Computed tomography-guided brachytherapy for liver cancer

Limitations of thermal liver cancer ablation have led to the development of percutaneous, catheter-based brachytherapy for the treatment of liver malignancies. Computed tomography (CT)-guided brachytherapy has been used to treat primary and metastatic liver cancers, including very large tumors >10 cm. Cooling effects by adjacent blood vessels are not a concern in brachytherapy, and the method may be used safely in tumors unsuitable for thermal ablation that are close to the liver hilum due to the relatively high radiation tolerance of bile duct. CT scanning is used for dosimetry planning after catheter implantation and also to guide the catheter placement itself. Major complications, including postinterventional bleeding, are rare despite frequent application of this technique in a salvage situation. Patients with liver cirrhosis have an increased risk for complications. Prospective trials of CT-guided brachytherapy have been performed with promising survival rates for liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma, respectively. In this article, the radiobiological and technical properties of CT-guided brachytherapy, appropriate patients for treatment, and prospective trials that have been published to date are reviewed.     

Radiation therapy for primary carcinoma of the extrahepatic biliary system. An analysis of 63 cases

From 1976 to 1988, 63 patients received radiation therapy for primary cancers of the extrahepatic biliary system (eight gallbladder and 55 extrahepatic biliary duct). Twelve patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. Chemotherapy was administered to 13 patients. Three patients underwent intraluminal brachytherapy alone (range, 28 to 55 Gy). Sixty patients received megavoltage external-beam radiation therapy (range, 5.4 to 61.6 Gy; median, 45 Gy), of whom nine received additional intraluminal brachytherapy (range, 14 to 45 Gy; median, 30 Gy). The median survival of all patients was 7 months. Sixty patients died, all within 39 months of radiation therapy. One patient is alive 11 months after irradiation without surgical resection, and two are alive 50 months after liver transplantation and irradiation. Symptomatic duodenal ulcers developed after radiation therapy in seven patients but were not significantly related to any clinical variable tested. Extrahepatic biliary duct cancers, the absence of metastases, increasing calendar year of treatment, and liver transplantation with postoperative radiation therapy were factors significantly associated with improved survival.     

Computed tomography-guided salvage brachytherapy of recurrent large nonresectable familial colo-rectal cancer in the pelvis: case report

Here we present the first reported case of three-dimensional CT-guided salvage brachytherapy of recurring colorectal cancer in the pelvis after failed radiation therapy, total colectomy, and chemotherapy. Initial CEA was 67.0 ng/mL and tumor volume 93 cm3 with no metastasis outside the pelvis. A total of 333 seeds of Iodine-125 were delivered to the entire target, with dosage of 150 to 200 Gy as calculated by post-implant CT dosimetry with Varian MMS software. CEA 12 months after implant decreased to 5.7 ng/mL. Clinical and biochemical results are encouraging; however long-term data in a greater universe of patients are required.     

Multi-institutional randomized trial of external radiotherapy with and without intraluminal brachytherapy for esophageal cancer in Japan. Japanese Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (JASTRO) Study Group.

PURPOSE: With the aim of improving the results of treatment of esophageal cancer, we designed this multi-institutional, randomized trial to establish the optimal irradiation method in radical radiation therapy for esophageal cancer by clinically evaluating external irradiation alone and in combination with intraluminal brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The study population consisted of patients with squamous cell carcinoma who were expected to be successfully treated with radical radiation therapy. The patients who could be given intraluminal brachytherapy at the end of external irradiation of 60 Gy were stratified into 2 groups. Patients assigned to receive external irradiation alone received boost irradiation of 10 Gy/week on a schedule similar to the previous one, and with the same or smaller irradiation field. Intraluminal brachytherapy was performed, as a rule, with the reference dose point set at a depth of 5 mm of the esophageal submucosa, and a total of 10 Gy was irradiated at a daily dose of 5 Gy, on a once-weekly schedule with low-dose-rate or high-dose-rate brachytherapy equipment. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were registered, 94 of whom were analyzable, with 8 ineligible, and 1 for whom complete information was unavailable. The overall cumulative survival rate was 20.3% at 5 years. The cause-specific survival rate was 31.8% at 5 years. The cause-specific survival rate at 5 years was 27% in the external irradiation alone group and 38% in intraluminal brachytherapy combined group. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (p = 0.385). However, in the patients with 5 cm or less tumor length, the cause-specific survival rate was 64% at 5 years in the intraluminal brachytherapy combined group, which showed a significant improvement over 31.5% in the external irradiation alone group (p = 0.025). In the patients with Stage T1 and T2 disease, cause-specific survival rates tended to be better in the intraluminal brachytherapy combined group than in the external irradiation alone group (p = 0.088). In the patients with more than 5 cm tumor length or Stage T3-4 disease, there were no significant differences between the two groups by treatment methods (p = 0.290). The incidence of early and late complications did not differ according to whether intraluminal brachytherapy was used. CONCLUSION: For the purpose of establishing the usefulness of intraluminal brachytherapy, further prospective randomized studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy in tumors with short length and those with shallow invasion, or to assess the usefulness of intraluminal brachytherapy, as additional irradiation in large advanced tumors have been shown to have disappeared by diagnostic imaging after chemoradiotherapy with 60 Gy/6w external irradiation.     

MR加速器在肝脏肿瘤放疗中的临床应用北大核心CSCD

目的初步探讨MR加速器在肝脏肿瘤中的应用流程、疗效及安全性。方法回顾性分析2019—2021年15例采用MR加速器治疗的肝脏肿瘤患者的临床数据, 探讨肝脏肿瘤采用MR加速器治疗的流程, 分析患者肿瘤的图像识别率、疗效及不良反应。结果全组15例患者中肝细胞癌6例、结直肠癌肝转移8例、乳腺癌肝转移1例;肝内1个病灶10例、2个病灶4例、3个病灶1例;中位肿瘤最长径2.4 cm (0.8~9.8 cm)。MR加速器大体肿瘤体积(GTV)识别率达13/15, 2例患者GTV显示不清, 采用肿瘤周边大血管或胆管识别辅助仍可达精准配准。全组患者均接受体部立体定向放疗。肝细胞癌患者中位分割次数9次(5~10次), GTV或计划靶体积(PGTV)中位单次剂量6 Gy (5~10 Gy), 中位总剂量52 Gy (50~54 Gy), α/β=10的中位2 Gy等效剂量(EQD2Gy)为72 Gy (62.5~83.3 Gy)。肝转移瘤患者中位分割次数10次(5~10次), GTV或PGTV的中位单次剂量5 Gy (5~10 Gy), 中位总剂量50 Gy (40~50 Gy), α/β=5的中位EQD2Gy为71.4 Gy (71.4~107.1 Gy)。放疗后1个月野内总有效率8/13, 疾病控制率13/13, 放疗后3~6个月野内总有效率6/6。全组患者中位随访4.0个月(0.3~11.6个月), 4个月局部无进展生存、无进展生存和总生存分别为15/15、11/15和15/15。放疗不良反应轻微, 未见≥3级不良反应。结论 MR加速器对肝内肿瘤显示率高, 且可通过周边大血管或胆管的显示辅助精准配准, 在肝脏肿瘤的精准治疗上初步展现优势, 局部疗效肯定, 耐受性好。     

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma--feasibility and clinical impact of high-dose-rate brachytherapy on the treatment of lesions growing into biliary trees, portal veins and the vena cava]

This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility and clinical impact of intraluminal and endovascular high-dose-rate iridium-192 brachytherapy on the treatment of HCC lesions growing into biliary trees, portal veins and the inferior vena cava. HCCs involving biliary trees in 2 patients, the main and/or first-order portal veins in 3 patients, and the inferior vena cava in 2 patients. Brachytherapy was percutaneously performed with a 5F applicator, which was placed adjacent to the lesions. A mean total dose of 23 Gy (range, 5-7 Gy/fr) was irradiated (at a 5 mm radius) to the biliary or the portal venous tumors. A total dose of 10 Gy (5 Gy/fr) was given to the caval tumors. External-beam radiotherapy was combined in 2 patients with caval lesions, stent placement in 2 patients with biliary lesions and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in 5 patients. There was no major complication except hemobilia, which ceased after placing a PTCD tube in the bile duct in one patient. All tumors were significantly reduced in size and remained controlled during the period of patients' survival. Complete tumor necrosis was histologically proved in 2 autopsy cases having biliary lesions. The median survival was 13 months. Intraluminal and endovascular high-dose-rate brachytherapy appears to be a feasible, and effective procedure to treat advanced HCCs invading biliary trees, portal veins and the vena cava.     

经导管~(192)Ir近距离放射治疗局部晚期肝门部胆管癌

目的：观察局部晚期肝门部胆管癌姑息性引流术后１９２Ｉｒ腔内放疗的疗效。方法：先行手术探查尽可能刮除肿瘤并放置Ｕ型管引流，术后再经导管腔内放疗。参考点距离放射源中心轴１０ｍｍ，总量２４～３０Ｇｙ／３次。３例配合肝动脉区域性灌注化疗，１例配合外照射ＤＴ４５Ｇｙ／４．５周。结果：生存期６～２６个月，中位生存期１１．５月。１５例死亡，１例目前存活８个月。全组１年生存率３７．５％，２年生存率６．０％，结论：局部晚期肝门部胆管癌姑息性引流术后腔内放疗可提高生存期及生活质量     

Clinical efficacy of brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy and repeated arterial infusion chemotherapy in patients with unresectable extrahepatic bile duct cancer.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy and repeated arterial infusion chemotherapy in improving stent patency and prognosis in patients with unresectable bile duct cancer as compared with brachytherapy alone. Seventeen patients were treated. Five patients received brachytherapy alone before stent placement. Twelve patients received brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy (n=5), repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy using an implanted catheter and port (n=1), or both (n=6). Mean survival was significantly improved in the group that received combined therapy as compared with the group that received brachytherapy alone (16.2 months vs. 4.6 months, p<0.01). Although stent occlusion rates were similar in the two groups (42% vs. 40%), there was a trend towards longer stent patency in the combined therapy group than in the brachytherapy group (22 months vs. 3.6 months, p<0.2). Radiation gastritis necessitating gastrectomy developed in 1 patient who received external-beam radiotherapy at more than 50 Gy. Brachytherapy combined with external-beam radiotherapy and repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy increases survival compared with brachytherapy alone in patients with unresectable bile duct cancer.     

Anal canal carcinoma: early-stage tumors < or =10 mm (T1 or Tis): therapeutic options and original pattern of local failure after radiotherapy

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical history, management, and pattern of recurrence of very early-stage anal canal cancer in a French retrospective survey. METHODS: The study group consisted of 69 patients with Stage Tis and T1 anal canal carcinoma < or =1 cm treated between 1990 and 2000 (12 were in situ, 57 invasive, 66 Stage N0, and 3 Stage N1). The median patient age was 67 years (range, 27-83 years). Of the 69 patients, 66 received radiotherapy (RT) and 3 with in situ disease were treated by local excision alone without RT. Twenty-six patients underwent local excision before RT (12 with negative and 14 with positive surgical margins). Of the 66 patients who underwent RT, 8 underwent brachytherapy alone (median dose, 55 Gy), 38 underwent external beam RT (median dose, 45 Gy) plus a brachytherapy boost (median boost dose, 20 Gy), and 20 underwent external beam RT alone (median dose, 55 Gy). RESULTS: Of the 69 patients, 68 had initial local control. Of the 66 patients treated by RT, 6 developed local recurrence at a median interval of 50 months (range, 13-78 months). Four patients developed local failure outside the initial tumor bed. Of the 3 patients with Tis treated by excision alone, 1 developed local recurrence. No relation was found among prior excision, dose, and local failure. The 5-year overall survival, colostomy-free survival, and disease-free survival rate was 94%, 85%, and 89%, respectively. The rate of late complications (Grade 1-3) was 28% and was 14% for those who received doses <60 Gy and 37% for those who received doses of > or =60 Gy (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Most recurrences occurred after a long disease-free interval after treatment and often outside the initial tumor site. These small anal cancers could be treated by RT using a small volume and moderate dose (40-50 Gy for subclinical lesions and 50-60 Gy for T1).     

局部晚期宫颈癌CT引导组织间插植BT与腔内BT剂量学与近期疗效比较

目的 探讨CT引导下组织间插植BT技术较传统腔内BT技术在局部晚期宫颈癌治疗中的剂量学优势,提供一种更加有利的临床治疗方法。方法 28例经过体外放疗后仍残留巨大肿块(肿瘤> 5 cm)的局部晚期宫颈癌患者接受CT引导下的组织间插植BT。将该研究的剂量学结果,包括总剂量(体外放疗和BT)的HR-CTV D90和膀胱、直肠及乙状结肠的D2cc,与之前一组接受传统腔内BT (宫腔管+卵圆体对)的30例患者进行比较分析。结果 HR-CTV D90的平均值在腔内BT组、组织间插植BT组分别为(76.9±5.7)、(88.1±3.3) Gy。膀胱、直肠、乙状结肠D2cc在腔内BT组和组织间插植BT组中分别为(84.7±6.8)、(69.2±4.2)、(67.8±4.5) Gy 和(81.8±6.5)、(66.8±4.0)、(64.8±4.1) Gy。1年LC率在腔内BT组和组织间插植BT组分别为59.3%和85.2%。结论 与传统腔内BT相比较,CT引导下组织间插植BT技术具有剂量学优势或许是临床可行的,但长期疗效和不良反应还需进一步评估。     

Pulse dose-rate brachytherapy and treatment of uterine cervix cancer: impact of a 3D or a 2D dosimetric support]

PURPOSE: To evaluate two dosimetric supports used in pulse dose rate brachytherapy (PDR): coverage of target volumes, dose to organs at risk, residual tumor after surgery, survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients treated for uterine cervix tumor first by brachytherapy PDR had a dosimetric CT-scan after implantation. For 9 patients, the treatment was planned from standard radiographies and then reported on CT-scan images. For 11 patients, it was directly planned from CT-scan. Six weeks after, 18 patients underwent surgery. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 22 months, 2 year actuarial survival was 89%. Six patients developed grade II urinary or gynecological complications (LENT SOMA scale). No residual tumor was found for 12 patients (7 with a 3D treatment and 5 a 2 D treatment). Ninety-five percent of CTVHR received 53 Gy (2D treatment) or 63 Gy (3D treatment). Two cm3 of bladder wall received 63 Gy (2D) or 74 Gy (3D) although 2 cm3 of rectal wall received 37 Gy (2D) and 35 Gy (3D). CONCLUSION: Using CT-scan made us improve the coverage of the uterine cervix but increase the dose received by the bladder, without increasing the rate of histological remission after surgery. We should be prudent before changing our practice.     

FDG-PET imaging for the assessment of physiologic volume response during radiotherapy in cervix cancer

PURPOSE: To evaluate the physiologic tumor volume response during treatment in cervical cancer using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of 32 patients. Physiologic tumor volume in cubic centimeters was determined from the FDG-PET images using the 40% threshold method. RESULTS: The mean pretreatment tumor volume was 102 cm3. The mean volume by clinical Stages I, II, and III were 54, 79, and 176 cm3, respectively. After 19.8 Gy external irradiation to the pelvis, the reduction in tumor volume was 29% (72 cm3). An additional 13 Gy from high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy reduced the mean volume to 15.4 cm3, and this was subsequently reduced to 8.6 cm3 with 13 Gy additional HDR brachytherapy (26 Gy, HDR). Four patients had physiologic FDG uptake in the cervix at 3 months after the completion of therapy. The mean time to the 50% reduction in physiologic tumor volume was 19.9 days and after combined external irradiation and HDR to 24.9 Gy. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that physiologic tumor volume determination by FDG-PET is feasible and that a 50% physiologic tumor volume reduction occurs within 20 days of starting therapy.     

High Dose Rate Cobalt-60 Afterloading Intracavitary Therapy for Cervical Carcinoma in Srinagarind Hospital - Analysis of Survival

Objective: To evaluate the actuarial survival rates in uterine cervical cancer patients treated with teletherapycombined with high dose rate (HDR) cobalt-60 brachytherapy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective studyof uterine cervical cancer patients, stages IB-IVB (International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetriciansrecommendations or FIGO), treated by radiotherapy alone between April 1986 and December 1988 wasconducted. The patients were treated with teletherapy 50Gy/25 fractions, five fractions per week to the wholepelvis, together with HDR cobalt-60 afterloading brachytherapy of 850 cGy/ fraction, weekly to point A for 2fractions. Results:The study analysed the records of 141 patients with uterine cervical cancer with a mean ageof 50.0 years (range 30-78). The mean tumor size was 4.1 cm in diameter (range 1-8). Mean follow-up time was2.94 years (range 1 month - 6.92 years). The 5 year actuarial survival rates for patients with small size tumorsless than 2 cm in diameter and tumor sizes larger than 2 cm in diameter were 100% and 63.2%. The overall 5year survival rate was 63.3%. For cancer stages IB, IIB, IIIA and IIIB they were 100%, 80.3%, 100% and 54.8%and for squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were 58.3% and 31.2%. Conclusion: Combined HDRcobalt-60 brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy provide a useful modality in the treatment of uterinecervical cancer, feasible for developing countries. The approach demonstrated a slightly elevated radiationmorbidity but was most effective in early stages and with small tumor sizes less than 2 cm in diameter.     

手术联合~(125)I粒子永久性植入治疗肝癌的临床研究

目的:评价术中联合放射性125I粒子植入治疗原发性及继发性肝癌的安全性、疗效及剂量.方法: 48例术前评估有手术指征的肝癌患者用计算机三维治疗计划系统术前或术中制定治疗计划,术中依据所制定的剂量,应用瘤体内植入或平面插植技术将125I粒子永久性植入,平均每例26粒,肿瘤匹配周边剂量为90-120Gy,术后验证和质量评估;观察治疗前后病人血象、免疫指标、临床症状、脏器功能(ALT、AST)、肿瘤标记物(AFP、CEA)、肿瘤影像学(CT)等的变化.结果: 中位随访期23个月 ,瘤体积≤20cc者治疗有效率 75.6%,瘤体积21-64cc者有效率69.6%,1、2、3年生存率分别为72.9 %、47.9 %、25.0 %;术前、术后1周及术后3个月血象虽有显著差异,但均在正常范围,免疫指标前后变化无统计学意义;治疗后病人临床症状缓解率为93.2%(41/44),ALT、AST由异常降至正常水平者占80.0%(32/40),AFP、CEA降低超过原数值50%者占75.0%(15/20)、73.1%(19/26);无相关死亡,无放射相关严重并发症;术后验证和质量评估满意.结论: 术中联合放射性125I粒子植入治疗原发性及继发性肝癌疗效显著、方法简便、使用安全,采用粒子活度0.5-0.8mCi、肿瘤匹配周边剂量90-120Gy合理可行.     

局部晚期宫颈癌CT图像引导下192Ir三维腔内后装治疗剂量体积参数与疗效关系

目的 观察CT图像引导下192Ir三维腔内后装治疗的肿瘤靶区及危及器官受照射体积剂量参数与肿瘤局部控制率及晚期副反应之间关系.方法 10例局部晚期宫颈癌患者在完成盆腔外照射40 Gy及同期化疗后开始每周1次的CT图像引导下192Ir三维腔内后装治疗,每次治疗前进行CT扫描定位,勾画肿瘤靶区(GTV、CTV)和危及器官,利用PLATO治疗计划系统进行逆向治疗计划设计及优化,CTV单次处方剂量为6 Gy,治疗5～7次.结果 1年盆腔控制率为90%,1～2级放射性肠炎发生率为50%,无≥3级副反应.90%CTV等效生物剂量(BED)和相当于2 Gy分次的等效剂量(EQD2)分别为(95.50±7.81)Gy和(79.73±6.57)Gy(α/β=10).90%GTV的BED和EQD2分别为(101.86±7.27)Gy和(84.95±6.1)Gy(α/β=10).90%处方剂量对GTV、CTV的覆盖率分别为92%±4%、87%±7%.直肠、乙状结肠2 cm3体积受到的最小照射剂量分别为(74.97±1.64)、(67.93±4.30)Gy(EQD2,α/β=3).与二维治疗计划相比,三维治疗计划在没有改变A点剂量、直肠参考点剂量情况下提高了GTV、CTV的90%体积受照射剂量及90%处方剂量对GTV、CTV的覆盖率.结论 CT图像引导下192Ir三维腔内后装治疗提高了处方剂量对肿瘤靶区的覆盖率,1年盆腔控制率为90%且无严重副反应,远期疗效观察中.

Abstract：

Objective To investigate the correlation between dose volume histogram(DVH)of tumor targets and organs at risk(OAR)at CT-image based 192Ir brachytherapy and effects and complications for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Methods Ten patients with FIGO stage ⅢB cervical cancer received CT image-based 192Ir intracavitary brachytherapy after 54 Gy of three-dimentional four-field pelvic external beam radiotherapy and concurrent weekly cisplatin chemotherapy. Before each brachytherapy,CT images were acquired with applicators in place. Gross tumor volume(GTV), clinical target volume (CTV)and OAR were contoured and inverse treatment planning was designed and optimized by using PLATO treatment planning system. Conventional two-dimensional plans were also designed for comparison.The total intracavitary brachytherapy dose was 30 -42 Gy in 5 -7 fractions. The patients were followed, and the local control and complications were analyzed. The biologically equivalent dose(BED)and biologically equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions(BED2)for GTV, CTV and OAR were calculated. The minimum dose in the most irradiated tissue volume 2 cm3(D2 cm3)adjacent to the applicator of the sigmoid colon, rectum,bladder and small bowel was determined from the DVH. Results The 1-year local pelvic control rate was 90% and grade 1-2 late complication of sigmoid colon and rectum was 50%. No grade 3 or more complications developed. On CT-image based planning, the BED and BED2 to 90% of the CTV(D90)were 95.50 Gy ± 7. 81 Gy and 79. 73 Gy ± 6. 57 Gy. The BED and BED2 to 90% of the GTV(D90)were 101.86 Gy ± 7.27 Gy and 84. 95 Gy ± 6. 1 Gy. The volume enclosed by 90% of prescribed dose(V90)for GTV and CTV were 92% ±4% and 87% ±7% respectively. The D2cm3 for rectum and sigmoid colon were 74. 97 Gy ±1.64 Gy and 67. 93 Gy ± 4. 30 Gy(EQD2, α/β = 3). Comparing with 2D brachytherapy plans , CT - image based planning has improved D90 and V90 for GTV and CTV with similar dose at point A and rectum reference point. Conclusions Computer tomography-image based 192Ir brachytherapy has resulted in the better dose distribution to the tumor targets with excellent tumor control and acceptable toxicity.     

Combined modality treatment in unresectable extrahepatic biliary carcinoma

PURPOSE: Cancers of the extrahepatic biliary tract are rare. Surgical resection is considered the standard treatment, but is rarely feasible. Several reports of combined modality therapy, including external beam radiation, often combined with chemotherapy and intraluminal brachytherapy, have been published. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chemoradiation plus intraluminal brachytherapy on response, local control, survival, and symptom relief in patients with unresectable or residual extrahepatic biliary carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From February 1991 to December 1997, 20 patients (14 male, 6 female; mean age 61 +/- 12 years; median follow-up 71 months) with unresectable (16 patients) or residual (4 patients), nonmetastatic extrahepatic bile tumors (common bile duct, 8; gallbladder, 1; Klatskin, 11) received external beam radiation (39.6-50.4 Gy); in 19 patients, 5-fluorouracil (96-h continuous infusion, days 1-4 at 1,000 mg/m(2)/day) was also administered. Twelve patients received a boost by intraluminal brachytherapy using (192)Ir wires of 30-50 Gy, prescribed 1 cm from the source axis. RESULTS: During external beam radiotherapy, 8 patients (40%) developed grade 1-2 gastrointestinal toxicity. Four patients treated with external-beam plus intraluminal brachytherapy had a clinical response (2 partial, 2 complete) after treatment. For the total patient group, the median survival and time to local progression was 21.2 and 33.1 months, respectively. Distant metastasis occurred in 10 (50%) patients. Two patients who received external beam radiation plus intraluminal brachytherapy developed late duodenal ulceration. Two patients with unresectable disease survived more than 5 years. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that chemoradiation plus intraluminal brachytherapy was relatively well-tolerated, and resulted in reasonable local control and median survival. Further follow-up and additional research is needed to determine the ultimate efficacy of this regimen. New chemoradiation combinations and/or new treatment strategies (neoadjuvant chemoradiation) may contribute, in the future, to improve these results.     

MR-guided laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) of liver tumours: experimental and clinical data

MR-guided laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT) is a percutaneous, minimally invasive treatment modality for treating liver lesions/metastases, soft tissue tumours and musculoskeletal lesions. In this group, MR-guided LITT is currently performed under local anaesthesia on an out-patient basis with a specially designed saline-cooled laser application system. Nd:YAG laser (1064?nm wave length) was used for tumour ablation. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using both open and closed MR units has proven clinically effective in validating the exact positioning of optical fibres. It also allows for real time-monitoring of thermal effects and the evaluation of treatment-induced coagulation necrosis. In liver tumours, percutaneous MR-guided LITT achieves a local tumour control rate of 98.7% at 3 months post-therapy and 97.3% at 6 months with metastases smaller than 5?cm in diameter. The mean survival rate for 1259 patients with 3440 metastases treated with 14 694 laser applications at the institute (calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method) was 4.4 years (95% confidence interval: 4.1–4.8?years) and median survival was 3.00 years. No statistically significant difference in survival rates was observed in patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer vs metastases from other primary tumours. The rate of clinically relevant side effects and complications requiring secondary treatment was 2.2%. The clinical use of MR guided LITT (size<5?cm, number<5) is justified in patients with liver metastases of colorectal and/or breast cancers if the inclusion criteria are carefully observed. Further indications for MR guided LITT include recurrent cancer lesions in the head and neck, lung metastases and bone and soft tissue lesions.     

28例不能手术的肝外胆道系统肿瘤放化疗疗效分析

目的 评价放疗晚期肝外胆道系统肿瘤的疗效。方法 对28例手术不可切除的肝外胆道系统肿瘤采用放化疗，其中胆囊癌13例，肝外胆管癌15例。15例采用常规放疗，中位照射剂量45Gy（30～60Gy），13例采用三维适形放疗（3DcRT）多野（3～5个野）照射或加量，中位照射剂量55Gy（50～70Gy）。12例单纯放疗，16例放化结合。化疗方案为氟尿嘧啶500mg，2次／周，或氟尿嘧啶500mg＋顺铂30mg，1次／周，疗程3～6个周期。结果 全部患者近期有效率14％。全组中位生存期9．4个月（2～28个月）。1、2年生存率分别为38％、15％；其中1年生存率胆囊癌为46％，肝外胆管癌为27％，3DCRT为42％，常规放疗为33％，单纯放疗为37％，放疗＋化疗为31％；〈50Gy的为29％，≥50Gy的为45％。只有照射剂量（≥50Gy）对1年生存率有影响（X^2=5．31，P=0．023）。急性消化道反应1～2级为57％，3级为18％，仅有25％的出现1～2级血液毒性反应。结论 对晚期肝外胆道系统肿瘤采用放化疗可取得一定疗效，且副作用可耐受。