Adjuvant radiotherapy in carcinomas of the uterine cervix: the prognostic value of hemoglobin levels

Anemia has been associated with a poorer treatment response and reduced survival in women undergoing primary radiotherapy (RT) or radiochemotherapy for advanced cervical carcinoma. This study aimed to determine the influence of anemia on outcome in patients with cervical carcinoma undergoing adjuvant RT. Medical records were reviewed for 183 cervical cancer patients who had received adjuvant RT because of risk factors after radical surgery (n= 109) or inadequate primary surgery (simple hysterectomy; n= 74). Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to study hemoglobin levels before and during adjuvant RT in relation to recurrence-free and overall survival. Hemoglobin values > or =11 g/dL were considered normal, while those <11 g/dL indicated anemia. Hemoglobin levels before RT influenced significantly overall survival and recurrence-free survival across the whole group (overall survival--log rank(all patients)= 7.5; df = 1; P= 0.006). However, subgroup analysis showed that the observed difference was mainly due to the group of women who had undergone inadequate primary surgery (overall survival--log rank(inadequate surgery)= 10.8; df = 1; P= 0.001). Multifactorial regression analyses comparing hemoglobin before RT with grading and tumor stage confirmed the prognostic value of hemoglobin values. Maintaining normal hemoglobin values before and during adjuvant RT seems to be important, especially in patients who have had inappropriate simple hysterectomy, which may resemble a therapeutic situation.     

直接数字化X线摄影在腰椎侧位影像中的应用价值

目的探讨直接数字化X线摄影（direct digitized radiography，DDR）在腰椎侧位影像中的应用价值。方法随机抽取81例患者的DDR腰椎侧位影像，使用图像后处理方法中多级图像对比增益法，又称“交响乐”功能（multi—scale image contrast amplification，MUSICA）进行后处理，同时取另81例患者进行普通X线摄影，由放射科经验丰富的医生、技师各2名对所有的腰椎侧位影像进行分析，采用常规影像质量评价指标评价两组的影像质量。结果（1）DDR腰椎侧位影像质量影像评分为13．00，普通X线影像评分为8．96，经非参数检验的配对符号秩和检验，依赖负秩计算的统计量（X^2=-7．88，P〈0．01），两组差异有统计学意义，DDR腰椎侧位组明显优于普通平片组；（2）81例中DDR腰椎图像显示满意率为92．6％（75／81），普通X线平片显示满意率为61．7％（50／81），两者差异有统计学意义（X^2=21．89，P〈0．01）。结论与普通X线影像相比，DDR影像能更好的显示下部腰椎椎体、附件及周围软组织，可获得良好的图像，有利于放射诊断工作。     

Prognostic index to identify patients who may not benefit from whole brain radiotherapy for multiple brain metastases from lung cancer

Palliative whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) is often recommended in the management of multiple brain metastases. Allowing for WBRT waiting time, duration of the WBRT course and time to clinical response, it may take 6 weeks from the point of initial assessment for a benefit from WBRT to manifest. Patients who die within 6 weeks (‘early death’) may not benefit from WBRT and may instead experience a decline in quality of life. This study aimed to develop a prognostic index (PI) that identifies the subset of patients with lung cancer with multiple brain metastases who may not benefit from WBRT because of ‘early death’. The medical records of patients with lung cancer who had WBRT recommended for multiple brain metastases over a 10-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified as either having died within 6 weeks or having lived beyond 6 weeks. Potential prognostic indicators were evaluated for correlation with ‘early death’. A PI was constructed by modelling the survival classification to determine the contribution of these factors towards shortened survival. Of the 275 patients recommended WBRT, 64 (23.22%) died within 6 weeks. The main prognostic factor predicting early death was Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status >2. Patients with a high PI score (>13) were at higher risk of ‘early death’. Twenty-three per cent of patients died prior to benefit from WBRT. ECOG status was the most predictive for ‘early death’. Other factors may also contribute towards a poor outcome. With further refinement and validation, the PI could be a valuable clinical decision tool.     

肺灌注显像在Ⅲ期非小细胞肺癌调强放疗中对功能肺的保护

目的 探讨肺灌注显像在Ⅲ期非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)调强放疗(IMRT)保护功能肺的可行性。方法 选择拟行放疗的Ⅲ期NSCLC患者24例,分别行PET-CT和SPECT定位,图像传至治疗计划系统进行图像融合。根据SPECT图像确定功能肺(FL)和非功能肺(NFL),FL是指放射性计数为最大放射性计数的30%以上(包括30%)的区域,其他区域为NFL。肺灌注受损分为4级:0级,无灌注受损;1级,肿瘤及其周围局部肺灌注受损;2级,达1叶肺灌注受损;3级,超过1叶肺灌注受损。根据SPECT图像提供的肺功能信息制定IMRT计划进行优化,尽可能降低FL的照射体积剂量。采用配对t检验统计分析优化前后的IMRT计划的肺组织剂量参数变化。结果 患者均有不同程度的肺灌注缺损,其中肺灌注受损1级8例,2级6例,3级10例。根据SPECT提供的肺功能信息优化IMRT计划后WLV和FLV均有不同程度降低,而FLV降低程度更加明显。优化后WLV₁₀、WLV₁₅、WLV₂₀、WLV₂₅、WLV₃₀和FLV₁₀、FLV₁₅、FLV₂₀、FLV₂₅、FLV₃₀差异有统计学意义。结论 根据SPECT图像提供的肺功能信息优化IMRT计划以保护Ⅲ期NSCLC功能肺是可行的。     

常规放疗结合后程立体定向放射治疗老年非小细胞肺癌患者的预后分析

目的观察老年非小细胞肺癌立体定向放疗疗效,并探讨其预后因子。方法128例老年非小细胞肺癌患者行常规放疗结合立体定向放疗,定期随访。结果全组患者1年生存率65.72%,单因素分析表明肿瘤体积、肿瘤剂量、卡氏评分影响近期结果,多因素分析仅肿瘤体积和肿瘤剂量为近期疗效预后因子,与生存期有关的预后因素为近期疗效、肿瘤剂量、临床分期。结论立体定向放疗可延长生存时间,对Ⅲ期患者,肿瘤剂量提高至72Gy是安全的。     

鼻咽癌常规放疗靶体积合理性的初步探讨

目的分析鼻咽癌常规放疗的局部控制情况和局部复发的剂量学模式,初步探讨照射靶体积确定的合理性.方法共476例初治鼻咽癌患者接受规范化单纯常规根治性放疗.全部病例均采用常规模拟定位,鼻咽靶体积为CT检查所见的原发病灶范围以及可能侵犯的亚临床病灶区域.利用Kaplan-Meier方法计算局部累积复发率;将鼻咽局部复发患者疗前和复发时局部病灶范围（Vnx和Vrecur）勾画于三维治疗计划系统,复制首程放疗的射野并按原处方剂量进行计算,根据剂量体积直方图进行剂量学评价：recurV95（95%处方剂量曲线包括的Vrecur）≥95%定义为野内复发,95%＞recurV95≥20%定义为野边缘复发,20%＞recurV95定义为野外复发.结果局部复发共52例,全组1、2、3、4年局部累积复发率分别为0.6%、3.9%、8.7%、11.5%.对42例局部复发的剂量学分析显示野内复发占多数（52%）,而大部分野边缘复发和全部野外复发均与射野设置不当、影像学阅片能力欠缺使首程放疗剂量不足有关.结论较好的局部控制率、复发的剂量学模式的分析结果提示该靶体积的设置比较合理.提高影像阅片能力,准确的射野设计,充分利用生物影像学工具,有针对性地提高照射剂量,有望进一步提高局部控制率.     

Self-expandable metallic stent for unresectable malignant strictures in the esophagus and cardia

Objective Self-expandable metallic stent (EMS) placement has been the first choice for dysphagia because of the certainty over its safety, low invasiveness, and immediate efficacy. However, there still remain some problems in relation to the EMS placement site and anticancer therapies before and after EMS placement. Methods: Consecutive 78 patients in whom EMS was placed due to the unresectable malignant stricture in the esophagus or cardia from July 1995 to August 2003 in our department were studied. Results: Gastroesophageal reflux was found in 5 of 8 patients after placement of conventional EMS for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. Meanwhile, acid and bile reflux into the esophagus were not detected by pH and bilirubin monitoring, respectively, in 6 patients after placement of the EMS with an anti-reflux mechanism for the stricture in the gastroesophageal junction. The median survival period of all patients after EMS placement was 123 days. The median survival period of 7 patients with radiotherapy only after EMS placement was 138 days and that of 17 patients with radiotherapy before EMS placement was 60 days, which was shorter than that of the former (p<0.05). On the other hand, the median survival period after hospital admission due to dysphagia of these 7 patients was longer than that of 17 patients with radiotherapy only before EMS placement, although, the difference was not significant. Conclusion: EMS with an antireflux mechanism is not commercially available in Japan and approval is urgently required. The indication of radiotherapy associated with EMS placement is to be studied further.     

Paediatric medulloblastoma: Patterns of care and radiotherapy quality assurance in Australia

The purpose of this study was to document how children in Australia with medulloblastoma are being treated and to evaluate the quality of radiotherapy (RT) delivered. The Radiotherapy Database of the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology and Oncology Group was used to identify 46 children with medulloblastoma younger than the age of 15 years treated with radical intent by craniospinal irradiation between 1997 and 1999 inclusively. Twenty‐six patients had completely resected disease without evidence of disease spread. Of these, 16 patients received a craniospinal RT dose of <25 Gy in addition to chemotherapy. RT treatment immobilization methods varied, as did planning methods. RT dose to critical structures was recorded on treatment plans for only 15% of patients. The average systematic error in shield placement at the posterior orbit was 5.2 mm, and two‐thirds of patients were ‘overshielded’ at this site. Adequate coverage of the distal end of the thecal sac was achieved in fewer than 50% of on‐treatment verification films for 21 of 45 patients. With a reduction in RT dose to the craniospinal axis for paediatric medulloblastoma, greater attention is needed for patient immobilization, documentation of RT dose to critical structures and the placement and reproducibility of shielding.     

三维适形放疗联合肝动脉碘油栓塞化疗并热疗治疗原发性肝癌的疗效研究

目的:探讨原发性肝癌的肝动脉碘油栓塞化疗(TACE)、热疗、三维适形放疗(3DCRT)的综合治疗价值。方法:122例原发性肝癌患者进行前瞻性随机分组研究,综合治疗组64例,行TACE并3DCRT,结合热疗治疗。对照组58例3DCRT治疗,联合TACE。结果:1、2、3年生存率综合治疗组分别为85%、65%、39%,对照组分别为59%、30%、18%(P<0.05)两组毒副作用相似。结论:对于非手术切除的原发性肝癌患者,TA-CE,结合3DCRT并热疗,能明显提高疗效,而毒副作用不增加。     

新型加速器放疗网络的研制及其临床应用

目的研制新型加速器放疗网络。方法采用服务器-客户端模式．服务器采用SQL—Server2000为数据库服务软件，客户端使用VC＋＋6．0语言编写．通过RTP—Link以及DICOMRT和新型加速器连接传输病人治疗参数资料。结果成功研锚的新型加速器放疗网络包括病人资料管理模块、定位计划管理模块、定位图像预处理模块、靶区勾画模块、计划设计管理模块（包含MLC（多叶光栅）设计以及低熔点挡铅设计）和治疗参数输出（包括报表打印、连接加速器）。结论网络系统操作简单，适合新型全数字化加速器的常规放射治疗管理．是科室常规放疗治疗的质量保证（QA）和质量控制（QC）的有效工具。