鼻咽癌常规放射治疗后10年以上生存者的随访观察

[目的]研究经常规放射治疗后生存10年以上的鼻咽癌患者的生存状况。[方法]对接受放射治疗后,生存超过10年且有完整随访复查资料的342例鼻咽癌患者,进行肿瘤控制情况和放疗晚期并发症调查。所有病人均接受过常规放疗,鼻咽中位剂量70Gy,颈部转移性淋巴结中位剂量66Gy,淋巴结阴性者颈部剂量50Gy。有54例病人给予同期化疗。中位随访期14年（10-23年）。[结果]342例中,在首程放疗的10年后,有27例局部区域复发,4例发生远处转移。10年后死亡24例,其中因鼻咽癌复发或转移死亡11例,为第1位死因;吞咽障碍导致死亡5例,为第2位死因。264例病人（79.7%）有1种或1种以上不同程度的晚期并发症。其中有1种或1种以上的3、4级严重并发症者98例,占所有病人的28.6%。[结论]鼻咽癌常规放疗后长期生存者大多存在不同程度的晚期并发症,部分存在影响正常生活的3、4级严重晚期并发症。放疗后生存10年以上者,仍可能发生局部区域肿瘤复发或者远处转移。     

69例复发鼻咽癌近距离超分割放疗远期疗效分析

背景与目的:局部复发是鼻咽癌治疗失败的原因之一.复发鼻咽痛再治疗有放疗、手术、化疗及靶向治疗等,其中放疗是最主要的方法.再放疗有多种方式,包括常规外照射、近距离治疗、三维适形及调强放疗等.本研究通过回顾性分析局部复发再分期为早期的鼻咽痛采用单纯腔内近距离超分割放疗或联合常规外照射的远期疗效及晚期放射性损伤,评估近距离超分割放疗在复发鼻咽癌中的应用价值.方法:鼻咽癌首程放疗后局部复发再分期为T1和T2的69例患者,其中rT1 51例,rT2 18例.20例接受单纯腔内近距离超分割放疗,每次2.5～3.0 Gy,每天2次,间隔超过6 h,连续治疗5 d,休息1周后再连续治疗5 d.照射剂量为40~50 Gy,中位剂量50 Gy.49例在常规外照射剂量达30~65 Gy,中位剂量50 Gy,休息1～4 d后加用腔内近距离推量8～48 Gy,中位剂量20 Gy,近距离照射方式同前.结果:全组再程放疗后3年和5年生存率分别为59.66%和39.66%:3年和5年局部摔制率分别为86.3%和77.2%;晚期并发症中鼻咽溃疡发生率26.1%;张口受限39.1%;后组颅神经损伤30.4%;放射性脑病13.0%.再放疗后单纯近距离治疗组及联合治疗组张口受限分别为4例和23例(P=0.038),鼻咽溃疡分别为6例和12例(P=0.636).结论:鼻咽癌复发再分期为早期者采用腔内近距离超分割放疗临床实施可行,值得推荐.     

常规放疗的鼻咽癌患者生存质量变化趋势研究

目的 探讨鼻咽癌患者生存质量随疗前、中、后时间迁移变化的趋势.方法 采用头颈部最表FACT-H&N和9个条目形成的自制鼻咽癌调查表NPC-QOL,对中山大学肿瘤防治中心接受常规放疗的鼻咽癌患者进行调查,按治疗进程将患者分为9个组:治疗前组、放疗0～20 Gy组、放疗20～50 Gy组、放疗50 Gy至放疗结束组、放疗结束0～6个月组、放疗结束6～12个月组、放疗结束1～2年组、放疗结束2～3年组和放疗结束3～5年组.比较各组得分,了解生存质量变化趋势.结果 共对450例鼻咽癌患者完成了调查.患者FACT-H&N总分治疗中较治疗前降低,治疗结束后逐步回升,放疗后0～6个月组的得分与治疗前组无明显差异.随着治疗进程推移,生理状况和功能状况表现为先降后升趋势,社会或家庭状况和情感状况没有明显改变,头颈部症状和鼻咽癌相关症状呈现愈来愈严重趋势.自治疗开始至放疗后6～12个月,患者口干程度不断加剧,最严重为放疗后6～12个月组,50%～60%长期无瘤生存患者自觉口干严重.随治疗进程推进,自觉张口困难患者比例不断上升,放疗后3～5年增至14%.结论 首程接受常规放疗的鼻咽癌患者在治疗期间总体生存质量下降,但放疗结束6个月后基本恢复至疗前水平.口干和张口困难是影响长期生存鼻咽癌患者生存质量的重要因素.     

鼻咽癌原发灶复发再程放疗疗效分析

目的 :了解鼻咽癌原发灶复发再程放疗的治疗价值 ,分析鼻咽癌原发灶复发再程放疗的疗效和影响疗效的因素。方法 :1998年 4月 - 2 0 0 0年 4月 ,收治的 5 4例鼻咽癌放疗后原发灶复发患者 ,所有患者接受外照射放疗 ,放疗剂量为 4 0～ 80Gy ,2 0～ 4 0次 / 4～ 8个周。结果 :总的 3年生存率、局部控制率、远处转移率分别为 5 0 0 %、5 3 7%和 18 5 %。复发间隔时间 2 4个月以上者 ,3年生存率高 ;再程放疗剂量不低于 6 6Gy和T2 期的病例 ,3年生存率和局部控制率高。结论 :鼻咽癌放疗后原发灶复发再放疗仍是有效的治疗手段 ,尤其是对于复发间隔时间 2 4个月以上的早中期病例 ,在治疗上可采用一些非常规治疗方法 ,再程放疗总剂量不应低于 6 6Gy。     

内窥镜下微波固化术治疗鼻咽癌放疗后鼻咽腔内复发患者的疗效

背景与目的:局部复发鼻咽癌的治疗是一个临床难题.再程放疗可治愈部分患者,但会带来明显后遗症.本研究旨在评价内窥镜下微波固化术治疗鼻咽癌放疗后鼻咽腔内复发患者的疗效.方法:选取1994年8月至2005年4月中山大学肿瘤防治中心采用内镜下微波同化术治疗的局部复发(rT1)鼻咽癌病例55例,分析其无局部进展生存率及总生存率.结果:本组病例中位随访时间为102.1个月(22.4～153.9个月).放疗后局部复发的中位时间为22.1个月(6.5～125.6个月).微波固化术后鼻咽局部再复发5例.5年无局部进展生存率和总生存率分别为90.7%和93.6%.55例患者均无术中并发症.1例患者术后出现鼻咽溃疡,1个月后愈合.结论:内窥镜下微波同化术治疗选择性的局部复发鼻咽癌(rT1)患者可取得较好的生存率及局控率且并发症少,是目前治疗局部复发鼻咽癌患者的一种操作简便易行、疗效较理想的救援性治疗方法.     

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.     

常规放疗联合头部γ-刀治疗鼻咽癌的临床研究

目的:探讨常规放疗联合γ-刀治疗鼻咽癌的疗效.方法:将100例经病理确诊的鼻咽癌患者分为2组.50例γ-刀治疗组先行鼻咽部常规放疗50 - 60Gy,再γ-刀加量治疗.常规组鼻咽部常规放疗70-76Gy.根据颈淋巴结转移情况行颈部预防性或根治性治疗.结果:治疗后6个月复查,γ-刀治疗组与常规组局部控制分别为98％和84％ (P ＜0.05).随访6- 24个月,两组局部复发率分别6％和16％ (P ＜0.05).24个月生存率分别为96％和94％ (P ＞0.05).常见毒副反应及并发症发生率两者分别为14％和48％(P＜0.05).结论:常规放疗联合γ-刀治疗鼻咽癌能提高局部控制率,减少局部复发,减少毒副反应及并发症的发生,提高了鼻咽癌的近期疗效.     

鼻咽癌放疗后颈淋巴结残留及复发的组织间插植放疗

[目的] 分析鼻咽癌放疗后颈淋巴结残留及复发组织问插植近距离后装推量放疗的临床疗效。[方法] 全量放疗后鼻咽癌颈部淋巴结残留15例直接组织间插植后装推量放疗，鼻咽癌放疗后单纯颈部复发8例先局部外照射DT40～50Gy，然后组织间插植后装推量放疗，保留置管，超分割照射，250～400cGy／次，2次／天，残留者DTl0～20Gy，复发者24～35Gy。[结果] 肿块全消22例(95．7％)，残留l例(4.3％)，l、3、5年生存率为95．65％、57．9l％、41．36％：无严重并发症发生，死亡原因主要为远处转移及鼻咽复发。[结论] 组织间插植后装推量放疗是鼻咽癌放疗后颈部残留或复发安全有效的挽救治疗手段。     

局部晚期鼻咽癌同步时辰放、化疗的近期疗效观察

目的:观察局部晚期鼻咽癌同步时辰放、化疗及后程三维适形放疗的肿瘤局部控制率和不良反应的发生情况.方法:2005年8月-2007年8月共纳入67例局部晚期鼻咽癌患者(Ⅲ～ⅣA),常规放疗40 Gy后行鼻咽病灶后程三维适形放疗30 Gy.整个放疗过程中同步时辰给予顺铂、氟尿嘧啶和亚叶酸钙化疗,观察患者的近期疗效和不良反应.结果:1例患者因发生Ⅳ级口腔黏膜炎而放弃同步放、化疗.放疗结束后3个月内,66例患者中无一例发生放疗野内的肿瘤复发,其中鼻咽部肿瘤和颈部病灶达完全缓解者49例(74.2%),部分缓解15例(22.7%),疾病稳定2例(3.0%),无一例患者发生疾病进展.治疗有效率达97.0%.不良反应均可耐受.结论:同步时辰放、化疗及后程三维适形放疗治疗局部晚期鼻咽癌的近期疗效令人满意,且不良反应基本可以耐受.     

鼻咽癌调强放疗后局部复发的临床分析

[目的]探讨鼻咽癌调强放疗(IMRT)后局部复发的临床特征。[方法]回顾分析174例初治鼻咽癌IMRT局控率及11例确诊为局部复发患者的临床特点。[结果]1、3、5年局部复发率分别为0.6%、5.6%、6.4%。局部复发时间:放疗后11~61个月,其中9例(9/11,81.8%)3年内复发;余2例复发时间分别为53个月、61个月。11例局部复发病例中10例(10/11,90.9%)为原GTV区域野内复发。不同T分期及临床分期之间局部复发无明显差异。11例局部复发患者,7例接受了放疗为主的二程综合治疗,仅1例筛窦边缘复发的患者获得长期无瘤生存;其余6例,1例死于二程放疗后鼻咽大出血,5例均于二程放疗后1年内再复发。[结论]鼻咽癌IMRT后局部复发率低,局部复发形式以GTV高剂量区野内复发为主;局部复发与T分期及临床分期无明显相关性;复发患者二程调强放疗疗效差。     

鼻咽癌IMRT后局部与区域失败模式研究

目的 分析鼻咽癌患者IMRT后局部与区域失败的剂量学模式,为进一步提高鼻咽癌疗效提供临床依据。方法 分析2007—2012年我院收治的364例初治无远处转移鼻咽癌患者的局部与区域失败模式,失败模式定义为V_95%(95%等剂量曲线包括的复发灶体积)≥95%定义为野内复发,20%≤V_95%<95%为野边缘复发,V_95%<20%为野外复发。生存率计算采用Kaplan-Meier法。     

The additional value of chemotherapy to radiotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a meta-analysis of the published literature.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the additional value of neoadjuvant, concurrent, and/or adjuvant chemotherapy to radiation in the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) with regard to the overall survival (OS) and the incidence of local-regional recurrences (LRR) and distant metastases (DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: To be eligible, full published studies had to deal with biopsy-proven NPC and have patients randomly assigned to receive conventional radiotherapy (66 to 70 Gy in 7 weeks) or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. RESULTS: Ten randomized clinical studies were identified, including 2,450 patients. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) of death for all studies was 0.82 (95% CI, 0.71 to 0.95; P = .01) corresponding to an absolute survival benefit of 4% after 5 years. Three categories of trials were defined according to the sequence of chemotherapy, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, at least concomitant chemoradiotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy. A significant interaction term (P = .02) was found among these three categories. The largest effect was found for concomitant chemotherapy, with a pooled HR of 0.48 (95% CI, 0.32 to 0.72), which corresponds to a survival benefit of 20% after 5 years. Comparable results were found for the incidence of LRR and DM. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that concomitant chemotherapy in addition to radiation is probably the most effective way to improve OS in NPC.     

Plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA and residual disease after radiotherapy for undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA can be detected and quantified in the plasma of patients with EBV-related tumors, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Although NPC at early stages can be cured by radical radiotherapy, there is a high recurrence rate in patients with advanced NPC. The pretreatment level of circulating EBV DNA is a prognostic factor for NPC, but the prognostic value of post-treatment EBV DNA has not been studied. We designed a prospective study in Hong Kong, China, to investigate the value of plasma EBV DNA as a prognostic factor for NPC. METHODS: One hundred seventy NPC patients, without metastatic disease at presentation, were treated with a uniform radiotherapy protocol. Circulating EBV DNA was measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction before treatment and 6-8 weeks after radiotherapy was completed. Risk ratios (RRs) were determined with a Cox regression model, and associations of various factors with progression-free and overall survival and recurrence rates were determined with a stepwise Cox proportional hazards model. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Ninety-nine percent of patients achieved complete clinical remission. Levels of post-treatment EBV DNA dominated the effect of levels of pretreatment EBV DNA for progression-free survival. The RR for NPC recurrence was 11.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.53 to 25.43) for patients with higher post-treatment EBV DNA and 2.5 (95% CI = 1.14 to 5.70) for patients with higher pretreatment EBV DNA. Higher levels of post-treatment EBV DNA were statistically significantly associated with overall survival (P<.001; RR for NPC recurrence = 8.6, 95% CI = 3.69 to 19.97). The positive and negative predictive values for NPC recurrence for a higher level of post-treatment EBV DNA were 87% (95% CI = 58% to 98%) and 83% (95% CI = 76% to 89%), respectively. CONCLUSION: Levels of post-treatment plasma EBV DNA in patients with NPC appear to strongly predict progression-free and overall survival and to accurately reflect the post-treatment residual tumor load.     

Results and prognostic factors in the retreatment of locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Purpose: To review the results and evaluate the prognostic factors in the retreatment of locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Methods and Materials: We reviewed the records of 74 patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated at the University of California, San Francisco between 1957 and 1995. The histologic types included squamous cell carcinoma in 6 (8.1%), nonkeratinizing carcinoma in 48 (64.9%), and undifferentiated carcinoma in 20 (27%) cases. The site of recurrence was in the primary in 46 (62.2%), in the neck nodes in 20 (27%), and in both sites in 8 (10.8%) patients. The recurrent disease was Stage I in 10 (13.5%), Stage II in 16 (21.6%), Stage III in 20 (27%), and Stage IV in 28 (37.9%) patients. Thirty-seven (50%) patients developed recurrence within 2 years and 58 (78.4%) within 5 years after initial treatment. Radiotherapeutic techniques used in the retreatment of primary recurrence consisted of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), intracavitary brachytherapy, heavy-charged particle beam, and gamma knife, alone or in combination. Reirradiation doses ranged from 18 to 108 Gy, with a median dose of 60 Gy. Treatment of recurrent neck nodes consisted of radical neck dissection (RND) ± intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), or EBRT ± hyperthermia, or chemotherapy ± hyperthermia. Chemotherapy was used in 22 (30%) patients. Median follow-up was 20 months (range: 2 to 308 months).

Results: The 3-, 5-, and 10-year actuarial overall survival following retreatment were 49, 37, 18%, respectively. Thirty-six patients (49%) were free of further local-regional recurrence after retreatment. The 3-, 5-, and 10-year local-regional progression-free rates were 52, 40, and 38%, respectively. On univariate analysis, histologic type (p < 0.0001), interval to recurrence (p = 0.034), and treatment modality for early-stage disease (p = 0.01) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival, with age being marginally significant (p = 0.053). For local-regional progression-free rate, only histology was significant (p = 0.035). On multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.026), histology (p = 0.015), and interval to recurrence (p = 0.030) were significant for overall survival, and only histology (p = 0.002) and presence of complications (p = 0.016) were significant for local-regional progression-free rate. Of the 64 reirradiated patients, late complications were documented in 29 (45%) patients. The late complications were permanent in 21 (33%) and severe in 15 (23%) patients.

Conclusion: Retreatment using radiotherapy alone or in combination with other treatment modalities can achieve long-term local-regional control and survival in a substantial proportion of patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Age, histology, and interval to recurrence were independent prognostic factors for overall survival, but only histology and presence of complications were significant for local-regional progression-free rate.     

Induction chemotherapy with mitomycin, epirubicin, cisplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin followed by radiotherapy in the treatment of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Survival in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is compromised by distant metastasis. Because mitomycin is active against hypoxic and G0 cells, which may help to eradicate micrometastasis, we investigated the effect of mitomycin-containing cisplatin-based induction chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Recruited for this study were American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 1992 staging system stage IV NPC patients with the following adverse features: obvious intracranial invasion, supraclavicular or bilateral neck lymph node metastasis, large neck node (> 6 cm), or elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level. Patients were given three cycles of chemotherapy before radiotherapy. The chemotherapy comprised a 3-week cycle of mitomycin, epirubicin, and cisplatin on day 1 and fluorouracil and leucovorin on day 8 (MEPFL). RESULTS: From January 1994 to December 1997, 111 patients were recruited. The median follow-up period was 43 months. The actuarial 5-year overall survival rate was 70% (95% confidence interval [CI], 60% to 80%; n = 111). For patients having completed radiotherapy (n = 100), the 5-year locoregional control rate was 70% (95% CI, 55% to 84%) and the distant metastasis-free rate was 81% (95% CI, 73% to 89%). The 5-year distant metastasis-free rate of N3a and N3b disease of AJCC 1997 staging system were 79% (95% CI, 62% to 95%) and 74% (95% CI, 60% to 89%), respectively. By Cox multivariate analysis, high pretreatment serum LDH level (P = .04) and neck nodal enlargement before radiotherapy (P = .001) were adverse prognostic factors of survival. CONCLUSION: The good 5-year survival of N3 disease supports the effectiveness of induction MEPFL in the primary treatment of advanced NPC. Further investigation to incorporate concurrent chemoradiotherapy is warranted.     

局部复发鼻咽癌再程IMRT远期疗效分析

目的 回顾分析局部复发鼻咽癌再程IMRT远期生存、晚期不良反应及预后影响因素。方法 2001—2010年共335例诊断为局部复发鼻咽癌且接受再程IMRT纳入分析,其中合并有明显放疗并发症的患者占20.6%(69例)。全组中男268例,年龄21~75岁(中位数45岁),T₁、T₂、T₃、T₄期分别为41、36、122、136例,肿瘤体积中位数37.5 cm³,肿瘤靶区处方剂量60~70 Gy (中位数68 Gy)。Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率,Cox模型预后因素分析。结果 5年随访样本数290例。5年OS、LRFFS、DFFS分别为34.7%、64.2%、82.2%。多因素分析预后不良因素包括年龄>45岁(P=0.01)、疗前合并明显放疗并发症(P=0.00)、肿瘤分期(T₂~T₄)(P=0.00)、肿瘤体积>38.0 cm³(P=0.00)以及GTV_nx的D_mean>68.0 Gy (P=0.01)。鼻咽黏膜坏死、鼻咽出血、放射性脑病、颅神经损伤及张口困难发生率分别为28.6%、16.4%、22.4%、15.8%及13.7%。结论 局部复发鼻咽癌再程IMRT能获得较好肿瘤控制,可作为有效补救治疗手段,但其严重不良反应发生率仍较高,如何更好平衡肿瘤控制和正常组织保护仍需进一步探讨。     

Treatment Outcome with Brachytherapy for Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Background: To evaluate the treatment outcome and major late complications of all patients with recurrentnasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) in Hospital Kuala Lumpur.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology,Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. All patients with histologically confirmed recurrent NPC in the absence ofdistant metastasis treated in the period 1997-2010 were included in this study. These patients were treated withICBT alone or in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Treatment outcomes measured werelocal recurrence free survival (LRFS), disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Thirty threepatients were eligible for this study. The median age at recurrence was 56 years with a median time to initiallocal recurrence of 27 months. Majority of patients were staged as rT1-2 (94%) or rN0 (82%). The proportionof patients categorised as stage III-IV at first local recurrence was only 9%. Twenty one patients received acombination of ICBT and external beam radiotherapy while 12 patients were treated with ICBT alone. Medianinterval of recurrence post re-irradiation was 32 months (range: 4-110 months). The median LRFS, DFS andOS were 30 months, 29 months and 36 months respectively. The 5 year LRFS, DFS and OS were 44.7%, 38.8%and 28.1% respectively. The N stage at recurrence was found to be a significant prognostic factor for LRFS andDFS after multivariate analysis. Major late complications occurred in 34.9% of our patients. Conclusions: Ourstudy shows ICBT was associated with a reasonable long term outcome in salvaging recurrent NPC althoughmajor complications remained a significant problem. The N stage at recurrence was a significant prognosticfactor for both LRFS and DFS.     

Arterial rupture after microwave-induced hyperthermia and radiotherapy: With reference to two patients treated for recurrence in previously operated and irradiated areas

Two patients who developed frank arterial bleeding after combined microwave-induced hyperthermia and radiotherapy are described. One patient received re-irradiation and hyperthermia for recurrent metastatic neck nodes of a mesopharyngeal carcinoma. Full course radiotherapy had been given 6 years previously and a right-sided radical neck node dissection had been performed 4 months earlier because of recurrent neck node metastases. Six weeks after the combined therapy for a second recurrence, which achieved complete remission, a fatal rupture of the carotid artery occurred. The other patient received re-irradiation and hyperthermia for a chest wall recurrence of a breast carcinoma, treated 5–5 years previously by sector resection and tangential beam radiotherapy, and treated again 2 years earlier with extensive surgery for a local recurrence. A frank arterial bleeding from the treated region was seen after 7 months, but could be arrested with surgery. This important complication in combined hyperthermia and radiotherapy does not seem to have been recognized before. Different explanations are discussed, such as the previous local treatment as well as high temperature and atherosclerosis per se.     

Radiation therapy for local-regional recurrent breast carcinoma

One hundred seven women with recurrent breast carcinoma involving the chest wall and/or regional lymph node regions were treated with radiotherapy between 1970 and 1979. Local-regional tumor was the initial and only evidence of recurrent breast carcinoma in all cases. Forty-seven patients had their disease confined to the chest wall alone and sixty (56%) patients had chest wall involvement as some component of their local-regional recurrent disease. Within five years after the initial mastectomy, 80.5% of recurrences were manifested. All patients had radiotherapy to at least the site of involvement. Eighty-four patients (78.5%) had a complete response. The absolute 5-year survival of all patients following local-regional recurrence was 34.6%. Five year survival was 29% in those patients who had recurrence within 5 years of the original mastectomy. For those patients whose local-regional recurrence occurred after a 5-year disease-free interval, the subsequent 5-year survival was 57%. For patients with recurrence confined to the chest wall, subsequent 5-year survival was 48.9%. Patients who had supraclavicular involvement as part of their local-regional recurrence had only a 16.1% 5-year survival. The majority of patients developed distant metastasis. Twenty-two patients developed carcinoma of the contralateral breast following local-regional recurrence. Five year survival following local-regional recurrence was only 4.3% for patients whose initial treatment for their primary breast carcinoma was surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. For those patients whose primary breast carcinoma was treated by surgery alone or surgery and post-operative radiotherapy, the 5-year survival following local-regional recurrence was over 40%.