Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the larynx - Case report.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the larynx is an extremely rare entity accounting for 0.04-0.45% of malignant tumours of the larynx. The objective of this clinical case report is to highlight the diagnosis and management of a unique case such as this. A 77-year-old gentleman presented with complaints of hoarseness for 1 year. Computed tomography image revealed a soft tissue mass lesion involving the right true vocal cord. Direct laryngoscopic biopsy was performed and subjected to histopathological examination, which showed collection of plasma cells. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of Kappa and Lambda cells. Multiple myeloma (MM) was ruled out. The patient received radical intent radiation therapy using 3DCRT technique with a dose of 50Gy in 25# over 5 weeks. He experienced improvement in hoarseness on subsequent follow-up visits. At 1-year follow up, positron emission tomography computed tomography showed near total resolution of disease with no progression to MM. Radiation therapy alone is known to achieve good local control, recurrence free survival, and organ preservation in such cases.

Practice of Tumor Bed Boost in Patients after Oncoplastic Breast-Conserving Surgery.

The practice of boost to the tumor bed after treatment with oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (BCS) remains variable. Using a survey, the present study evaluated the current practice of tumor bed boost administered in women after oncoplastic BCS. Actively practicing radiation oncologists across India were sent a questionnaire on the practice of adjuvant whole-breast radiotherapy and tumor bed boost after oncoplastic BCS via email and encouraged to participate. Of the 54 radiation oncologists who participated, most (98.1%) used a linear accelerator for radiotherapy. Hypofractionation was preferred by 59.26%, standard fractionation by 7.41%, and the remaining selected the fractionation strategy based on various patient factors. In addition, 83.33% participants reported that they always planned tumor boost, 51.85% preferred photons for the boost, and 75.93% administered sequential boost. The most common dose for the boost was 12.5 Gy in five fractions (40.74%). Most participants (77.78%) revealed that they used a combination of methods for identifying the tumor bed. With respect to clip placement, most surgeons (96%) at the participants' centers placed ≥ 4 clips at the tumor site, with both the base and margins being preferred by surgeons (81.48%) for placement. Finally, 12.96% participants revealed that the surgeons always involved them during surgical planning, whereas 7.4% participants reported that they always included the surgeons during radiotherapy planning, suggesting that radiation oncologists and oncoplastic surgeons do not involve each other during surgical and radiotherapy planning, possibly leading to suboptimal treatment. This may be attributed to the absence of guidelines regarding boost practices after oncoplastic BCS.

Hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein thrombosis treated with robotic radiosurgery: Interim results of a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: This is a prospective study evaluating the role of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) with CyberKnife (CK) in Indian patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein thrombosis (HCC-PVT). METHODS: Patients with inoperable HCC-PVT, good performance score (PS), and liver function are accrued for treatment on CK (version M6) and planned with Multiplan (iDMS V2.0). Triple-phase contrast computed tomography (CT) scan was done for contouring, and the gross tumor volume (GTV) included contrast-enhancing mass within main portal vein and adjacent parenchymal disease. Dose prescription was as per-risk stratification protocol (22-50 Gy in 5 fractions) while achieving the constraints of mean liver dose <15 Gy, 800 cc liver <8 Gy, and the duodenum max of ≤24 Gy). RESULTS: Seventy-two HCC-PVT accrued till date (mean age 63 years [38-76 years], 96% male; Child-Pugh [CP] A 84%, B 9%; Barcelona-Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] C 96%; PS0-1: 80%, Karnofsky performance score [KPS]>70: 88%; co-morbidities 42%; infective 12%, alcohol intake 31%, adjuvant sorafenib 39%). CP scores 5, 6, 7, and 8 were in 35%, 32%, 8%, and 18%, respectively. Focal disease with portal vein thrombus (PVT) in 21%, liver involvement >50% and <50% in 46% and 32%. Liver cancer study group of Japan staging-based portal vein invasion VP2, VP3, and VP4 in 22%, 29%, and 40%. Cancer of the Liver Italian Programm (CLIP) scores 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 were in 8%, 26%, 31%, 26%, and 7%, respectively. Mean follow-up was 7.3 months (median 6 months, standard deviation [SD] 6; range 3-30 months). Mean actuarial overall survival (OS) was 11.4 months (SE 1.587; 95% CI: 8-14.2 months). Six months and 12 months actuarial OS 55% and 38%, respectively. At last follow-up, 25/69 (36%) were alive and 44/69 (64%) were dead. Among 54 patients evaluated for response assessment, 23 (30%) had radiological confirmed PVT response, 1 (3%) had response of IVC thrombus, and 30 (42%) had no or minimal response to SBRT. Actuarial OS in responders and non-responders were 14.4 months (95% CI 9.4-19.2) and 7.4 months (95% CI 4.9-9.7), p-value: 0.022. Six and 12 months survival in responders and non-responders were 65.7% and 37% and 49% and 24.6%, respectively. Post-SBRT, 4 (12%) patients underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) 3 patients (8%) and 1 patient (4%) transarterial radioembolization (TARE). Post-CK, (<4 weeks) 2 patients (4%) had decompensation. CONCLUSIONS: PVT response or recanalization after SBRT is a statistically significant prognostic factor for survival function in HCC-PVT.

Dosimetric Comparison of Four Different Radiotherapy Planning Techniques for Adjuvant Radiotherapy of Left-Sided Breast, Axilla, and Supraclavicular Fossa.

Purpose/Aim: Forward planned intensity-modulated radiotherapy (forward IMRT) with breath-hold (BH) technique is considered optimal by most practitioners for treating left-sided breast cancer. Regional nodal irradiation including axilla and supraclavicular fossa (SCF) increases can increase dose-to-organs at risk (OAR) especially lung. This study was done to assess the potential of inverse planned IMRT (inverse IMRT) to achieve significant reduction in dose to OAR. Materials and Methods: Ten patients with left-sided breast cancer treated with Active Breath Co-ordinator BH technique were included in the study. Forward IMRT plans were generated in both BH and free breathing (FB) scans. Inverse IMRT plans were generated in FB scan using Tomotherapy-Direct and Tomotherapy-Helical techniques. Contouring was done as per the ESTRO consensus contouring guidelines. The dose prescribed was 40 Gy in 15 fractions. Statistical significance was tested using one-way ANOVA for parametric data and Kruskall-Wallis test for nonparametric data. Multiple comparison tests were done by using Bonferroni test. P <0.05 was considered to denote statistical significance. Results: Inverse IMRT plans achieved superior homogeneity index compared to forward IMRT with BH. Tomotherapy-Direct reduced dose to ipsilateral lung, compared to the forward IMRT with BH while achieving similar doses to other OAR. Tomotherapy-Helical plans achieved significantly better conformity index and reduced maximum dose to left anterior descending artery compared to forward IMRT plans, but low dose to other OAR was significantly worse. Conclusion: For left-sided breast, axilla, and SCF radiotherapy, inverse IMRT with Tomotherapy-Direct plan achieved better homogeneity index and reduced dose to ipsilateral lung compared to forward IMRT with BH.