Relief of jaundice by external beam radiotherapy and intraluminal brachytherapy in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: results without stenting

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To clarify whether external beam radiotherapy combined with intraluminal brachytherapy without stenting provides long-term relief of jaundice in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-five patients with unresectable hilar or distal cholangiocarcinoma were treated by external beam radiotherapy (30 or 50 Gy) combined with intraluminal brachytherapy (24 to 40 Gy). After radiotherapy, we removed the biliary drainage tubes from the patients who responded, and we did not perform stenting in these patients. RESULTS: In 19 (76%) patients, full patency was achieved at the treated lesion, and they were tube-free thereafter. The tube-free survival time in the 19 patients ranged from 7 to 468 days (median: 76 days). Cholangitis and gastroduodenal ulcer developed in 10 (40%) and 2 (8%) patients, respectively, as adverse events after the combined radiotherapy. The median survival time of all patients was 9.3 months, and their 6- and 12-month survival rates were 75.3% and 29.3%, respectively. The ratios of tube-free to overall survival in the 19 patients ranged from 2.4% to 79.4% (median: 26.8%). Eight patients died tube-free. CONCLUSIONS: Although there were limitations to the long-term relief of jaundice by this combined radiotherapy alone, tube-free status was achieved in some patients without stenting.     

Clinical and manometric effects of combined external beam irradiation and brachytherapy for anal cancer

This study evaluates anorectal function after combined tele- and brachytherapy for anal cancer using manometric measurements and a standardized questionnaire. Eight patients received 44±3 Gy external beam radiation followed by 20±4 Gy interstitial brachytherapy with iridium-192. Patients were examined 43 months (range 25–83) after therapy. Maximum anal basal pressure, squeeze pressure, and squeeze increment were significantly lower in patients (50, 163, 115 mmHg, respectively) than in control subjects (75, 285, 180 mmHg, respectively). Decreased anal elasticity was not observed. Anal prestretch “normalized” the contractility of the internal and external sphincter. Thus damage to the anal epithelium and hemorrhoidal cushions seems to be the most important mechanism explaining reduced anal closing pressure values. The rectoanal inhibitory reflex was observed in all but one patient. Rectal compliance was significantly reduced. Whereas all patients could retain a water filled rectal balloon until the maximum tolerable sensation level was reached, the rectal saline infusion test was strongly abnormal. Four patients were perfectly continent. Four patients were incontinent for gas and presented urgency in case of liquid stools with limited soiling occurring once weekly or less; three of them also had urgency for solids. Defecation frequency was increased but regular in most patients. Reduced anal closure together with reduced rectal compliance are at the basis of stool frequency, urgency and partial incontinence with occasional soiling. However, enough reserve sphincter function was maintained to preserve a clinically acceptable degree of anal continence in our patients. Accepted: 21 November 1997     

Strategies to tackle the challenges of external beam radiotherapy for liver tumors

Primary and metastatic liver cancer is an increasingly common and difficult to control disease entity.Radiation offers a non-invasive treatment alternative for these patients who often have few options and a poor prognosis.However,the anatomy and aggressiveness of liver cancer poses significant challenges such as accurate localization at simulation and treatment,management of motion and appropriate selection of dose regimen.This article aims to review the options available and provide information for the practical implementation and/or improvement of liver cancer radiation programs within the context of stereotactic body radiotherapy and image-guided radiotherapy guidelines.Specific patient inclusion and exclusion criteria are presented given the significant toxicity found in certain sub-populations treated with radiation.Indeed,certain sub-populations,such as those with tumor thrombosis or those with larger lesions treated with transarterial chemoembolization,have been shown to have significant improvements in outcome with the addition of radiation and merit special consideration.Implementing a liver radiation programrequires three primary challenges to be addressed:(1) immobilization and motion management;(2) localization;and(3) dose regimen and constraint selection.Strategies to deal with motion include simple internal target volume(ITV) expansions,non-gated ITV reduction strategies,breath hold methods,and surrogate marker methods to enable gating or tracking.Localization of the tumor and organs-at-risk are addressed using contrast infusion techniques to take advantage of different normal liver and cancer vascular anatomy,imaging modalities,and margin management.Finally,a dose response has been demonstrated and dose regimens appear to be converging.A more uniform approach to treatment in terms of technique,dose selection and patient selection will allow us to study liver radiation in larger and,hopefully,multicenter randomized studies.     

The role of external beam radiotherapy in the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer

The role of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in treating thyroid cancer has brought forth controversy. Due to various histologic presentations and different natural histories, there is no uniform approach/recommendation among centers and/or authorities regarding the role of EBRT for thyroid cancer. This is particularly true for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) where the clinical course can range from a disease that is cured with simple surgery to an aggressive form of poorly differentiated thyroid cancer with high rates of recurrence/death from disease. In addition, because the majority of the patients with PTC undergo postoperative radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment, the question remains as to what is the exact role of EBRT for PTC in the setting of RAI treatment? In this issue of Endocrine-Related Cancer, Chow and colleagues identified indications for EBRT and RAI therapy for PTC based on a retrospective review of 1300 patients. The authors concluded that postoperative RAI treatment is indicated in patients with pT2-pT4, pN0-pN1b while postoperative EBRT is recommended for patients with gross residual, positive margin, pT4, pN1b, and lymph nodes>2 cm disease. Other centers have also published their experience on the value of EBRT for PTC but with different indications. The reasons for the variations from different centers are complex. However, when all published results are taken together, the findings confirm the added value of EBRT to the present management of PTC in a select group of patients, particularly those with high risk features. In this commentary, these issues will be discussed and recommendations regarding the role of EBRT will be given.     

Effect of intraoperative radiotherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy following internal drainage for advanced pancreatic carcinoma

AIM: To determine the survival of advanced pancreatic cancer patients treated with intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) combined with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) following internal drainage (cholecystojejunostomy or choledochojejunostomy). METHODS: Eighty-one patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who received IORT combined with EBRT following internal drainage (ID) between 1996 and 2001 were retrospectively analyzed. Among the 81 patients, 18 underwent ID+IORT, 25 ID+IORT+EBRT (meanwhile, given 5-Fu 300 mg/m(2) i.v. drip, 2f/w), 16 EBRT, 22 had undergone simple internal drainage. The IORT dose was 15-25Gy in a single fraction. The usual EBRT dose was 30-40Gy with a daily fraction of 1.8-2.0 Gy. RESULTS: The complete remission rate, partial remission rate of patients with backache and abdominal pain treated with ID+IORT were 55.5%, 33.3% respectively. Alleviation of pain was observed 2 or 3 wk after IORT. The median survival time (MST) of ID+IORT group was 10.7 mo. The pain remission rate of patients treated with ID+IORT+EBRT was 92%, and their MST was 12.2 mo. The MST of patients treated with EBRT and simple internal drainage was 5.1 mo and 7.0 mo, respectively. The survival curve of ID+IORT group and ID+IORT+EBRT group was significantly better than that of EBRT group (P<0.05). The difference between the ID+IORT+EBRT group and ID group was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: IORT combined with EBRT following internal drainage can alleviate pain, improve quality of life and prolong survival time of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.     

Successful treatment of a T1 cancer of the pancreatic head with high dose rate brachytherapy and external radiotherapy

In this report, a unique case of a localized (T1N0M0) adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas is presented, which was successfully treated with interstitial high dose rate brachytherapy combined with percutan irradiation after biopsy. A total dose of 18 Gy was delivered with brachytherapy (6 Gy per fraction on three consecutive days) to the tumor via after-loading catheter. Brachytherapy was followed by external radiotherapy, delivering an additional dose of 46 Gy (18 MV-x) with four-field technique using conventional fractionation (2 Gy/day). Thirty-six months after completion of the treatment the patient is alive with no evidence of disease. The combination of interstitial high dose rate brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy may be an effective tool to deliver curative dose without any significant sequelae in the treatment of operable pancreatic carcinoma, when the patient's condition contraindicates surgery.     

Lens-sparing external beam radiotherapy of intraocular metastases: our experiences with twenty four eyes

Occurrence of uveal metastases is higher, than the number of clinically diagnosed cases, furthermore all cases are not amenable to therapy. Treatment of primary cancer is permanently improving, as a result life prospective is better, with an increasing number of late distant metastases in an unusual location, as e.g. intraocular metastasis. As surgical approach is not suitable, and chemo/hormonal therapy often has a limited effect on intraocular dissemination, other treatment modalities are needed for the maintenance of visual acuity, and prevention of further deterioration of the quality of life. The study was made to evaluate the efficacy of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with lens-sparing techniques in the management of patients developing intraocular metastases (IOM). Between March 1994 and March 2002, 24 eyes of 17 patients with tumors metastatic to the eye were treated by EBRT. The female:male ratio was 8.5:1, age ranged between 37 and 74 years (mean: 56 years). The site of the primary tumor was: breast (11), lung (4) and others (2). The visual acuity at the beginning of irradiation was between 0.1-0.7 (mean 0.5) and a mean KPS of 60% was detected. The mean time elapsed from the diagnosis of primary tumor and recognition of metastasis was 38.9 months in case of breast, and 6.7 months in lung cancer. Eyes were treated by 6 MV photon beams, using a modified technique of Schipper's lens-sparing retinoblastoma treatment method. The following parameters were studied: visual acuity changes, local response rate, survival times from irradiation and ocular complications. Mean follow-up time was 24 months. Mean visual acuity improved two lines on the Snellen chart. The mean survival time after treatment of IOM was 21 months in breast and 4.9 months in lung cancer patients. Local response rate was 78%. No radiation cataract was observed. Only one patient developed radiation retinopathy 32 months after the treatment. External beam radiotherapy is recommended for the treatment of intraocular metastases to improve quality of life. In selected cases--especially breast cancer patients--lens-sparing technique is the treatment of choice.     

The effectiveness of external beam radiotherapy for acromegaly is not affected by previous pituitary ablative treatments

Thirty-three acromegalic patients were treated with radiotherapy and followed up for at least 3 years (mean 6 years, range 3 to 12). Seventeen had not had previous pituitary ablative therapy and 16 had. The mean GH level for these two groups before radiotherapy was comparable at 98 and 119 mIU/l. The observed frequency of reaching less than 10 mIU/l was 53% and 75% of patients in the two groups, respectively, the mean observed falls in growth hormone level were 81 and 85% of the initial level, and the calculated exponential decline rate of GH level was 72 and 52% per year. Considering all 35 patients, requirement for pituitary hormone replacement therapy increased from 15 patients before radiotherapy to 20 after radiotherapy, being mostly those who had had prior ablative therapies. There were no complications attributable to the radiotherapy treatment. It appears that radiotherapy is equally efficacious whether a prior unsuccessful ablative procedure had been used or not.     

Cardiac complications of thoracic radiotherapy]

The cardiac complications of radiotherapy have been reviewed in the light of 46 case histories collected from 16 treatment centres in France. They are usually found after radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease and carcinoma of the breast. Although histologically there may be diffuse fibrosis involving the endocardium, myocardium and pericardium, it is pericarditis which is the usual clinical feature. It often occurs late, and takes many forms. The dry constrictive fibrous type of pericarditis is the most severe because of the amount of myocardial fibrosis usually associated with it. It is rare for there to be clinical features of myocardial fibrosis, and if present they are variable: isolated disorders of repolarisation or of conduction, or true cardiomyopathies. Lesions of the coronary arteries are exceptionally rare after radiotherapy, and involve fibrosis of the intima or atherosclerosis.     

Neoadjuvant external beam radiation and proctectomy for adenocarcinoma of the rectum

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the survival rate, local failure, and perioperative morbidity in patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum undergoing curative proctectomy who were felt to have transmural disease on preoperative assessment. Eighty-nine percent of these patients were treated with preoperative external beam radiotherapy. METHODS: The records of 191 consecutive patients undergoing abdominal surgical procedures for primary treatment of rectal cancer were reviewed. The product-limit method (Kaplan-Meier) was used to analyze survival rate and tumor recurrence. RESULTS: One patient was excluded from survival analysis because of incomplete record of tumor stage. The study population comprised 109 males and 81 females, median age 64 (range, 33–91) years. Curative resection was performed in 152 of these 190 patients (80 percent), including low anterior resection with coloproctostomy or coloanal anastomosis (n=103), abdominoperineal resection (n=44), Hartmann's procedure (n = 4), and pelvic exenteration (n=1). Mean follow-up of patients undergoing curative resection was 96±48 months. Palliative procedures were performed in 38 of 190 patients (20 percent). Perioperative mortality was 0.5 percent (1/190). Complications occurred in 64 patients (34 percent). The anastomotic leak rate was 4 percent (5/128). Disease-free five-year survival rate by pathologic stage was as follows: Stage I, 90 percent; Stage II, 85 percent; Stage III, 54 percent; Stage IV, 0 percent; and no residual tumor, 90 percent. Of the 152 patients treated with curative resection, disease-free survival rate was 80 percent at five years. Preoperative external beam radiation was administered to 135 of these 152 patients (89 percent). Tumor recurred in 32 of 152 patients (21 percent) treated with curative resection. The predominant pattern of recurrence was distant failure only. Kaplan-Meier overall local recurrence (local and local plus distant) at five years was 6.6 percent. The local recurrence rate paralleled tumor stage: Stage I, 0 percent; Stage II, 6 percent; Stage III, 20 percent; and no residual tumor, 0 percent. CONCLUSION: Preoperative external beam radiotherapy and attention to mesorectal dissection can achieve low local recurrence and excellent long-term survival rate in patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Moreover, these goals can be obtained with low morbidity and mortality.Dr. Ogunbiyi was supported in part by grants from the Ronald Raven Traveling Fellowship of the British Association of Surgical Oncology, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Research Foundation International Traveling Fellowship, and the Royal College of Surgeons of England Ethicon Foundation Traveling Fellowship.Presented at the meeting of the Missouri Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, June 18 to 19, 1999.     

Radical external beam radiation therapy for adenocarcinoma of the rectum

External beam megavoltage radiation therapy was used as primary treatment for 123 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma. Surgery was undertaken for some patients who had residual tumor. The overall five-year survival rate was 21 per cent. When patients were separated into those who presented with clinically mobile and those with clinically fixed rectal tumor masses, the survival rates were 38 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively. The primary tumor was controlled by radiation alone in 21 of 56 (38 per cent) patients who had mobile tumors but in only six of 67 (9 per cent) patients who had fixed tumors. Further investigation of high-dose primary radiation, with surgery reserved for patients with residual rectal carcinoma, may allow reduction of the number of patients who require abdominoperineal resection. Secretarial and statistical service support was provided by a grant from the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.     

Treatment of thyroid ophthalmopathies by external orbital radiotherapy

From January, 1977, through December 1983, 62 patients with thyroid edematous ophthalmopathy were given external orbital radiotherapy according to S.S. Donaldson's technique: 5,5 MV photons produced by a linear accelerator were used to irradiate the muscular conus, with a total of 20 grays in 10 sessions over 2 weeks. Good results were obtained in 46 patients (77%). This simple therapy may be a first choice in recent ophthalmopathy.