RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The effect of the treatment of anal cancer by performing a high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy boost during a short split between the external beam radiotherapy series (EBR) +/- chemotherapy was investigated. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty-nine patients with anal canal cancers, stages T1-T4 N0-2 M0, were treated with split-course EBR (50-50.4 Gy) and a Iridium 192 ((192)Ir-) HDR boost (6 Gy) performed during the 1-2-week split. Patients who failed to achieve a complete tumor response received additional brachytherapy. Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C was offered to patients with tumors > 3 cm and employed concomitantly on days 1-5 and day 1, respectively, of each EBR series. RESULTS: Follow-up ranged from 3 to 140 months (median 31). Median treatment duration was 56 days. The 3-year (5-year) actuarial rates of locoregional control (LRC) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were 81% (76%) and 80% (76%), respectively. The crude rate of anal preservation was 77% overall, and 97% in patients in whom LRC was achieved. Uncompromised anal function was recorded in 93% of these patients. The actuarial 3-year (5-year) rate of colostomy-free survival (CFS) was 78% (73%). There was a statistically significant difference in LRC and DSS according to stage, tumor size, and nodal status. Complications requiring surgical intervention occurred in 7.6% of patients. CONCLUSION: The integration of the HDR boost in a split-course EBR regimen +/- chemotherapy resulted in excellent sphincter function without an increase of severe complications and with rates of LRC, DSS, and CFS, which compare favorably with those reported in the literature.
Asunto(s)
Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias del Ano/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias del Ano/radioterapia , Braquiterapia/métodos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/radioterapia , Radioisótopos de Iridio/uso terapéutico , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/efectos adversos , Neoplasias del Ano/patología , Braquiterapia/efectos adversos , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patología , Terapia Combinada , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Femenino , Fluorouracilo/administración & dosificación , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mitomicina/administración & dosificación , Estadificación de Neoplasias , Dosificación Radioterapéutica , Estudios Retrospectivos , Insuficiencia del TratamientoRESUMEN
AIM: To determine the effect of external beam radiotherapy on subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between September 1995 and July 1996, 40 patients (9 males and 31 females; mean age 74 years, range 61 to 83 years) were included in a prospective study. Eight patients had classic, well-defined neovascularisations, 32 patients had occult lesions. Complete ophthalmic investigations included visual acuity contrast sensitivity as well as fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographic examinations prior to treatment and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after radiotherapy. External beam radiotherapy (8-MV photons) was delivered with a total dose of 14.4 Gy in 8 fractions of 1.8 Gy per day (Figures 1 and 2). The field size averaged 5.5 x 4.5 cm. RESULTS: No treatment related morbidity during or after treatment was obtained. After 6 months follow-up the visual acuity was improved in 2 (5%) patients and maintained at pretreatment level in 17 (42%) patients. However, 12 months post treatment a stable situation was found in 6 (15%) patients and a decrease in visual acuity in 34 (85%) patients (Table 1). The central visual fields deteriorated significantly from 16.5 decibel (dB) to 12.4 dB. The enlargement of exudates and neovascular membranes increased 5- to 7-fold. At 12 months after treatment, 3 (7.5%) patients stated that they had improved vision subjectively, 12 (30%) patients had no change and 25 (62.5%) patients suffered from subjective decrease in visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Using a total dose of 14.4 Gy/1.8 Gy no difference concerning visual acuity and exudative changes in comparison to the natural history on age-related macular degeneration was obtained after 12 months. However, the results of multicenter studies are to be awaited.