Physician trajectories of abandoning long‐course breast radiotherapy and their cost impact

ObjectiveTo examine variation in trajectories of abandoning conventionally fractionated whole‐breast irradiation (CF‐WBI) for adjuvant breast radiotherapy among physician peer groups and the associated cost implications.Data SourcesMedicare claims data were obtained from the Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse for fee‐for‐service beneficiaries with breast cancer in 2011‐2014.Study DesignWe used social network methods to identify peer groups of physicians that shared patients. For each physician peer group in each time period (T1 = 2011‐2012 and T2 = 2013‐2014), we calculated a risk‐adjusted rate of CF‐WBI use among eligible women, after adjusting for patient clinical characteristics. We applied a latent class growth analysis to these risk‐adjusted rates to identify distinct trajectories of CF‐WBI use among physician peer groups. We further estimated potential savings to the Medicare program by accelerating abandonment of CF‐WBI in T2 using a simulation model.Data Collection/Extraction MethodsUse of conventionally fractionated whole‐breast irradiation was determined from Medicare claims among women ≥ 66 years of age who underwent adjuvant radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery.Principal FindingsAmong 215 physician peer groups caring for 16 988 patients, there were four distinct trajectories of abandoning CF‐WBI: (a) persistent high use (mean risk‐adjusted utilization rate: T1 = 94.3%, T2 = 90.6%); (b) decreased high use (T1 = 81.3%, T2 = 65.3%); (c) decreased medium use (T1 = 60.1%, T2 = 44.0%); and (d) decreased low use (T1 = 31.6%, T2 = 23.6%). Peer groups with a smaller proportion of patients treated at free‐standing radiation facilities and a larger proportion of physicians that were surgeons tended to follow trajectories with lower use of CF‐WBI. If all physician peer groups had practice patterns in T2 similar to those in the “decreased low use” trajectory, the Medicare program could save $83.3 million (95% confidence interval: $58.5 million‐$112.2 million).ConclusionsPhysician peer groups had distinct trajectories of abandoning CF‐WBI. Physician composition and setting of radiotherapy were associated with the different trajectories. Distinct practice patterns across the trajectories had important cost implications.     

3种配准方式下肺癌图像引导放射治疗摆位误差的比较

目的研究滑轨CT不同配准方式对肺癌大分割调强放疗摆位误差的影响。方法选取2016年10月至2017年10月在安徽医科大学第一附属医院放疗科就诊的肺癌患者24例,每周行滑轨CT扫描所得图像与原计划图像行灰度、骨性、手动3种模式在线配准,得出X、Y、Z轴3个方向平移误差,并进行统计分析。结果灰度配准、骨性配准和手动配准方式测量的X、Y、Z轴摆位误差分别为(0. 21±0. 16)、(0. 29±0. 15)、(0. 37±0. 22) cm,(0. 27±0. 16)、(0. 35±0. 25)、(0. 29±0. 19) cm,(0. 18±0. 12)、(0. 28±0. 16)、(0. 23±0. 14) cm,结果显示Y轴平移误差最大,其次为X轴,Z轴最小,且3组数据的差异有统计学意义(P <0. 05)。其中灰度模式在X、Y、Z轴上平移误差较骨性模式均缩小,灰度模式在X、Z轴上平移误差较手动模式有所缩小,差异有统计学意义(P <0. 05)。结论肺癌患者行图像引导大分割调强放疗时,应用滑轨CT中的灰度模式可缩小摆位误差。     

三维适形低分割高剂量放射治疗非小细胞肺癌的临床探讨

目的：观察非小细胞肺癌行三维适形低分割高剂量放射治疗的疗效与并发症,探讨适合的分割模式和照射剂量。方法：回顾性分析682例非小细胞肺癌,采用三维适形放射治疗,90％-95％的剂量曲线覆盖胛V,单次分割剂量5Gy,1次／日或隔日,3—5次／周,DT50～70Gy／10—14次,中位照射剂量60Gy／12次,等效生物剂量88—90Gy。结果：682例患者中,完全缓解（CR）87例（12．8％）,部分缓解（PR）561例（82．2％）,总有效率（CR＋PR）为95％,其中111级以上放射性肺炎发生率5．2％（36／682）,未出现明显的放射性食管炎。结论：非小细胞肺癌采用三维适形低分割高剂量放射治疗（5Gy／次,每周3—5次,中位照射剂量60Gy／12次）,是相对安全的;而且局部控制率高,有较好的近期疗效,并发症低,值得推广使用。     

Hypofractionated Concomitant Chemoradiation in Inoperable Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Report on 100 Patients and a Systematic Review

Aims

Concomitant chemoradiation is the standard of care in patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to analyse the survival outcome and toxicity data of using hypofractionated chemoradiation.

体部大分割放射治疗肝转移癌疗效及安全性

目的 分析应用体部大分割放疗技术治疗肝转移癌的疗效及安全性。方法 回顾性分析2007-2016年间本院收治的行体部大分割放疗的45例肝转移癌患者的病历资料。其中男20例,女25例,中位年龄58岁(25~83岁),中位KPS=80。原发肿瘤部位以结直肠癌(14例)、乳腺癌(9例)和肺癌(6例)为主。观察并分析体部大分割放疗后的效果和不良反应。结果 中位随访时间为23.5个月,中位生存期26.0个月(95%CI为21.4~30.6)。45例患者中21例发生肝外转移,共治疗52个肝转移病灶,行1个病灶放疗者34例。剂量分割为45 Gy分3次、60 Gy分10~15次。中位GTV和PTV分别为 10.1 cm³(0.3~175.2 cm³)和29.8 cm³(5.0~209.6 cm³)。17例患者的肝脏CT图像与MRI图像融合,43例患者采用IMRT技术。中位PTV剂量为60 Gy (40~60 Gy),BED为90 Gy (60~132 Gy)。放疗后1年肿瘤局部控制率、无瘤生存率和总生存率分别为94%、27%和91%。末次随访时,6例患者病死于肝转移和肝功能异常。结论 体部大分割放疗对肝转移癌是安全有效的。     

三维适形低分割高剂量放射治疗非小细胞肺癌的临床探讨

目的:观察非小细胞肺癌行三维适形低分割高剂量放射治疗的疗效与并发症,探讨适合的分割模式和照射剂量。方法:回顾性分析682例非小细胞肺癌,采用三维适形放射治疗,90%-95%的剂量曲线覆盖PTV,单次分割剂量5Gy,1次/日或隔日,3-5次/周,DT50-70Gy/10-14次,中位照射剂量60Gy/12次,等效生物剂量88-90Gy。结果:682例患者中,完全缓解(CR)87例(12.8%),部分缓解(PR)561例(82.2%),总有效率(CR+PR)为95%,其中III级以上放射性肺炎发生率5.2%(36/682),未出现明显的放射性食管炎。结论:非小细胞肺癌采用三维适形低分割高剂量放射治疗(5Gy/次,每周3-5次,中位照射剂量60Gy/12次),是相对安全的;而且局部控制率高,有较好的近期疗效,并发症低,值得推广使用。     

Dosimetric feasibility on hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy and simultaneous integrated boost for locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer with helical tomotherapy

BackgroundThis dosimetric study on locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and the surrounding gastrointestinal organs at risk (OARs) aimed at exploring the potential of further improving the internal dose and reducing the fractionation number by concurrent hypofractionated simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) radiotherapy using helical tomotherapy (HT).MethodsWe collected computed tomography positioning images from a LAPC study of 17 consecutive patients. Gross tumor volume (GTV)1, GTV2, and GTV3 were defined as the GTV minus a margin of 3, 6, and 9 mm from the external part in all directions, respectively. Under the same physical parameters and limited dose on normal organs, each case had 4 sets of SIB radiotherapy plans. Upon dose escalation, we statistically analyzed the difference of dosimetric parameters received by the OARs between group A [planning target volume (PTV)/GTV=50 Gy/70 Gy] and the other groups. According to the equivalent bioradiotherapy formula, we calculated the hypofractionated standard dose by converting the average tolerated dose of each OAR with the corresponding number of fractions. Then, we compared the dose and volume parameters of the gastrointestinal tract from the less-than-20-fraction modes with the corresponding gastrointestinal hypofractionated standard dose.ResultsFor dose escalation, although there were a few differences in the parameters of the OAR between group A and group D, all OAR doses of group D (PTV/GTV/GTV1/GTV2/GTV3=50 Gy/70 Gy/80 Gy/90 Gy/100 Gy) were within the limited dose range. In the hypofractionated mode, there was a statistically significant difference between the gastrointestinal dose-volume parameters and the dose-limiting reference standard when the fraction number was less than 14 or 15 for group A or D, respectively.ConclusionsThe dose of the internal target can be increased to 100 Gy with 15 fractions in the hypofractionated SIB radiotherapy for LAPC with HT. The corresponding tolerance dose of OARs may also be acceptable.     

PET/CT引导低分割放疗治疗老年晚期非小细胞肺癌临床观察

目的:探讨在PET/CT引导下低分割放疗治疗老年晚期非小细胞肺癌的临床疗效。方法:收集采用PET/CT定位,接受胸部放疗老年晚期非小细胞肺癌23例,单次分割剂量2.5Gy,5次/周,总剂量35Gy-55Gy。结果:随访2-24个月,随访率1 0 0%;放射性食管炎发生率4 3.5%,Ⅰ、Ⅱ级放射性肺炎发生率21.7%;肺部病灶近期疗效:CR 17.4%、PR 52.2%、NC 17.4%、PD 13.0%;1年生存率47.8%,2年生存率8.7%。结论:PET/CT引导下低分割三维适形放疗治疗老年晚期非小细胞肺癌疗效确切,毒副反应尚可耐受。     

A Phase II Toxicity End Point Trial (ICORG 99-09) of Accelerated Dose-escalated Hypofractionated Radiation in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Aims

The objective of this phase II clinical trial was to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of accelerated hypofractionated three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) in localised non-resectable/non-operable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).