External Irradiation (external + irradiation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Management of mandibular osteoradionecrosis corresponding to the severity of osteoradionecrosis and the method of radiotherapy

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 3 2003
Ken-ichi Notani DDSc
Abstract Purpose. To demonstrate appropriate treatment methods for mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) by evaluating previous results. Methods. The relationship between the time interval after radiation therapy (RT) and the severity of ORN was examined. Eighty-seven patients were classified according to the extent of the lesion (grades), and the cure rates were calculated according to the RT modality, the grade, and the treatment method for ORN. Results. The later ORN developed and the higher the dose of irradiation, particularly among the patients who received external RT, the more it progressed. The initial cure rates for conservative management, marginal, and segmental mandibulectomy were 39.7%, 50%, and 86.7%, respectively. Conclusions. Conservative management should be limited to early-onset ORN after brachytherapy with or without a low dose of external irradiation. Marginal mandibulectomy is appropriate for the late-onset ORN after brachytherapy with or without low-dose external irradiation. Segmental mandibulectomy is required for late-onset ORN after a high dose of external irradiation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 181,186, 2003 [source]


Non-surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2002
A. M. Alsowmely
Primary hepatocellular cancer is a disease with a poor prognosis for which there is little consensus on treatment and a paucity of comparative trials. The coexistence of cancer with cirrhosis complicates treatment, and also confers a high risk for the development of further tumours. Surgery, either by hepatic resection or orthotopic liver transplantation, is only a feasible option in a minority of patients. This article surveys the non-surgical approaches to the treatment of hepatocellular cancers,local ablation techniques, arterial embolization with and without chemotherapy, conventional chemotherapy and hormonal modulation, and targeted and external irradiation. [source]


Predictive models of toxicity with external radiotherapy for prostate cancer,

CANCER, Issue S13 2009
Clinical issues
Abstract The objective of the current study was to analyze the state of the art and present limitations of available predictive clinical models (when available) estimating the risk of genitourinary tract and small bowel complications, erectile dysfunction, and acute and late symptoms of the rectal syndrome caused by prostate cancer external irradiation. An analysis of the literature indicated that very limited attention has been devoted to the development of "integrated," patient-tailored, user-friendly, and clinically usable tools for the prediction of external beam radiotoxicity. In this article, the authors reported on the multivariate correlation between late genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicities and clinical/dosimetric risk factors, as well as on the first set of nomograms developed to predict acute and late rectal side effects. At the present state of knowledge, the use of nomograms as predictive instruments of radiotoxicity appears to be particularly attractive for several main reasons. They are "user friendly" and easily developed using the results of multivariate analyses, as they weigh the combined effects of multiple independent factors found to be correlated with the selected clinical endpoint. The integrated evaluation of clinical and dosimetric parameters in the single patient can help to provide a tailored probability of the specific outcome considered. Predicting a high probability of toxicity could avoid unnecessary daily costs for the individual patient in terms of quality of life modification during and after treatment, helping patients in the decision-making process of choosing the best individual, quality of life,related treatment, and clinicians in better tailoring the treatment to patient's characteristics. Cancer 2009;115(13 suppl):3141,9. © 2009 American Cancer Society. [source]