Patterns of postoperative radiotherapy for head and neck cancer in Italy: a prospective, observational study by the head and neck group of the Italian Association for Radiation Oncology (AIRO).
Tumori
; 97(2): 170-6, 2011.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21617711
ABSTRACT
AIMS AND BACKGROUND:
Our previous survey showed that the patterns of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) in Italy might be suboptimal. A prospective observational study was therefore designed to evaluate this issue in greater detail.METHODS:
All radiotherapy centers involved in the HNC Working Group of the Italian Radiation Oncology Association were asked to enter into the study all patients treated with PORT during a 6-month period.RESULTS:
A total of 200 patients were accrued by 24 centers from December 2008 to May 2009. Larynx (38%) and oral cavity (34%) were the most common primary sites. The median time between surgery and the start of radiotherapy was 69 days (range, 25-215 days). Seventy-nine percent of cases with no evidence of risk factors for local recurrence were treated with high-dose radiotherapy to the primary site. In about 75% of cases the pN0 neck was included in the target volume. Concomitant chemotherapy was delivered to about 60% of patients with major risk factors and 21% of patients with no risk factors.CONCLUSIONS:
Three issues emerged from our study as potential targets for future investigations the impact on clinical outcome of the interval between surgery and the start of PORT; factors driving radiation oncologists to overtreat volumes at low risk of recurrence; and problems associated with the delivery of concomitant chemotherapy.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Neoplasias de Cabeça e Pescoço
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Aged
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Female
/
Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Tumori
Ano de publicação:
2011
Tipo de documento:
Article