Total skin electron therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma using a modern dual-field rotational technique.

PURPOSE: To report our experience with rotational total skin electron irradiation (RTSEI) in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and to examine response by disease stage and race. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We reviewed our outcomes for 68 CTCL patients who received RTSEI (≥ 30 Gy) from 2000 to 2013. Primary outcomes were complete clinical response (CCR), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Using log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards, OS and RFS were compared across tumor stages at time of RTSEI with further racial subgroup analysis. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis and at time of radiation was 52 and 56 years, respectively. Median follow-up was 5.1 years, 49% were African American, and 49% were female. At time of treatment, 18, 37, and 13 patients were T stage 2, 3, and 4, respectively. At 6 weeks after RTSEI, overall CCR was 82% (88%, 83%, and 69% for T2, T3, and T4, respectively). Median RFS was 11 months for all patients and 14, 10, and 12 months for stage T2, T3, and T4, respectively. Tumor stage was not associated with RFS or CCR. Maintenance therapy after RTSEI was associated with improved RFS in both crude and multivariable analysis, controlling for T stage. Median OS was 76 months (91 and 59 months for T3 and T4, respectively). With the exception of improved OS in African Americans compared with whites at stage T2, race was not associated with CCR, RFS, or OS. CONCLUSIONS: These results represent the largest RTSEI clinical outcomes study in the modern era using a dual-field rotational technique. Our observed response rates match or improve upon the standard set by previous outcome studies using conventional TSEI techniques, despite a large percentage of advanced CTCL lesions in our cohort. We found that clinical response after RTSEI did not seem to be affected by T stage or race.

The feasibility of frameless stereotactic radiosurgery in the management of pediatric central nervous system tumors.

Recurrent malignant primary and metastatic central nervous system (CNS) tumors in pediatric patients are devastating, and efforts to improve outcomes for these patients have been disappointing. Conventional re-irradiation in these patients increases the risk of significant toxicity. We therefore evaluated feasibility and outcomes using frameless radiosurgery (FRS) in children with recurrent primary and metastatic brain tumors. We reviewed five cases of recurrent primary and metastatic brain tumors treated with frameless radiosurgery between 2008 and 2013. We analyzed safety and feasibility, dosimetric data, local control, and adverse effects. Five patients were treated with frameless radiosurgery for palliation. Fifteen target volumes were treated using our institutional FRS system. The volumes of targets ranged from 0.08 to 51.67 cm(3) with doses ranging from 15 to 21 Gy. Radiosurgery was well tolerated, decreased the need for large-volume CNS irradiation, and allowed for effective palliation in this small cohort. Frameless radiosurgery is feasible in this patient population. Frameless radiosurgery should be considered in management of select patients with recurrent primary or metastatic brain tumors.

Impact of internal metallic ports in temporary tissue expanders on postmastectomy radiation dose distribution.

PURPOSE: Temporary tissue expanders (TTE) with an internal magnetic metal port (IMP) have been increasingly used for breast reconstruction in post-mastectomy patients who receive radiation therapy (XRT). We evaluated XRT plans of patients with IMP to determine its effect on XRT dose distribution. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Original treatment plans with CT simulation scans of 24 consecutive patients who received XRT (ORI), planned without heterogeneity corrections, to a reconstructed breast containing an IMP were used. Two additional treatment plans were then generated: one treatment plan with the IMP assigned the electron density of the rare earth magnet, nickel plated neodymium-iron-boron (HET), and a second treatment plan with the IMP assigned a CT value of 1 to simulate a homogeneous breast without an IMP (BRS). All plans were prescribed 50 Gy to the reconstructed breast (CTV). RESULTS: CTV coverage by 50 Gy was significantly lower in the HET (mean 87.7% CTV) than in either the ORI (mean 99.7% CTV, P<.001) or BRS plans (mean 95.0% CTV, P<.001). The effect of the port was more pronounced on CT slices containing the IMP with prescription dose coverage of the CTV being less in the HET than in either ORI (mean difference 33.6%, P<.01) or BRS plans (mean difference 30.1%, P<.001). HET had a less homogeneous and conformal dose distribution than BRS or ORI. CONCLUSION: IMPs increase dose heterogeneity and reduce dose to the breast CTV through attenuation of the beam. For optimal XRT treatment, heterogeneity corrections should be used in XRT planning for patients with TTE with IMP, as the IMP impacts dose distribution.