Knowledge, practice and communication barriers for oncology doctors in Chile when addressing the sexuality of their patients.

Introduction: Communication in a doctor-patient relationship constitutes a crucial aspect in medicine, and its multiple dimensions encompass a wide variety of ethical issues. Communication is particularly relevant in oncology, because it requires continually dealing with sensitive topics in one of the most highly vulnerable situations as a human: illness and proximity to death. Sexuality is one of these topics because it constitutes an area that is frequently affected by cancer and cancer treatment, which may include causing significant distress, the reinforcement of a negative self-image, relationship conflicts and a permanent memory of having cancer. The objective of this research is to describe the perception of knowledge and communications practices used by oncology doctors with respect to sexual health in the care of their patients, as well as the barriers found when it comes to confronting the topic. Methods: An exploratory quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out, in which a self-administered questionnaire was given to oncology doctors who practise in Chile. This questionnaire had 41 closed questions with answers on a Likert scale and was previously validated by being reviewed and applied to a pilot group of five professionals (one medical bioethics expert and four doctors in the field of oncology). The data were analysed with the SPSS statistical program v. 20, using descriptive statistics. Results: The main results show that the surveyed doctors consider sexuality to be an important part of patients' quality of life. However, this finding does not align with the practices given for including it as part of clinical care. The professionals refer as the main barriers those that are attributed to the structural functioning of the institution, giving little value to those barriers related to personal aspects or those associated with patient characteristics and/or behaviors. Conclusion: The results of this study show that, despite oncology doctors seeing sexuality as an important aspect of the quality of life of their patients, they do not include the topic in clinical care. Given that one of the main barriers is obstacles relating to the institution, it is necessary to create political institutions that create the conditions for including this area as a relevant part of cancer patient care.

Manejo actual de las metástasis vertebrales: un trabajo en equipo / Current management of vertebral metastases: teamwork

La enfermedad metastásica vertebral es frecuente en los pacientes con cáncer avanzado, y conlleva a complicaciones inherentes a su progresión, como lo son la fractura patológica vertebral y la compresión neural metastásica. Se realizó una revisión de los aspectos terapéuticos actuales del manejo de la progresión y de las complicaciones de la enfermedad metastásica vertebral, enfatizando su enfrentamiento sistémico y personalizado. Nuestro objetivo principal es proporcionar información sobre el tratamiento actual de esta afección y la utilidad del manejo sistémico y multidisciplinario.

Metastatic spinal disease is common in patients with advanced cancer, and leads to complications inherent in its progression, such as pathological vertebral fracture and metastatic neural compression. A review of the current therapeutic aspects regarding the progression and complications of metastatic spinal disease was performed, highlighting its systemic, personalized approach. Our aim is to provide information about the current treatment of this condition and the usefulness of its systemic and multidisciplinary management.

Dosimetric characterization and optimization of a customized Stanford total skin electron irradiation (TSEI) technique.

Total skin electron irradiation (TSEI) has been used as a treatment for mycosis fungoides. Our center has implemented a modified Stanford technique with six pairs of 6 MeV adjacent electron beams, incident perpendicularly on the patient who remains lying on a translational platform, at 200 cm from the source. The purpose of this study is to perform a dosimetric characterization of this technique and to investigate its optimization in terms of energy characteristics, extension, and uniformity of the treatment field. In order to improve the homogeneity of the distribution, a custom-made polyester filter of variable thickness and a uniform PMMA degrader plate were used. It was found that the characteristics of a 9 MeV beam with an 8 mm thick degrader were similar to those of the 6 MeV beam without filter, but with an increased surface dose. The combination of the degrader and the polyester filter improved the uniformity of the distribution along the dual field (180cm long), increasing the dose at the borders of field by 43%. The optimum angles for the pair of beams were ± 27°. This configuration avoided displacement of the patient, and reduced the treatment time and the positioning problems related to the abutting superior and inferior fields. Dose distributions in the transversal plane were measured for the six incidences of the Stanford technique with film dosimetry in an anthropomorphic pelvic phantom. This was performed for the optimized treatment and compared with the previously implemented technique. The comparison showed an increased superficial dose and improved uniformity of the 85% isodose curve coverage for the optimized technique.

Predictive models for pulmonary function changes after radiotherapy for breast cancer and lymphoma.

PURPOSE: To propose multivariate predictive models for changes in pulmonary function tests (ΔPFTs) with respect to preradiotherapy (pre-RT) values in patients undergoing RT for breast cancer and lymphoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A prospective study was designed to measure ΔPFTs of patients undergoing RT. Sixty-six patients were included. Spirometry, lung capacity (measured by helium dilution), and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide tests were used to measure lung function. Two lung definitions were considered: paired lung vs. irradiated lung (IL). Correlation analysis of dosimetric parameters (mean lung dose and the percentage of lung volume receiving more than a threshold dose) and ΔPFTs was carried out to find the best dosimetric predictor. Chemotherapy, age, smoking, and the selected dose-volume parameter were considered as single and interaction terms in a multivariate analysis. Stability of results was checked by bootstrapping. RESULTS: Both lung definitions proved to be similar. Modeling was carried out for IL. Acute and late damage showed the highest correlations with volumes irradiated above ~20 Gy (maximum R(2) = 0.28) and ~40 Gy (maximum R(2) = 0.21), respectively. RT alone induced a minor and transitory restrictive defect (p = 0.013). Doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide-paclitaxel (Taxol), when administered pre-RT, induced a late, large restrictive effect, independent of RT (p = 0.031). Bootstrap values confirmed the results. CONCLUSIONS: None of the dose-volume parameters was a perfect predictor of outcome. Thus, different predictor models for ΔPFTs were derived for the IL, which incorporated other nondosimetric parameters mainly through interaction terms. Late ΔPFTs seem to behave more serially than early ones. Large restrictive defects were demonstrated in patients pretreated with doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide-paclitaxel.

Braquiterapia en urología pediátrica: ¿una mejor alternativa con menos secuelas? / Brachytherapy in pediatric urology: a better alternative with les sequels?

El rabdomiosarcoma (RMS) representa el 3° tumor sólido extracraneal pediátrico. El uso de braquiterapia nos ha dado una nueva herramienta en el tratamiento de esta patología. En este trabajo queremos reportar la experiencia del uso de cirugía más conservadora asociada a braquiterapia en pacientes con RMS urológicos. Método: Revisión de todos los casos del año 2004-2011 de RMS urológicos manejados con braquiterapia postoperatoria y/o intraoperatoria, asociado a quimioterapia (QMT) preoperatoria. Resultados: En los 8 años de estudio hubo 6 RMS; se incluyen 5pacientes dado que uno fue RMS testicular que no requirió radioterapia. Caso 1: Masculino de 2 años RMS embrionario Grupo IV Estadio 4 de próstata, con QMT según protocolo y braquiterapia en la semana 24 de QMT. Lleva 76 meses libre de enfermedad. Caso 2: Masculino de 5 años, RMS embrionario Grupo lll Estadio 2 en vejiga, con QMT preoperatoria (12 semanas), cirugía con resección de tumor en cara anterior de vejiga y braquiterapia; completó esquema QMT. Lleva 30 meses libre de enfermedad, sin alteraciones miccionales. Caso 3: Masculino de 7 años, RMS embrionario Grupo lll Estadio 3 de próstata, con QMT según protocolo y braquiterapia en la semana 22 de QMT. Lleva 17meses libre de enfermedad, función vesical e intestinal normal. Caso 4: Femenino de 4 años, RMSbotroide Grupo lll Estadio 1 de vagina, con quimioterapia preoperatoria (12 semanas), cirugia y braquiterapia postquirúrgica, completó esquema de QMT. Lleva 4 meses libre de enfermedad, sin alteración miccional ni intestinal. Caso 5: Femenino de 2 años, RMS embrionario Grupo lll Estadio 3de psoas con compromiso de vejiga, con cirugía, QMT según protocolo y radioterapia externa; pre-sentó recidiva local, por lo que inicia QMT, cirugía resectiva del tumor en cara posterior de vejiga y uréter derecho + radioterapia intraoperatoria con cono. Lleva 2 meses libre de enfermedad. Sin alteración miccional ni intestinal...

The rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) represents the 3m’ extracraneal solid tumor in children. Brachytherapy use has given a new tool in this disease treatment. In this investigation we want to report the experience of conservative surgery associated to brachytherapy in patients with urological RMS. Method: Retrospective review of all the urological RMS cases between the years 2004-2011managed with postoperative and or intraoperative brachytherapy, associated to preoperative chemotherapy ( CM T). Results: ln a 8 year period there were 6 RMS; 5 are included because one case was a testicular RMS that did not required radiotherapy. Case 1: Two years old male children, prostatic group l V stage 4 embryonal RMS, with CMT according to protocol and brachytherapy in the 24”’ week of CMT Has been 76 months free of disease. Case 2: Five years old boy, bladder group lll stage 2embryonal RMS, with preoperative CMT (12 weeks), surgery including resection of tumor in the bladder anterior wall and brachytherapy,‘ Completed CMT protocol. Has been 30 months free of disease, without voiding disorders. Case 3: Seven years old boy, prostatic group lll stage 3 embryonal RMS, with CMT according to protocol and brachytherapy in 22'“ CMT week. Has been 17 months free of disease, normal bladder and intestinal function. Case 4: Four years old girl, vagina group lll stage 1botyroid RMS, with preoperative CMT (12 weeks), resective surgery and post-operative brachytherapy, completed CMT according to protocol. Has been 4 months free of disease, without voiding or intestinal disorders. Case 5: Two years old girl, psoas compromising bladder group llI stage 3 embryonal RMS, with surgery, CMT according to protocol and external radiotherapy. Presented local recurrence reason why initiates new CMT protocol, resective posterior wall bladder and right ureter surgery intraoperative radiotherapy cone. Has been 2 months free of disease. Without voiding or intestinal...

Terapia fotodinámica en queratosis actíicas y en enfermedad de Bowen (comunicación preliminar) / Photodynamic therapy in actinic keratoses and Bowen's disease: preliminary report

La Terapia Fotodinámica(TFD) tópica ha sido usada en un gran número de patologías dermatológicas benignas y malignas. Está particularmente indicada en Queratosis Actínicas (QA) y en Enfermedad de Bowen (EB). Consiste en la aplicación tópica de ácido aminolevulínico (ALA) que se transforma a nivel celular en protoporfirina IX (un poderoso fotosensibilizante) y se aplica sobre las lesiones malignas o premalignas, las que luego se fotosensibilizan. Posteriormente, las lesiones blanco son irradiadas con una luz láser (generalmente una luz roja) y las lesiones son destruidas por oxidación. Para evaluar la eficacia y la seguridad de la terapia, nosotros diseñamos un protocolo, que incluye a 5 pacientes con QA y dos con EB. Los diagnósticos clínicos son confirmados con biopsias y se toma iconografía previa al tratamiento y al final del mismo. Dos meses después de la segunda sesión de TFD se toma la biopsia de control. El tratamiento consiste en la aplicación de ALA al 20 por ciento (Levulan KerastickM.R.) sobre las lesiones blanco seleccionadas. Después de 14 horas, las lesiones son irradiadas con un láser que tiene una longitud de onda de 100 J/cm2 y 140 mW/cm2. Los paciente se controlan a los 3,7, 30 y 60 días. El tratamiento se repite a los 60 días de la primera sesión usando las mismas dosis mencionadas anteriormente. Hasta la fecha sólo dos pacientes han completado el tratamiento y éstos son los casos aquí presentados. Los resultados del paciente con EB han demostrado una remisión clínica superior al 90 por ciento. La biopsia de control de éste demostró una epidermis normal sin signos de displasia. El paciente con QA presentó una completa remisión clínica e histológica luego de dos sesiones de TFD. En relación a los resultados de esta experiencia preliminar, la TFD nos parece una alternativa efectiva y segura para el tratamiento de QA y EB.