Treatment options for patients with small upper aerodigestive tracts squamous cell carcinoma (T1, T2) with advanced neck disease (N2, N3) is a topic that generates controversy in terms of thereuptic stratagies. We present the retrospective analysis of 109 patients treated, between 1991 and 2008, by "Neck dissection first approach" for N2, N3 neck node, followed by external beam radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy for the operated neck and the primary, deemed radiocurable. 94 patients completed the planned treatment and formed the material for this study. The primary (tumor) stage was as follows: T1 (29) and T2 (65) commonly arising from oropharynx; the neck nodes were predominantly N2a (n = 54), followed by N2b (n = 26) and N3 (n = 14) disease. Complete nodal clearence was achieved in 89 patients, with no major post operative complications. With a median follow up of 24 months disease free survival of 70% and overall survival of 61% at 5 years. Recurrence at primary site was noted predominantly with pyriform fossa tumors (n = 8), followed by base of tongue (n = 5) and were T2 lesions. Failure in the neck was seen in predominantly N3 nodes, R1 resection and failure to comply with adjuvant treatment. Neck dissection first approach is a valid treatment option that allows a good control of the disease in the neck, where it often fails if only RT is administered, along with preserving the pharyngolaryngeal function. Care should be excercised so that there should be no delay in initiating the RT following surgery.
Laryngeal CRN being a rare and intensely morbid complication of radiotherapy should be suspected and diagnosed at the earliest by endoscopic and imaging methods. Disease progression and chances of tumor recurrence should be followed up with PET CT and a call on salvage laryngectomy with repair of the anterior neck defects with non irradiated musculocutaneous flaps or vascularised tissue transfer should be promptly taken.
HDR brachytherapy treatment planning often involves optimization methods to calculate the dwell times and dwell positions of the radioactive source along specified afterloading catheters. The purpose of this study is to compare the dose distribution obtained with geometric optimization (GO) and volume optimization (VO) combined with isodose reshaping. This is a retrospective study of 10 cervix HDR interstitial brachytherapy implants planned using geometric optimization and treated with a dose of 6 Gy per fraction. Four treatment optimization plans were compared: geometric optimization (GO), volume optimization (VO), geometric optimization followed by isodose reshape (GO_IsoR), and volume optimization followed by isodose reshape (VO_IsoR). Dose volume histogram (DVH) was analyzed and the four plans were evaluated based on the dosimetric parameters: target coverage (normalV100), conformal index (COIN), homogeneity index (HI), dose nonuniformity ratio (DNR) and natural dose ratio (NDR). Good target coverage by the prescription dose was achieved with GO_IsoR (mean normalV100 of 88.11%), with 150% and 200% of the target volume receiving 32.0% and 10.4% of prescription dose, respectively. Slightly lower target coverage was achieved with VO_IsoR plans (mean normalV100 of 86.11%) with a significant reduction in the tumor volume receiving high dose (mean normalV150 of 28.29% and mean normalV200 of 7.3%). Conformity and homogeneity were good with VO_IsoR (mean COIN=0.75 and mean HI=0.58) as compared to the other optimization techniques. VO_IsoR plans are superior in sparing the normal structures while also providing better conformity and homogeneity to the target. Clinically acceptable plans can be obtained by isodose reshaping provided the isodose lines are dragged carefully.PACS number: 87.53 Bn
Introduction:
The chemotherapy schedules with cytotoxic dose or weekly regimes are still challenging, weighing the benefits versus toxicities. This prospective randomized study is an attempt to assess the efficacy of two schedules of cisplatin in management of locally advanced HNSCC.
Objectives:
The objectives of this study was to evaluate tolerance, tumour response and toxicities of concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin in weekly and three weekly regimes.
Methods:
Locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients fit for concurrent chemoradiation with cisplatin 40 mg/m2 (weekly) and 100 mg/m2 (3 weekly) were randomized to Arm A and B concurrently with radiotherapy of 70Gy/35frs/7 weeks.
Statistical Analysis:
Chi-square/ Fisher Exact test has been used to find the significance of study parameters on categorical scale between the groups. The statistical software SPSS 15.0 was used.
Results:
Between December 2010 and January 2013, 60 patients were enrolled. The median cycles of cisplatin in Arm-A was 5 and 2 in Arm-B. The complete response of 80.9% vs 75% and partial response of 14.3% vs 12.5% was observed in both arms respectively. There was no statistical difference in acute radiation and hematological toxicities between the two groups. With median follow up of 28 months, the 2 and 5 years overall survival was 55% and 58%; 41.6% and 32.3% in arms A and B respectively.
Conclusion:
In our study of locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy comparing concurrent chemotherapy with cisplatin weekly vs 3 weekly had no significant difference in overall response, complete response and acute toxicities.
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