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BACKGROUND: Esophagogastric varices are a common complication of cirrhosis with portal hypertension and endoscopic treatment has been recognized as a primary preventive and therapeutic option for such patients; however, it should be noted that bradyarrhythmia is regarded as one of the contraindications to endoscopic examination. Meanwhile, acute variceal bleeding may result in a high mortality rate in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension accompanied by bradyarrhythmia. At present, there is an absence of reports concerning the treatment of such group of patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). The present report details the case of a cirrhotic patient with acute variceal bleeding accompanied by bradyarrhythmia who underwent TIPS under temporary pacemaker protection. CASE SUMMARY: We report the case of a 64-year-old male patient who was confirmed with bradyarrhythmia by ambulatory electrocardiogram 24 h before the operation. The patient was successfully treated by TIPS under temporary pacemaker protection. CONCLUSION: In terms of cirrhotic patients with abnormal cardiac electrophysiological conduction, TIPS may be effective in reducing the complications of portal hypertension following the exclusion of severe pulmonary hypertension and heart failure, showing moderate feasibility in clinical applications.
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OBJECTIVE: To analyze changes in volume and position of target regions and organs at risk (OARs) during radiotherapy for esophageal cancer patients. METHODS: Overall, 16 esophageal cancer patients who underwent radiotherapy, including 10 cases of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and six of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT), were enrolled. The prescription doses for the planning target volumes (PTVs) were as follows: PTV1, 64 Gy/32 fractions; and PTV2, 46 Gy/23 fractions. Repeat computed tomography (CT) was performed for patients after the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, and 25th fractions. Delineation of the gross tumor volume (GTV) and OAR volume was determined using five repeat CTs performed by the same physician. The target and OAR volumes and centroid positions were recorded and used to analyze volume change ratio (VCR), center displacement (ΔD), and changes in the distance from the OAR centroid positions to the planned radiotherapy isocenter (distance to isocenter, DTI) during treatment. RESULTS: No patient showed significant changes in target volume (TV) after the first week of radiotherapy (five fractions). However, TV gradually decreased over the following weeks, with the rate slowing after the fourth week (40 Gy). The comparison of TV from baseline to 40 Gy (20 fractions) showed that average GTVs decreased from 130.7 ± 63.1 cc to 92.1 ± 47.2 cc, with a VCR of -29.21 ± 13.96% (p<0.01), while the clinical target volume (CTV1) decreased from 276.7 ± 98.2 cc to 246.7 ± 87.2 cc, with a VCR of -10.34 ± 7.58% (p<0.01). As TVs decreased, ΔD increased and DTI decreased. After the fourth week of radiotherapy (40 Gy), centroids of GTV, CTV1, and prophylactic CTV (CTV2) showed average deviations in ΔD of 7.6 ± 4.0, 6.9 ± 3.4, and 6.0 ± 3.0 mm, respectively. The average DTI of the heart decreased by 4.53 mm (from 15.61 ± 2.96 cm to 15.16 ± 2.27 cm). CONCLUSION: During radiotherapy for esophageal cancer, Targets and OARs change significantly in volume and position during the 2nd-4th weeks. Image-guidance and evaluation of dosimetric changes are recommended for these fractions of treatment to appropriate adjust treatment plans.
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Flattening filter free (FFF) may affect outcome measures of radiotherapy. The objective of this study is to compare the dosimetric parameters in three types of radiotherapy plans, three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), with or without the flattening filter (FF), developed for the treatment of metastatic brain tumors from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). From July 2013 to October 2013, 3D-CRT, IMRT, and VMAT treatment plans were designed using 6 MV and 10 MV, with and without FF, for 10 patients with brain metastasis from NSCLC. The evaluation of the treatment plans included homogeneity index (HI), conformity index (CI), monitor units (MU), mean dose (Dmean), treatment time, and the influence of FFF on volumes. There was no difference in CI or HI between FFF and FF models with 3D-CRT, IMRT, and VMAT plans. At 6 MV, a lower Dmean was seen in the FFF model of 3D-CRT and in the VMAT plan at 10 MV. In the IMRT 6 MV, IMRT 10 MV, and VMAT 10 MV plans, higher MUs were seen in the FFF models. FFF treatments are similar in quality to FF plans, generally lead to more monitor units, and are associated with shorter treatment times. FFF plans ranked by the order of superiority in terms of a time advantage are VMAT, 3D-CRT, and IMRT.
