies for rectal cancer. She has contributed to the introduction and development of contact X-ray brachytherapy (Papillon) in Switzerland. Her recent work focuses on Papillon and its role in organ-preservation strategies, including a Swiss cohort study and the development of a refined multidisciplinary protocol.
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