ABSTRACT
Lobectomy is considered the standard of care for early stage non-small-cell lung cancer. However, for those patients who remain unfit to undergo surgery due to advanced age, poor performance status, comorbidities, poor pulmonary reserve or a combination of these are now treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Due to its noninvasive nature, lower cost, lower toxicity, reduced recovery time and equivalent efficacy, even medically operable patients are attracted to the option of SBRT despite the lack of level I evidence. Thus, studying the incidence and patterns of recurrence after SBRT help in understanding the magnitude of the problem, risk factors associated with the different patterns of recurrence, and aid in devising strategies to prevent them in future. Nodal recurrences are not uncommon after SBRT and can potentially lead to further seeding for distant metastases and ultimately poor survival. This review is aimed at reviewing the published data on the incidence of nodal recurrences after SBRT and compare it to surgery, identify potential risk factors for recurrence, salvage treatment options and prevention strategies.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/radiotherapy , Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiology , Radiosurgery/adverse effects , Radiosurgery/methods , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Neoplasm Staging , Risk Factors , Survival Rate , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
An orbital mass being the presenting sign of disseminated systemic metastasis is a rare clinical picture. Here, the authors describe the case of a 52-year old Asian-Indian female who presented with unilateral proptosis and motility restriction. Imaging showed an irregular orbital mass infiltrating the right lateral rectus and with a significant intraconal component. Incisional biopsy helped to diagnose a malignant melanoma and exhaustive systemic imaging showed that the primary was found to be arising from the rectum. This represents the first reported case of malignant melanoma of the rectum metastasizing to the orbit and presenting with proptosis and reduced vision.
Subject(s)
Exophthalmos , Melanoma , Orbital Neoplasms , Skin Neoplasms , Female , Humans , Melanoma/diagnosis , Middle Aged , Orbital Neoplasms/diagnosis , RectumABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is now considered the standard treatment for medically inoperable early-stage non-small lung cell cancer (ES-NSCLC). PURPOSE: There is a paucity of data related to outcomes with SBRT in ES-NSCLC from the developing countries. We report the early outcomes of ES-NSCLC patients treated with SBRT at our institute. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2007 and 2015, 40 consecutive patients with histologically proven ES-NSCLC were treated with SBRT. Median age was 71 years (range: 46-88 years) and median Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 3. The majority had stage I (70%) and 45% of the tumors were centrally located. The median tumor diameter was 3.8 cm (range: 2-7.6 cm). The mean gross tumor volume was 41 cc (range: 4-139 cc) and the mean planning target volume (PTV) was 141 cc (range: 27-251 cc). Varying dose and fraction (fr) sizes were used depending on tumor location, tumor size, and treatment period. The median biologically effective dose (BED) was 77 Gy10 (range: 77-105 Gy10) for the initial cohort (2007-2012) and 105 Gy10 (range: 77-132 Gy10) for the subsequent cohort (2013-2015). RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 16 months (range: 3-99 months), the 2-year local control (LC), overall survival, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates were 94%, 41%, and 62%, respectively. The univariate and multivariate analysis determined CCI >3 and PTV >80.6 cc as significant predictors of worse OS and CSS (P< 0.01). The clinical stage, tumor location, BED, and treatment period (2007-2012 vs. 2013-2015) did not significantly predict any of the outcomes. The most common acute toxicities were skin erythema (10%), grade 1 esophagitis (8%), and exacerbation of previous chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (10%). Grade ≥2 late radiation pneumonitis was seen in 17.5%. One patient developed a rib fracture. No neurological or vascular complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: SBRT results in excellent local control (LC) and acceptable survival in medically inoperable ES-NSCLC with minimal adverse effects. Charlson comorbidity index and target volume are important prognostic factors and may aid in patient selection.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/radiotherapy , Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Radiosurgery/methods , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Female , Hospitals , Humans , India , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Radiotherapy DosageABSTRACT
â¢This study reports on the prognostic ability of haematological parameters for the largest known biopsy-proven stage-I medically inoperable cohort treated with SBRT.â¢After SBRT, the median values of Hb, ALC, ANC and TPC declined whereas the NLR and the PLR increased as compared to pre-SBRT.â¢Anemia along with other parameters was found to be a poor prognostic factor for local control despite treatment with SBRT to doses of >100â¯Gy BED10.â¢Simple and minimally invasive methods like a peripheral blood sample can provide prognostic information even for stage-I NSCLC patients.â¢Patient, tumor and treatment factors along with molecular markers should be used to create risk stratification models that can guide therapy.
ABSTRACT
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon malignant neoplasm composed of basaloid epithelial and myoepithelial cells. The palate is the most commonly involved intraoral site for ACC. Here, we document the case of an advanced ACC arising from the hard palate that presented with right-sided sixth nerve palsy in a 75-year-old male with no other systemic illnesses. ACC of the head and neck involving the cavernous sinus and presenting as isolated sixth nerve palsy is exceedingly rare. In the absence of vasculopathic or ischemic risk factors, regardless of the age of the patient; neuroimaging should be performed in cases of isolated nontraumatic sixth nerve palsy.
Subject(s)
Abducens Nerve Diseases/etiology , Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic/complications , Echo-Planar Imaging/methods , Neuroimaging/methods , Palate, Hard , Skull Neoplasms/complications , Abducens Nerve Diseases/diagnosis , Aged , Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Skull Neoplasms/diagnosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Choroidal metastases being the sole presenting feature of lung cancer is rare. Erlotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is used in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma where tumor cells exhibit epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. We report a case of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with choroidal metastasis, which was the sole presenting feature and which responded to erlotinib. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case review. CASE: A 78-year-old man presented with a choroidal mass which was found to be the presenting feature of metastatic NSCLC. Our patient, a nonsmoker, had disseminated bony metastases, and therefore was advised to undergo palliative chemotherapy, which he refused. He was therefore instituted on oral erlotinib. RESULTS: Tumor cells expressing EGFR mutations are known to be susceptible to TKIs. Even though the tumor in our case showed no mutation, i.e. was classified as 'wild-type', our patient showed a dramatic response to erlotinib. At 1 year, the choroidal lesion had regressed and visual acuity had recovered. CONCLUSIONS: TKIs may be beneficial in patients with choroidal metastases from NSCLC, especially those in which an EGFR mutation is noted. Even in the absence of such mutations, choroidal metastases may show a favorable effect in response to TKIs, such as erlotinib.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Tumour response during stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) could be heterogeneous and the pattern of response may be used as an early predictor for outcome. METHODS: Twenty-two consecutive patients with early lung cancer (ELC), treated with SBRT, were evaluated retrospectively for their gross tumour volume (GTV) changes during radiation therapy (RT). Kilo-voltage computed tomography scans (KVCTs) were acquired before every fraction and GTV was contoured manually on a total of 152 datasets. Tumour volume changes were noted with every fraction. The overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence free survival (LRFS) and distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) were computed using the Kaplan-Meier method and comparisons were made using log-rank test. RESULTS: Of the 22 patients, six had T1 tumours and 16 had T2 tumours. Median GTV was 40.6 cc (range 7.3-140.2 cc) on CT1 (KVCT at first fraction) and 33.3 cc (range 4.1-83.4 cc) on CTlast (KVCT at last fraction), suggesting a 17.9% median volume reduction at RT completion. Increase in tumour volume was noted in 18 (81.8%) patients at some point during RT. In the mid-treatment scan, 12 (54.5%) patients had higher tumour volumes than in CT1, however, only six (27.3%) patient's GTV remained larger compared to the baseline at the end of treatment. The median follow-up was 12.4 months. The OS, LRFS and DMFS rate at 12 and 18 months were 86.4%, 88.2%, 62% and 64.8%, 75.6% and 37.2% respectively. Tumours that regressed in volume by >17.9% (median volume reduction at RT completion) had significantly worse OS and LRFS compared to those that regressed <17.9% (P = 0.03 and 0.01 respectively). CONCLUSION: Gross tumour volume undergoes significant changes during SBRT. Early regression in tumour volume may be used as a predictor of poor LRFS and OS.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Lung Neoplasms/therapy , Radiosurgery , Tumor Burden , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among females in India. Cervical cancer usually spreads by local extension and through the lymphatic drainage to the lymph nodes. Hematogenous spread, the mechanism responsible for distant metastases, is rarely seen in cervical malignancies. In this communication, we report a case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with unilateral decrease in vision of 3 months duration. She was found to have a serous retinal detachment with underlying diffuse, subretinal yellowish-cream colored infiltrates in the right eye, suspicious of choroidal metastases. Systemic evaluation showed disseminated systemic metastases arising from a primary adenocarcinoma of the cervix. In this communication, we review all the documented cases of metastases to the eye and adnexa arising from cervical cancer and their clinical characteristics. Unilateral choroidal metastasis arising from an adenocarcinoma of the cervix is extremely rare with only one previous documented case. Although uncommon, choroidal metastasis may be the presenting feature of primary cervical malignancy. Furthermore, cervical malignancy must be ruled out in women who present with orbital or choroidal metastases arising from unknown primary.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/secondary , Choroid Neoplasms/secondary , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/pathology , Adenocarcinoma/diagnosis , Biopsy , Choroid/pathology , Choroid Neoplasms/diagnosis , Diagnosis, Differential , Fatal Outcome , Female , Fluorescein Angiography , Fundus Oculi , Humans , Middle Aged , Positron-Emission Tomography , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Optic nerve glioma is the most common optic nerve tumour. However, it has an unpredictable natural history. The treatment of optic nerve gliomas has changed considerably over the past few years. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can now stabilize and in some cases improve the vision of patients with optic nerve gliomas. The treatment of optic nerve glioma requires a multi-disciplinary approach where all treatment options may have to be implemented in a highly individualized manner. The aim of this review article is to present current diagnostic and treatment protocols for optic nerve glioma.