Surface-guided radiotherapy overview: Technical aspects and clinical applications.

In radiotherapy, patient positioning has long been ensured by ionizing imaging (kV or MV). Over the past ten years, surface-guided radiotherapy has appeared in radiotherapy departments. It is a continuous three-dimensional acquisition of the surface of the patient, based on the use of several optical cameras. The acquired surface is compared to an expected surface (usually taken from the planning scanner). Operators can constantly appreciate poor position, anatomical deformity or patient shift. Thus, the system allows an aid to the positioning of the patient, possibly without tattooing, but also a follow-up of the patient during the duration of the session. The most obvious contribution of the system concerns the treatment of the breast. In fact, for this location, the bone registration is not ideal and the target is visible in surface-guided radiotherapy. These systems also make it possible to treat in deep inspiration breath hold. But several other locations can benefit from it (pelvis, thorax, etc.).

[Rib fracture following intra-operative radiotherapy for breast cancer. Case Report and local experience]. / Fracture de côte suite à la radiothérapie peropératoire dans le cancer du sein. Cas clinique et expérience locale.

Intra-operative radiotherapy for breast cancer has been developed throughout the last two decades. It is already well-established regarding local control and toxicity for intra-operative radiotherapy using electrons as we now have the necessary background knowledge. However, very few data on later toxicity are available for intra-operative radiotherapy using low-energy photons. We report here the case of a 36-year-old woman who experienced rib fracture following intra-operative and external radiotherapy. This patient has been included in the Targit-boost trial. The intra-operative irradiation has been operated with an INTRABEAM device delivering low-energy photons of 50-kV.

[Image-guided radiotherapy in lung cancer]. / Radiothérapie guidée par l'image dans le cancer du poumon.

Image-guided radiotherapy takes place at every step of the treatment in lung cancer, from treatment planning, with fusion imaging, to daily in-room repositioning. Managing tumoral and surrounding thoracic structures motion has been allowed since the routine use of 4D computed tomography (4DCT). The integration of respiratory motion has been made with "passive" techniques based on reconstruction images from 4DCT planning, or "active" techniques adapted to the patient's breathing. Daily repositioning is based on regular images, weekly or daily, low (kV) or high (MV) energy. MRI and functional imaging also play an important part in lung cancer radiation and open the way for adaptative radiotherapy.

Efficacy of a global supportive skin care programme with hydrotherapy after non-metastatic breast cancer treatment: A randomised, controlled study.

This study investigated the efficacy of post-treatment hydrotherapy as supportive care for management of persistent/long-lasting dermatologic adverse events (dAEs) induced in breast cancer survivors by adjuvant therapy, and its impact on quality of life (QoL). Patients in complete remission after standardised (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy combination treatment for infiltrating HR+/HER2-breast carcinoma were enrolled in this randomised, multicentre controlled study 1-5 weeks after completing radiotherapy. The control group (CG, n = 33) received best supportive care and the treatment group (HG, n = 35) received 3-weeks of specific hydrotherapy. The primary criterion was change in QoL (QLQ-BR23) after hydrotherapy. Clinical grading of dAEs, cancer-related QoL (QLQ-C30), dermatologic QoL (DLQI) and general psychological well-being (PGWBI) were assessed. Significant dAEs were found at inclusion in both groups (n = 261). Most items showed significantly greater improvement in the HG versus CG group: QLQ-BR23 (breast [p = .0001] and arm symptoms [p = .0015], systemic therapy side effects [p = .0044], body image [p = .0139]), some dAE grading, DLQI (p = .0002) and PGWBI (p = .0028). Xerosis (88% of patients at inclusion) completely healed in all HG patients. Specific hydrotherapy is an effective supportive care for highly prevalent and long-lasting dAEs occurring after early breast cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, and leads to improved QoL and dermatologic toxicities.

[Acute toxicity of breast cancer irradiation with modulated intensity by tomotherapy®]. / Toxicité aiguë de la tomothérapie des cancers mammaires.

PURPOSE: Helical radiation intensity modulated by tomotherapy improves dose distribution to complex and large volumes. The aim of the study was to assess acute toxicity of this technique during breast cancer irradiation after conserving surgery or mastectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cutaneous toxicities, lung and oesophageal side effects, and breast lymphedema were retrospectively collected according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.0 (CTCAE v4.0) in 292 patients treated for a breast cancer by tomotherapy between May 2010 and December 2014. After conservative surgery, the dose administered to breast volume and the tumour bed was respectively 52.2Gy and 63.8Gy in 29 fractions. After mastectomy, the dose was 50Gy in 25 fractions. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to highlight risk factors for dermatitis and breast oedema. RESULTS: The rate of dermatitis grade 2 and 3 were 22.9% and 1.7% respectively. In univariate analysis, factors associated with acute radiation dermatitis were breast volume (P=0.002), body mass index (BMI) (P<0.0001), the use of chest compression mask (net) (P=0.005) and the localization of the irradiation (P <0.0001). In multivariate analysis, BMI greater than 25kg/m2 (odds ratio [OR]: 3.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.93-6.74], P<0.0001), the use of a chest mask (OR 2.01, 95% CI [1.06-3.79] P=0.0328) and irradiation after conservative treatment increase the risk of acute radiation dermatitis (mastectomy: OR 0.64, 95% CI [0.04-0.43]; mastectomy with immediate reconstruction with prosthesis: OR 0.13 95% CI [0.10-0.38] P=0.0003). The incidence of breast oedema grade 2 or above was 19.5%, in univariate analysis, there was a correlation with BMI (P=0.003) and smoking (P=0.009). In multivariate analysis, smoking and BMI greater than 25kg/m2 increased the risk of breast oedema (OR 2.47, respectively [95% CI 1.22-5.01] P=0.012 and OR 2.37 [95% CI 1.22-4.59] P=0.01). The rate of radiation pneumonitis of grade 2 or above was 1.4%. Among the patients, 19.9% had esophagitis grade 1 or 2. CONCLUSION: The helical irradiation intensity modulation tomotherapy is a well-tolerated treatment for breast cancer that reduces the high radiation doses to organs at risk.

[Breast ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion: pathological review and clinical implications]. / Carcinome canalaire in situ avec micro-invasion : spécificités anatomopathologiques et implications cliniques.

PURPOSE: Recent improvements in the detection of breast cancer at an early stage have resulted in a rising incidence of breast ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion. So far, there is no consensus regarding its optimal management. We hereby report on our 10-year single institutional experience in breast ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion including pathological reviewing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive patients treated for a ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion at the Institut Claudius-Regaud (Toulouse, France) over a 10-year period were included in this study. We reviewed all available histological materials. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients were eligible for this study. Two patients presented with a lymph node invasion at diagnosis. Each patient benefited from initial surgical management, which consisted either in mastectomy (n=25) or conservative resection (n=37). Axillary exploration was performed in 52 patients (82%). After a median follow-up of 61.3 months [46.9;69], the 5-year overall survival and disease free survival were 98.2 (95% CI=[88.2;99.7]) and 89.5% (95% CI=[76.3;95.6]) respectively. Two delayed invasive relapses occurred leading to one specific death. The pathological review highlighted a trend towards a loss of HR and HER2 expression (9%) in the microinvasive component in comparison with its surrounded in situ carcinoma. CONCLUSION: The risk of initial lymph node involvement and delayed invasive local relapse deserve an optimal locoregional management including lymph node evaluation. The non-negligible discrepancy's rate between in situ and microinvasive components justifies HR status and HER2 expression assessment on the microinvasive component.

Radiofrequency ablation for non-small-cell lung cancer in a single-lung patient: case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency thermal ablation is an alternative option to manage primary or metastatic lung malignancies. It is particular useful for unresectable lesions because of the disease's location, prior resection, or comorbidities. Patients presenting with a lung tumor that occurs in a single lung due to a prior pneumonectomy are difficult to manage with a curative intent due to the risk of complications after local treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We hereby report on treatment of a primary non-small-cell lung cancer in a previously contralateral pneumonectomised patient using per-cutaneous pulmonary radiofrequency thermal ablation. We also discuss literature that describes similar alternative minimally invasive procedures. CONCLUSION: Despite being a high-risk procedure, radiofrequency should be considered for patients with a single lung particularly when ineligible to surgery or stereotactic ablative radiation therapy. The procedure should be ideally associated with a pre-operative preventive chest tube.

Potential benefits of using cardiac gated images to reduce the dose to the left anterior descending coronary during radiotherapy of left breast and internal mammary nodes.

PURPOSE: To assess the benefits of using cardiac gated images for treatment planning of breast and internal mammary nodes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Inspiration breath hold computed tomography (CT) series acquired at prospectively gated diastolic phase were used for planning. Three different techniques were compared. Technique A used tangents and an internal mammary nodes field covering the three first inter-rib spaces; technique B used an extended internal mammary nodes including part of the medial breast in junction with tangential fields; the 3(rd) technique used helical tomotherapy. For each technique, two treatment plans were performed: one plan (plan-01) where mean dose and V(25) to the heart were considered for plan evaluation and a second plan (plan-02) where the irradiation of the left anterior descending artery was minimized. RESULTS: V(25) to the heart was found to be less than 5% for all six plans. Mean doses to the heart were within 4.8 to 7.2 Gy. By attempting to lower the dose to the left anterior descending artery, heart D(mean) was decreased by 20-30% for the two techniques A and B while being unchanged for tomotherapy. Regarding target coverage, there was no marked difference between plans where only heart dose was considered (plans-01) and plans where the left anterior descending artery dose was minimized (plans-02). When the left anterior descending artery dose was part of plan evaluation, D(mean) to the left anterior descending artery could be decreased by 24, 19 and 9% for techniques A, B and tomotherapy respectively. The three techniques exposed segments of the left coronary to different levels of dose. CONCLUSION: This study showed that evaluation of the dose to the left anterior descending artery coronary may change the treatment strategy. Cardiac gated images without IV contrast permitted a good visualization of the coronaries in order to optimize the dose on these structures. In addition to heart V(25,) the dose to the coronaries should be included in prospective studies on radiotherapy related heart toxicity in association with all additional risk factors.