Clinical application of intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a modern treatment technique that allows one to shape the dose to the target volume and to reduce the dose delivered to healthy tissue. Over the last decade, IMRT has been implemented for head and neck cancer treatment, with the aim of reducing the dose delivered to the parotid glands and improving the dose coverage of complex target volumes located close to critical structures. The potential benefits of IMRT in terms of salivary function preservation and better local control have contributed to the rapid diffusion of this new technology. However, it should not be overlooked that IMRT is a novel treatment technique and that its clinical application represents a paradigm shift in the practice of radiation oncology. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical experience with IMRT for head and neck cancer treatment and to discuss some important issues related to its implementation.

Clinical application of intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a modern treatment technique that allows one to shape the dose to the target volume and to reduce the dose delivered to healthy tissue. Over the last decade, IMRT has been implemented for head and neck cancer treatment, with the aim of reducing the dose delivered to the parotid glands and improving the dose coverage of complex target volumes located close to critical structures. The potential benefits of IMRT in terms of salivary function preservation and better local control have contributed to the rapid diffusion of this new technology. However, it should not be overlooked that IMRT is a novel treatment technique and that its clinical application represents a paradigm shift in the practice of radiation oncology. The purpose of this article is to review the clinical experience with IMRT for head and neck cancer treatment and to discuss some important issues related to its implementation (AU)

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[Retrospective study of 130 patients with organconfined prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy]. / Estudio retrospectivo de 130 pacientes con cáncer prostático organoconfinado tratados con braquiterapia prostática.

INTRODUCTION: The prostate brachytherapy with I 125 seeds has an indication in patients with organconfined prostate cancer. Our objective is to describe the population treated in our institution with permanent I125 seeds implants, the dosimetric characteristics of the technique and the preliminary results of our group-study in terms of evolution and toxicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between May 2000 and March 2003, 130 patients with permanent implants of I125 seeds were treated. Beforehand we did prostate volumetric with transrectum prostate echography in order to assess the configuration of the implant, number of seeds and their place in the prostate with the objective to get a fine coverage of PTV (planet target volume). Stage distribution: 75.72% T1c; 24.28% T2a; Gleason<6, 94%. The PSA pretreatment average was 6.38 ng/ml. The average prostate volume was 30 cc. The 16.67% of the patients included had hormonal treatment previously to get the implants. The average age was 64 years. The characteristic techniques of the implants were: the average width of the needle as 24 (14-35) and the average of the seeds 76 (46-111). Finally the average activity was 0.39 mCi/seed, which means average total implant activity of 80 mCi. RESULTS: We analyzed 130 patients with average follow up 6 months. A 1 to 2 year surveillance was carried out on 98.9% and the global free disease surveillance (biochemic relapse) of 98.9% at the year and of the 87.8% at the end of the 2 years. The relapse in the low risk patients was 98.8% after the first year and 88.7% at the end of 2 year. On the contrary in the middle risk was of 100% and 83% respectively, although the amount of patients in significantly less. As a relevant acute secondary effects we found slight rectitys or GI (RTOG scale) in 1.4 and that needs synthomatic medication or GII (RTOG scale) in 0.8%. We found slide hematuria or GI (RTOG scale) in the 53% and other measures or GII (RTOG scale) in the 2.64% was needed. Finally we had to set a urinary prove for acute retention in 4.3%. CONCLUSION: The prostate brachyterapy is a complex procedure that needs a multidisciplinary team participation in order to be able to carry out. It avoids a long term hospitalization and allows for the patient to have daily activity within a short period of time. Despite the fact of the brief follow-up, the results over biochemical relapse and toxicity were similar to the ones in the literature. Tolerance to the implant was good. It would necessary a longer follow-up in order to be able to come to long term conclusions.

Estudio retrospectivo de 130 pacientes con cáncer prostático organoconfinado tratados con braquiterapia prostática / Retrospective study of 130 patients with organconfined prostate cancer trated with brachitherapy

Introducción: La braquiterapia prostática con semillas de I125 está indicada en pacientes con cáncer de próstata organoconfinado. Nuestro objetivo es describir la población tratada en nuestra institución mediante implante permanente con semillas de I125, las características dosimétricas de la técnica y los resultados preliminares de nuestra serie en cuanto a evolución y toxicidad. Material y métodos: Entre mayo 2000 y marzo de 2003 fueron tratados 130 pacientes con implante permanente transperineal de semillas de I125. Previamente a todos se les realizó volumetría mediante una ecografía prostática transrectal para determinar la configuración del implante, número de semillas y su localización en la próstata con el fin de obtener una adecuada cobertura del PTV (planed target volume o volumen planificado para tratar). Distribución por estadios: 75,72% T1c; 24,28% T2a. Gleason < 6, 94,24%. La mediana del PSA pretratamiento 6,38 ng/ml. El volumen prostático mediano fue de 30 cc. El 16,67% de los pacientes cuando los recibimos llevaban tratamiento hormonal previo al implante. La edad mediana fue de 64 años. En cuanto a las características técnicas de los implantes: la mediana de agujas utilizadas fue de 24 (14-35), y la mediana de semillas: 76 (46-111). Finalmente la mediana de la actividad fue de 0,39mCi/semilla, lo que supuso una actividad total implantada media de 80 mCi. Resultados: Analizamos los 130 pacientes con un seguimiento mínimo de 6 meses. La supervivencia a 1 y 2 años fue del 99,1% y la supervivencia libre de enfermedad global del 98,9% al año y del 87,8% a los dos años La supervivencia libre de enfermedad bioquímica en los pacientes de bajo riesgo eran, al año de 98,8% y a los dos años del 88,7%. Por el contrario en los de riesgo intermedio eran del 100% y del 83,3% respectivamente, aunque el número de pacientes es significativamente menor. Como efectos secundarios agudos relevantes encontramos rectitis leve o GI (escala de la RTOG) en 1,4% y que necesitó medicación sintomática o GII (escala de la RTOG) en 0,8%. Se presentó hematuria leve o GI (escala de la RTOG) el 53%, y que precisaran otras medidas o GII (escala de la RTOG) en el 2,64%. Finalmente hubo que colocar sonda urinaria por retención aguda el 4,3%. Conclusión: La braquiterapia prostática es un procedimiento complejo que exige la participación de un equipo multidisciplinar en su realización. Evita una hospitalización prolongada y permite al paciente recuperar sus actividades cotidianas en un periodo corto de tiempo. Aunque la media de seguimiento es corta, los resultados en cuanto a supervivencia libre de recidiva bioquímica y toxicidad son comparables a los descritos en la literatura. La tolerancia al implante ha sido buena. Es necesario un mayor seguimiento para poder establecer conclusiones a largo plazo

Introduction: The prostate brachitherapy with I 125 seeds has an indication in patients with organconfined prostate cancer. Our objective is to describe the population trated in our institution with permanent I125 seeds implants, the dosimetric characteristics of the technique and the preliminary results of our group-study in terms of evolution and toxicity. Material and methods: Between May 2000 and March 2003, a 130 patients with permanent implants of I125 seeds were trated. Beforehand we did prostate volumetric with transrectum prostate ecography in order to asses the configuration of the implant, number of seeds and their place in the prostate with the objective to get a fine coverage of PTV (planet target volume). Stage distribution: 75.72% T1c; 24.28% T2a. Gleason<6, 94%. The PSA pretreatment average was 6.38 ng/ml. The average prostate volume was 30 cc. The 16.67% of the patients included had hormonal treatment previously to get the implants. The average age was 64 years. The characteristic techniques of the implants were: the average width of the needle as 24 (14-35) and the average of the seeds 76 (46-111). Finally the average activity was 0.39 mCi/seed, wic means average total implant activity of 80 mCi. Results: We analized 130 patients with average follow up 6 months. A 1 to 2 year surveillance was carried out on 98.9% and the global free disease surveillance (biochemic relapse) of 98.9% at the year and of the 87.8% at the end of the 2 years. The relapse in the low risk patients was, 98.8% after the first year and 88.7% at the end of 2 year. On the contrary in the middle risk was of 100% and 83% respectively, although the amount of patients in significantly less. As a relevant acute secondary effects we found slight rectitys or GI (RTOG scale) in 1.4 and that needs synthomatic medication or GII (RTOG scale) in 0.8%. We found slide hematuria or GI (RTOG scale) in the 53% and other measures or GII (RTOG scale) in the 2.64% was needed. Finally we had to set a urinary prove for acute retention in 4.3%. Conclusion: The prostate brachiterapy is a complex procedure that needs a multidisciplinary team participation in order to be able to carry out. It aboids a long term hospitalitzation and allows for the patient to have daily activity within a short period of time. Despite the fact of the brief follow-up, the results over biochemical relaps and toxicity were similars to the ones in the literature. Tolerance to the implant was good. It would necessary a longer follow-up in order to be able to come to long term conclusions

Carcinoma de endometrio: revisión retrospectiva de los resultados obtenidos en una serie de 369 pacientes tratadas con cirugia y radioterapia postoperatoria / Endometrical carcinoma: retrospective study of 369 patients treated by surgery and postoperative radiotherapy

Propósito: El cáncer de endometrio es la neoplasia más frecuente del aparato genital femenino, diagnosticándose la mayoría en estadios iniciales. Aunque el tratamiento de elección es la cirugía, se plantea controversia en cuanto a las indicaciones de la terapia complementaria con radioterapia. Queremos, aquí, aportar nuestra experiencia. Material y métodos: Se ha llevado a cabo una revisión retrospectiva de 369 pacientes, diagnosticadas de carcinoma de endometrio y sometidas a cirugía y radioterapia postoperatoria, en estadios I, II y III, en un período de tiempo comprendido entre marzo 1984 y enero 1998. Se ha valorado las supervivencias global, específica, libre de enfermedad y control local y a distancia a los 5 años, estudiándose también estos parámetros en función de los estadios, tipos anatomopatológicos y grado de diferenciación tumoral e invasión miometrial, así como la afectación ganglionar. Resultados: Se ha obtenido a los 5 años una supervivencia global del 96 por ciento, específica 97 por ciento, libre de enfermedad 90 por ciento, control local 97 por ciento y control a distancia 94 por ciento, y han demostrado tener una implicación pronóstico el estadio, sobre las supervivencias global, específica y libre de enfermedad, la anatomía patológica (adenocarcinoma versus restantes tipos de carcinoma) sobre las supervivencias global y libre de enfermedad, y la invasión miometrial para la supervivencia libre de enfermedad. Asimismo, se analiza la tasa de complicaciones agudas y crónicas atribuibles a la radioterapia y se ha hecho una revisión de la Bibliografía publicada sobre el tema. Conclusión: Nuestros resultados se muestran acordes con los publicados en la literatura tanto en cifras de supervivencia y control local como en los factores identificados con influencia pronóstico (AU)