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Purpose@#An optimal once-daily radiotherapy (RT) regimen is under investigation for definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in limited disease small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC). We compared the efficacy and safety of dose escalation with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). @*Materials and Methods@#Between January 2016 and March 2021, patients treated with definitive CCRT for LD-SCLC with IMRT were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who received a total dose <50 Gy or those with a history of thoracic RT or surgery were excluded. The patients were divided into two groups (standard and dose-escalated) based on the total biologically effective dose (BED, α/β = 10) of 70 Gy. The chemotherapeutic regimen comprised four cycles of etoposide and cisplatin. @*Results@#One hundred and twenty-two patients were analyzed and the median follow-up was 27.8 months (range, 4.4 to 76.9 months). The median age of the patients was 63 years (range, 35 to 78 years) and the majority had a history of smoking (86.0%). The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates of the escalated dose group were significantly higher than those of the standard group (93.5% and 50.5% vs. 76.7% and 33.3%, respectively; p = 0.008), as were the 1- and 3-year freedom from in-field failure rates (91.4% and 66.5% vs. 73.8% and 46.9%, respectively; p = 0.018). The incidence of grade 2 or higher acute and late pneumonitis was not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.062, 0.185). @*Conclusion@#Dose-escalated once-daily CCRT with IMRT led to improved locoregional control and survival, with no increase in toxicity.
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Purpose@#This study aimed to evaluate clinical significance and imaging findings of newly detected lesions on breast MRI while monitoring patients’ response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). @*Materials and Methods@#We identified 291 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer who underwent breast MRI to assess their response to NAC between January 2017 and August 2021. We evaluated 26 new lesions in 24 women (mean age, 49.8 years; range, 35–63 years) who were included in this study. Two radiologists assessed imaging findings of new lesions according to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) lexicon 5th edition and evaluated follow-up MRI during NAC. Outcomes of new lesions were determined based on pathologic examination or imaging follow-up after surgery. @*Results@#All 26 new lesions were found on the first follow-up imaging. They disappeared or decreased in size on the second follow-up imaging. Lesion types included mass (n = 22, 84.6%) and non-mass enhancement (n = 4, 15.4%). The majority of the mass types showed oval to round shapes (22/22, 100%), circumscribed margins (21/22, 95.5%), and rim enhancement (18/22, 81.8%). Seven (26.9%) new lesions were ipsilateral to the index cancer, 7 (26.9%) were contralateral, and 12 (46.2%) were bilateral. None of these new lesions were malignant. @*Conclusion@#New lesions were detected in 4.7% of breast MRI during NAC. Most new lesions tended to
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Purpose@#Dedicated breast CT is an emerging volumetric X-ray imaging modality for diagnosis that does not require any painful breast compression. To improve the detection rate of weakly enhanced lesions, an adaptive image rescaling (AIR) technique was proposed. @*Materials and Methods@#Two disks containing five identical holes and five holes of different diameters were scanned using 60/100 kVp to obtain single-energy CT (SECT), dual-energy CT (DECT), and AIR images. A piece of pork was also scanned as a subclinical trial. The image quality was evaluated using image contrast and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). The difference of imaging performances was confirmed using student’s t test. @*Results@#Total mean image contrast of AIR (0.70) reached 74.5% of that of DECT (0.94) and was higher than that of SECT (0.22) by 318.2%. Total mean CNR of AIR (5.08) was 35.5% of that of SECT (14.30) and was higher than that of DECT (2.28) by 222.8%. A similar trend was observed in the subclinical study. @*Conclusion@#The results demonstrated superior image contrast of AIR over SECT, and its higher overall image quality compared to DECT with half the exposure. Therefore, AIR seems to have the potential to improve the detectability of lesions with dedicated breast CT.
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Background@#Breast reconstruction using an extended latissimus dorsi (eLD) flap can supplement more volume than reconstruction using various local flaps after partial mastectomy, and it is a valuable surgical method since the reconstruction area is not limited. However, when performing reconstruction, the surgeon should consider latissimus dorsi (LD) volume reduction due to postoperative chemotherapy (POCTx) and postoperative radiotherapy (PORTx). To evaluate the effect of POCTx and PORTx on LD volume reduction, the effects of each therapy—both separately and jointly—need to be demonstrated. The present study quantified LD volume reduction in patients who underwent POCTx and PORTx after receiving breast-conserving surgery (BCS) with an eLD flap. @*Methods@#This study included 48 patients who received immediate breast reconstruction using an eLD flap from January 2013 to March 2017, had chest computed tomography (CT) 7–10 days after surgery and 10–14 months after radiotherapy completion, and were observed for more than 3 years postoperatively. One surgeon performed the breast reconstruction procedures, and measurements of breast volume were obtained from axial CT views, using a picture archiving and communication system. A P-value <0.05 was the threshold for statistical significance. @*Results@#The average volume reduction of LD at 10–14 months after completing POCTx and PORTx was 64.5% (range, 42.8%–81.4%) in comparison to the volume measured 7–10 days after surgery. This change was statistically significant (P<0.05). @*Conclusions@#Based on the findings of this study, when harvesting an eLD flap, surgeons should anticipate an average LD volume reduction of 64.5% if chemotherapy and radiotherapy are scheduled after BCS with an eLD flap.
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Background@#Reduction mammoplasty or mastopexy is performed as an additional balancing procedure in patients with large or ptotic breasts who undergo breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Radiation therapy on breasts that have undergone surgery may result in changes in the volume. This study presents a comparative analysis of patients who received post-BCS balancing procedures to determine whether volume changes were larger in breasts that received radiation therapy than on the contralateral side. @*Methods@#Thirty-six participants were selected among patients who received BCS using the inverted-T scar technique between September 2012 and July 2017, were followed up for 2 or more years, and had pre-radiation therapy computed tomography images and post-radiation therapy images taken between 12 and 18 months after completion. The average age of the participants was 53.5 years, their average body mass index was 26.62 kg/m2. @*Results@#The pre- and post-radiation therapy volumes of the breasts receiving BCS were 666.08±147.48 mL and 649.33±130.35 mL, respectively. In the contralateral breasts, the volume before radiation therapy was 637.69±145.72 mL, which decreased to 628.14±166.41 mL after therapy. The volume ratio of the affected to the contralateral breasts was 1.05±0.10 before radiation therapy and 1.06±0.12 after radiation therapy. @*Conclusions@#The ratio of the volume between the two breasts immediately after surgery and at roughly 18 months postoperatively was not significantly different (P=0.98). For these reasons, we recommend a simultaneous single-stage balancing procedure as a reasonable option for patients who require radiation therapy after BCS without concerns regarding volume change.
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PURPOSE: Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) may be avoidable for breast cancer patients with 1-2 positive lymph nodes (LN) after breast-conserving therapy. However, the effects of ALND after mastectomy remain unclear because radiation is not routinely used. Herein, we compared the benefits of post-mastectomy ALND versus sentinel node biopsy (SNB) alone for breast cancer patients with 1-3 metastatic LNs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,697 patients with pN1 disease who underwent mastectomy during 2000-2015 were identified from an institutional database. Outcomes were compared using the inverse probability of treatment weighted method. RESULTS: Patients who underwent SNB tended to have smaller tumors, a lower histology grade, a lower number of positive LNs, and better immunohistochemical findings. After correcting all confounding factors regarding patient, tumor, and adjuvant treatment, the SNB and ALND groups did not differ in terms of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), distant metastasis and locoregional recurrence. The 10-year DFS and OS rates were 83% and 84%, respectively, during a median follow-up period of 93 months. CONCLUSION: ALND did not improve post-mastectomy survival outcomes among patients with N1 breast cancer, even after adjusting for all histopathologic and treatment-related factors.
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Humans , Biopsy , Breast Neoplasms , Breast , Disease-Free Survival , Follow-Up Studies , Lymph Node Excision , Lymph Nodes , Mastectomy , Methods , Neoplasm Metastasis , Recurrence , Sentinel Lymph Node BiopsyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the clinical efficacy and toxicity of whole pelvic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (WP-IMRT) for high-risk prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated between 2008 and 2013 were reviewed. The study included patients who had undergone WP-IMRT with image guidance using electronic portal imaging devices and/or cone-beam computed tomography. The endorectal balloon was used in 93% of patients. Patients received either 46 Gy to the whole pelvis plus a boost of up to 76 Gy to the prostate in 2 Gy daily fractions, or 44 Gy to the whole pelvis plus a boost of up to 72.6 Gy to the prostate in 2.2 Gy fractions. RESULTS: The study cohort included 70 patients, of whom 55 (78%) had a Gleason score of 8 to 10 and 50 (71%) had a prostate-specific antigen level > 20 ng/mL. The androgen deprivation therapy was combined in 62 patients. The biochemical failure-free survival rate was 86.7% at 2 years. Acute any grade gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity rates were 47% and 73%, respectively. The actuarial rate of late grade 2 or worse toxicity at 2 years was 12.9% for GI, and 5.7% for GU with no late grade 4 toxicity. CONCLUSION: WP-IMRT was well tolerated with no severe acute or late toxicities, resulting in at least similar biochemical control to that of the historic control group with a small field. The long-term efficacy and toxicity will be assessed in the future, and a prospective randomized trial is needed to verify these findings.
Subject(s)
Humans , Cohort Studies , Cone-Beam Computed Tomography , Neoplasm Grading , Pelvis , Prostate , Prostate-Specific Antigen , Prostatic Neoplasms , Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated , Survival RateABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To analyze the results of locoregional and systemic therapy in the breast cancer patients with locoregional recurrence (LRR) after mastectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients who received radiotherapy for isolated LRR after mastectomy between January 1999 and December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Among the 71 patients, 59 (83.1%) underwent wide excision and radiotherapy and 12 (16.9%) received radiotherapy alone. Adjuvant hormonal therapy was given to 45 patients (63.4%). Oncologic outcomes including locoregional recurrence-free survival, disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 49.2 months. Of the 71 patients, 5 (7%) experienced second isolated LRR, and 40 (56%) underwent distant metastasis (DM). The median DFS was 35.6 months, and the 3- and 5-year DFS were 49.1% and 28.6%, respectively. The median OS was 86.7 months, and the 5-year OS was 62.3%. Patients who received hormone therapy together showed better 5-year DFS and OS than the patients treated with locoregional therapy only (31.6% vs. 22.1%, p = 0.036; 66.5% vs. 55.2%, p = 0.022). In multivariate analysis, higher N stage at recurrence was a significant prognostic factor for DFS and OS. Disease free interval (30 months) from mastectomy to LRR was also significant for OS. The patients who received hormone therapy showed superior DFS and showed trend to better OS. CONCLUSION: DM was a major pattern of failure after the treatment of LRR after mastectomy. The role of systemic treatment for LRR after mastectomy should be investigated at prospective trials.