Radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal cancer using Rapidarc: dosimetric study of military teaching hospital Mohamed V, Morocco.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study is to assess efficacy and efficiency of Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique in treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer in our institution and to report toxicity related to this technique. METHODS: Between June 2013 and January 2015, thirty-two patients with non metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer were curatively treated using VMAT Rapidarc. Dose prescription was performed using two different schedules, it consisted of either simultaneous integrated boost or simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy delivering 70 Gy in 35 fractions and 69.96 in 33 fractions respectively. The choice was leaved at the discretion of the treating physician. The optimization process was performed by Eclipse software version 10.0 (Varian Medical Systems), using PRO algorithm (Progressive resolutive optimisation) version 3. Data was collected from dose-volume histograms for both planning target volumes (PTV) and organs at risk (OAR). We calculated the homogeneity index and the conformity index as well as the number of monitor units MU and the treatment delivery time. We also reported acute and late toxicity related to radiation therapy. RESULTS: For the PTV high risk (HR), intermediate risk (PTV IR) and low risk (LR) the D95% was 97.21 ± 1.5, 97.5 ± 3.3 and 97.10 ± 6.86 respectively. Whereas, The D5% was 104.6 ± 2.16, 103.8 ± 2.1 and 100.89 ± 7.26. The CI for PTV HR was 0.98 ± 0.02 and the HI was 0.08 ± 0.02. The mean treatment delivery time was 2.3 ± 0.2, and the mean MU number was 527.6 ± 131.4. Grade 4 toxicity was not reported in any case. Grade 3 xerostomia was observed in only 3(9.4%) patients and no patients developed grade 3 hearing loss. CONCLUSION: Our results confirmed the abilities of VMAT to provide excellent coverage of target volumes while sparing OAR especially the nervous structures and salivary glands.

Diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary characteristics of cervical cancer in Department of Radiotherapy, Mohamed V Military Hospital - Rabat in Morocco.

BACKGROUND: Cancer of uterine cervix is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths among women. The aim of this study is to report the experience of Military Hospital Mohamed V in the management of cervical cancer and their results. METHODS: All cervical cancer managed at the radiotherapy department of Military Hospital Mohamed V between January 2005 and February 2010, were included for investigation of their demographic, histological, therapeutic and follow-up characteristics. Of the 162 cases managed, 151 (93.2 %) cases were treated in our department. RESULTS: In our study the median age was 51.5 years (33-82). The median duration of symptoms before diagnosis was four [3, 7] months. The major presenting complaints were abnormal vaginal bleeding (89.8 %). Squamous cell carcinoma cervix was seen in 86.2 % (n = 137), adenocarcinoma in 11.3 % (n = 18) and adenosquamous carcinoma in 2.4 % (n = 4). One hundred seventeen (84.8 %) cases were seen at late stage. An abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan was performed in 34.6 % (n = 56) of cases, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 62.9 % (n = 102). The pelvic lymph nodes were achieved in 16.6 % of cases. Over half of patients 58.3 % (n = 88) were treated with a combination of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and a concurrent cisplatin based chemotherapy (40 mg /m2 weekly). With a mean of 51.6 months (2 to 109), we recorded 19 (12.6 %) pelvic relapse and 15 (9.9 %) metastases. The median time to onset was 19.4 months (2-84 months). The local control rate was 63.6 % (n = 96) and 21 (13.9 %) patients were lost to follow-up. The overall survival (OS) at 3 years and 5 years was respectively 78.3 % and 73.6 % and the relapse-free survival (RFS) was respectively 80 % and 77.2 %. CONCLUSION: Most of cervical cancer patients in Morocco are seen at late stage necessitating referral for radiotherapy, chemotherapy or palliative care. This may reflect lack of cervical screening in order to early detect and treat pre-malignant disease stage.

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the trachea: a report of two cases and literature review.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the trachea is rare, it represents 1% of all respiratory tract cancers. It's generally considered as a slow-growing, with pronlonged clinical course. Most patients present with dyspnea, and the symptoms often mimic those of asthma or chronic bronchitis Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment often combined to radiotherapy because of close surgical margins. When surgery isn't possible, most tumors respond to radiotherapy alone wich often results in long periods of remission We report two cases of primary ACC of trachea: a 49 year old male presented a distal unresectable tracheal ACC treated with chemo-radiotherapy who developed a recurrence and died 7 years after the diagnosis. And a 50 years old female with a proximal tracheal tumor treated by surgical resection and end- to- end anastomosis followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. At 10 months follow-up, our patient shows no evidence of disease with negative histological findings.