Brachial Plexopathy after Chemoradiotherapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

No radiation-induced brachial plexopathy was seen in the patient group, although 72.1% of the brachial plexuses received doses > 60 Gy. These findings should prompt further prospective studies and also stress the importance of trying to keep the doses to the brachial plexus as low as possible while covering the target volumes well.

Prognostic factors (including HPV status) for irradiation of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN)

“…The prognostic value of the performance status and the tumor stage have already been described [2,3,[15][16][17]25]. A negative impact of the preRT hemoglobin level on treatment outcomes has been suggested in our previous study of 153 patients with a nonmetastatic stage IV SCCHN [22]. On multivariate analysis, a preRT hemoglobin level ≥ 12 g/dl was significantly associated with improved OS and LRC.…”

Cystatin C – A Fast and Reliable Biomarker for Glomerular Filtration Rate in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

“…Already partial renal insufficiency frequently poses an obstacle to therapeutic decisions and may lead to accumulation of chemotherapeutic agents and their metabolites. The nephrotoxicity of cisplatin is dose-related, cumulative, and depends on the extent of diuresis and the preexisting renal dysfunction [10,21,[23][24][25][26]33]. Therefore, an accurate estimation of renal function is needed for safe and effective use of this chemotherapeutic agent to prohibit toxic side effects [2,33].…”

Comparison of radiochemotherapy alone to surgery plus radio(chemo)therapy for non-metastatic stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

“…The most appropriate treatment for advanced non-metastatic head and neck cancer is still controversial [12,16,17,19,20]. Many centers worldwide favor surgery followed by radio(chemo) therapy (radiotherapy plus/minus concurrent chemotherapy), while others recommend radiochemotherapy (radiotherapy plus concurrent chemotherapy) alone.…”