Intensity-modulated radiotherapy does not decrease the risk of malnutrition in esophageal cancer patients during radiotherapy compared to three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is a lethal disease of global scope. Radiotherapy is the main method to treat esophageal cancer; however, it concurrently leads to malnutrition. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is superior to three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) in dosimetry and clinical outcomes. In this cohort study, we aimed to compare the effect of 3D-CRT and IMRT on malnutrition status. METHODS: We retrospectively included 79 esophageal cancer patients (IMRT: n=27, 3D-CRT: n=52) who received radiotherapy. We collected nutrition indexes at the beginning, the second week, and the end of radiotherapy. Paired-T test was used to evaluate the nutrition status during radiotherapy in each group. Chi-square test and independent-sample T-test were applied to compare the dynamic changes of indexes between IMRT and 3D-CRT groups. RESULTS: The baselines of the two groups are comparable. Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) score, body weight, BMI, hemoglobin, lymphocyte, total protein, and albumin values were significantly reduced during radiotherapy in both groups. The dynamic changes of nutrition indexes during radiotherapy were not significantly different between the IMRT and 3D-CRT groups. Besides, no difference was found for radiation esophagitis or treatment completion between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition occurs in esophageal cancer patients during radiotherapy. IMRT did not significantly decrease the risk of malnutrition compared to 3D-CRT.

Three-dimensional conformal fractionated radiotherapy for spinal schwannoma with a paravertebral or an intraosseous component.

INTRODUCTION: We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for spinal schwannoma. METHODS: Nine patients with spinal schwannoma were treated with 3D-CRT. All patients had a paravertebral or intraosseous component. Tumor sizes ranged from 0.8 to 8.7 cm, with a median of 3.5 cm. The prescribed dose was 50 Gy in 25 fractions at the isocenter, except for 1 patient who received 66 Gy in 33 fractions for a large sacral tumor. The follow-up period ranged from 20 to 137 months, with a median of 72 months. RESULTS: Tumor shrinkage within 3 mm occurred in 4 patients and tumor expansion within 3 mm occurred in 3. One tumor showed neither expansion nor shrinkage at the last follow-up. One patient experienced transient expansion by 8 mm in diameter at 12 months after the completion of radiotherapy (35-43 mm), and then the tumor size remained unchanged for 7 years. No severe late toxicity ≥ grade 3 was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Only 1 of 9 tumors showed transit expansion over 3 mm after 3D-CRT, and severe late radiation toxicity was not observed. Use of 3D-CRT should be considered a treatment option for spinal schwannoma.

The three dimensional conformal radiotherapy for hyperkeratotic plantar mycosis fungoides.

The localized early-stage of Mycosis fungoides (MF) (stage IA-IIA) is usually treated with topical agents, such as nitrogen mustard, steroids, and phototherapy (UVB/PUVA) as first line therapy; response to these initial treatments is usually good. However, hyperkeratotic plantar lesions are clinically rare and have decreased responsiveness to topical agents. For such cases, physicians may consider local radiotherapy. Here, a case of an 18-year-old Korean woman who was treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) for hyperkeratotic plantar lesions that were refractory to UVA-1, methotrexate, and topical steroids is reported. Complete remission was attained after radiotherapy. During the one-year follow-up period, there has been no evidence of disease recurrence and no chronic complications have been observed.