Prior Radiotherapy (prior + radiotherapy)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Salvage laryngectomy and pharyngocutaneous fistulae after primary radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: A national survey from DAHANCA

HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 9 2003
Cai Grau MD, DMSc
Objective. In 1998, the Danish Society for Head and Neck Oncology decided to conduct a nationwide survey at the five head and neck oncology centers with the aim of evaluating the surgical outcome of salvage laryngectomy after radiotherapy with special emphasis on identifying factors that could contribute to the development of pharyngocutaneous fistulae. Patients. A total of 472 consecutive patients undergoing postirradiation salvage laryngectomy in the period July 1, 1987,June 30, 1997 were recorded at the five head and neck oncology centers in Denmark. Age ranged from 36 to 84 years, median 63 years, 405 men and 67 women. Primary tumor site was glottic larynx (n = 242), supraglottic larynx (n = 149), other larynx (n = 45), pharynx (n = 27), and other (n = 9). All patients had received prior radiotherapy. Results. Median time between radiotherapy and laryngectomy was 10 months (range, 1,348 months). A total of 89 fistulae lasting at least 2 weeks were observed, corresponding to an overall average fistulae risk of 19%. The number of performed laryngectomies per year decreased linearly (from 58 to 37), whereas the annual number of fistulae increased slightly (from 7 to 11), which meant that the corresponding estimated fistulae risk increased significantly from 12% in 1987 to 30% in 1997. Other significant risk factors for fistulae in univariate analysis included younger patient age, primary advanced T and N stage, nonglottic primary site, resection of hyoid bone, high total radiation dose, and large radiation fields. Multiple logistic regression analysis of these parameters suggested that nonglottic tumor site, late laryngectomy period (1987,1992 vs 1993,1997), and advanced initial T stage were independent prognostic factors for fistulae risk. Surgical parameters like resection of thyroid/tongue base/trachea or radiotherapy parameters like overall treatment time or fractions per week did not influence fistulae risk. Conclusions. The risk of fistulae is especially high in patients initially treated with radiotherapy for nonglottic advanced stage tumors. A significant decrease in the number of performed salvage laryngectomies over the 10 years was seen. Over the same time period, the annual number of fistulae remained almost constant. The resulting more than doubling of fistulae rate could thus in part be explained by less surgical routine. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 25: 711,716, 2003 [source]


Craniofacial Resection for Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 6 2005
Douglas D. Backous MD
Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: We reviewed our experience with craniofacial resection for advanced, nonmelanoma skin cancer of the head and neck to determine prognostic factors, local control rate, disease free survival, morbidity, and mortality. Study Design: Retrospective review of consecutive patients treated at a tertiary referral center from 1982 to 1993. Methods: Charts of patients having craniofacial resection for aggressive nonmelanoma cutaneous malignancies were reviewed and living patients followed for 10 additional years. Demographics, histology, previous interventions, treatment, surgical pathology, reconstructions, and complications were examined. The product-limit method was used to calculate survival functions, and the log-rank test was used to compare survival distributions. Results: Thirty-five patients, mean age 66.7 years, received treatment at our facility. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 191 (mean 47.4) months. Histology included 20 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and 15 basal cell carcinomas (BCC). Sixty percent had craniofacial resection alone, and 28.6% also had postoperative radiotherapy. There were two perioperative deaths, and 37.1% suffered early and 14.3% late surgical complications. Two- and five- year survival was significantly better (P = .02) with BCC (92% and 76%) than with SCC (54% and 24%). Long-term disease-specific survival was 20%, and 11.4% of our subjects were living with disease. Intracranial extension (P = .02), perineural invasion (P = .049), and prior radiotherapy significantly decreased 5-year survival. Conclusions: Acceptable mortality and morbidity is possible using craniofacial resection to treat advanced nonmelanoma skin cancer. Although disease-specific survival remains poor, positive trends were noted in local control beginning at 2 years of follow-up. Because patients often have few remaining options for cure, craniofacial resection is justified when technically feasible. [source]


Early Wound Complications in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Treated With Surgery and Ir192 Brachytherapy,,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2000
Richard V. Smith MD
Abstract Objectives: Brachytherapy, either as primary or adjuvant therapy, is increasingly used to treat head and neck cancer. Reports of complications from the use of brachytherapy as adjuvant therapy to surgical excision have been limited and primarily follow Iodine 125 (I125) therapy. Early complications include wound breakdown, infection, flap failure, and sepsis, and late complications may include osteoradionecrosis, bone marrow suppression, or carotid injuries. The authors sought to identify the early wound complications that follow adjuvant interstitial brachytherapy with iridium 192 (Ir192). Study Design: A retrospective chart review of all patients receiving adjuvant brachytherapy at a tertiary medical center over a 4-year period. Methods: Nine patients receiving Ir192 brachytherapy via afterloading catheters placed during surgical resection for close or microscopically positive margin control were evaluated. It was used during primary therapy in six patients and at salvage surgery in three. Early complications were defined as those occurring within 6 weeks of surgical therapy. Results: The overall complication rate was 55% (5/9), and included significant wound breakdown in two patients, minor wound dehiscence in three, and wound infection, bacteremia, and local tissue erosion in one patient each. All complications occurred in patients receiving flap reconstruction and one patient required further surgery to manage the complication. Complication rates were not associated with patient age, site, prior radiotherapy, timing of therapy, number of catheters, or dosimetry. Conclusions: The relatively high complication rate is acceptable, given the minor nature of most and the potential benefit of radiotherapy. Further study should be under-taken to identify those patients who will achieve maximum therapeutic benefit without prohibitive local complications. [source]


Cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression in photon-radiated and non-radiated uveal melanomas

ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 5 2010
Daniela Suesskind
ABSTRACT. Purpose:, To determine and compare cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in photon-radiated and non-radiated malignant uveal melanomas and to analyse the correlation between COX-2 expression and prognosis. Methods:, Immunohistochemical staining for COX-2 was performed on 21 uveal melanomas that were endoresected after prior stereotactic radiotherapy with photons and on 22 tumours that were treated by endoresection without prior radiotherapy. COX-2 staining was further analysed in respect to cell type, maximal prominence, time interval between radiotherapy and surgery, apoptotic index (AI), proliferative index (PI) and the development of metastatic disease. Results:, There was no difference in COX-2 expression between radiated and non-radiated melanomas (P > 0.15). COX-2 staining correlated with neither the tumour prominence (P > 0.40) nor the AI or the PI (both P > 0.35). Tumours with high COX-2 expression were significantly more likely to develop metastasis (P = 0.022). Conclusion:, Radiotherapy with photons does not induce COX-2 expression in malignant melanomas of the uvea. But high COX-2 expression may be a marker for poor prognosis. [source]