Urinary tract symptoms that should be improved to enhance post-operative urinary quality of life in patients treated with low-dose-rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer: An importance-performance analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate international prostate symptom score and urinary quality of life in patients with prostate cancer who underwent low-dose-rate brachytherapy, and to identify lower urinary tract symptoms that must be improved to enhance post-operative urinary quality of life and factors associated with lower urinary tract symptoms. Material and methods: This study included 193 patients who underwent low-dose-rate brachytherapy alone (145 Gy). Importance-performance analysis was conducted to identify lower urinary tract symptoms that should be prioritized to improve urinary quality of life. Association between lower urinary tract symptom scores and each factor was investigated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate dosimetric parameters related to lower urinary tract symptom score to predict an average score of ≥ 3. Cut-off values were determined. Results: One to nine months post-implantation was a period of significantly increased urinary quality of life scores compared with baseline (p < 0.05 each). The importance-performance analysis conducted for 1-9 months revealed that frequency, nocturia, and weak stream required improvement. Multivariate analysis showed that each lower urinary tract symptom score presented a significant association with its baseline value (p < 0.001 each, positive correlation). Frequency, incomplete emptying, urgency, and straining scores were significantly associated with prostate volume, whereas weak stream and intermittency scores were associated with dose covering 90% of the prostate and dose covering 90% of the urethra, respectively (p < 0.05 each, positive correlations). Cut-off values for these doses were 167.01 Gy and 136.84 Gy, respectively. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of prioritizing specific lower urinary tract symptoms for improvement in post-operative urinary quality of life, and identifies the associated factors that can help in personalized treatment planning and goal-setting for better patient satisfaction.

Factors Affecting Prostate Displacement During Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy in Prone Position After High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: In irradiating the prostate and pelvic lymph node regions, registration based on bony structures matches the pelvic lymph node regions but not necessarily the prostate position, and it is important to identify factors that influence prostate displacement. Therefore, we investigated factors influencing prostate displacement during volumetric modulated arc therapy after single-fraction high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) for prostate cancer and the trends in displacement for each fraction. Methods and Materials: Seventy patients who underwent pelvic volumetric modulated arc therapy of 46 Gy in the prone position 15 days after 13 Gy HDR-BT were included. Prostate displacement relative to bony structures was calculated using cone beam computed tomography. Systematic error (SE) and random error (RE) were evaluated in the right-left (RL), craniocaudal (CC), and anteroposterior (AP) directions. The association with clinical and anatomic factors on the planning computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was analyzed. Prostate volume change (PVC) was defined as the volume change at 2 days after HDR-BT. Displacement trends were individually examined from the first to 23rd fractions. Results: The mean SE in the RL, CC, and AP directions was -0.01 mm, -2.34 mm, and -0.47 mm, respectively. The root mean square of the RE in the RL, CC, and AP directions was 0.44 mm, 1.14 mm, and 1.10 mm, respectively. SE in the CC direction was independently associated with bladder volume (P = .021, t statistic = 2.352) and PVC (P < .001, t statistic = -8.526). SE in the AP direction was independently associated with bladder volume (P = .013, t statistic = -2.553), PVC (P < .001, t statistic = 5.477), and rectal mean area (P = .008, t statistic = 2.743). RE in the CC direction was independently associated with smoking (P = .035). RE in the AP direction was associated with PVC (P = .043). Gradual displacement caudally and posteriorly occurred during the irradiation period. Conclusions: Anatomic characteristics of the bladder, rectum, and prostate predict SE. Smoking and PVC predict RE. In particular, whether PVC is ≥140% affects setting internal margins.

Patterns of failure in glioblastoma multiforme following Standard (60 Gy) or Short course (40 Gy) radiation and concurrent temozolomide.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the patterns of failure in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treated using chemoradiotherapy in the Standard radiotherapy (60 Gy/30 fractions; Standard) or Short course (40 Gy/15 fractions: Short). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-three consecutive patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma treated at our hospital between April 2007 and December 2016, and 68 patients who could be followed up were included. All patients underwent surgical resection followed by radiotherapy with concurrent temozolomide. We retrospectively analyzed treatment outcomes and recurrence patterns. RESULTS: The median follow-up period of the surviving patients was 82.8 months (range: 46.0-158.9 months). Of the 68 patients, 58 patients (85%) had recurrences, 34 underwent the Standard and 24 Short course. The Standard course was seen in younger age groups and had a better Karnofsky performance status (KPS) than the Short course. The median survival time (MST) was 25.8 months for the Standard and 15.4 months with the Short in all cases. Standard course had significantly longer MST than the Short (p = 0.001) course. For recurrent cases only, there was no significant difference between Standard and Short courses in OS (p = 0.06). The recurrences occurred at the radiation fields alone (Standard/Short: 85%/83%), only at distant sites (Standard/Short: 12%/13%), and at both the radiation fields and distant sites (Standard/Short: 3%/4%). There was no significant difference in recurrence pattern and frequency between the two protocols (p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Standard course tended to be significant in younger age groups and have a better KPS than the Short course; therefore, the Standard course has a longer OS, but the recurrence pattern of the Short course is similar to that of the Standard treatment.

Prediction of post-radiotherapy survival for bone metastases: a comparison of the 3-variable number of risk factors model with the new Katagiri scoring system.

We investigated patient survival after palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases while comparing the prognostic accuracies of the 3-variable number of risk factors (NRF) model and the new Katagiri scoring system (Katagiri score). Overall, 485 patients who received radiotherapy for bone metastases were grouped as per the NRF model (groups I, II and III) and Katagiri score (low-, intermediate- and high-risk). Survival was compared using the log-rank or log-rank trend test. Independent prognostic factors were identified using multivariate Cox regression analyses (MCRA). MCRA and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare both models' accuracy. For the 376 evaluable patients, the overall survival (OS) rates decreased significantly in the higher-tier groups of both models (P < 0.001). All evaluated factors except 'previous chemotherapy status' differed significantly between groups. Both models exhibited independent predictive power (P < 0.001). Per NRF model, hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.44 (P = 0.099) and 2.944 (P < 0.001), respectively, for groups II and III, relative to group I. Per Katagiri score, HRs for intermediate- and high-risk groups were 4.02 (P < 0.001) and 7.09 (P < 0.001), respectively, relative to the low-risk group. Areas under the curve (AUC) for predicting 6-, 18- and 24-month mortality were significantly higher when using the Katagiri score (P = 0.036, 0.039 and 0.022). Both models predict survival. Prognostic accuracy of the Katagiri score is superior, especially in patients with long-term survival potential; however, in patients with short prognosis, no difference occurred between both models; simplicity and patient burden should also be considered.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations diagnosed through hemoptysis: A case report.

There have been few reports of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations complicated by hemoptysis. Herein, we present our experience and provided a review of the literature. A man in his 80s came to our hospital with a chief complaint of hemoptysis, and a simple computed tomography showed a consolidation in the right lower lobe of the lung. He was treated for bacterial pneumonia, and his symptoms and a consolidation resolved, but similar episodes continued afterwards. About 18 months after the initial disease onset, the patient had hemoptysis and came to our hospital again. He was diagnosed with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation due to the presence of a lumpy, mass-like dilatation in the peripheral arteries. With the suspicion that the hemoptysis was caused by pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, the patient underwent coil embolization, and his symptoms gradually resolved. Computed tomography also showed improvement in shadowing. The hidden arteriovenous malformation was buried by a dense pulmonary field shadow; thus, it was diagnosed after a long time. This case highlights that pulmonary arteriovenous malformations should be considered in differentiating cases presenting with hemoptysis.