ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how gross tumor volume (GTV) affects treatment outcome among different race/ethnic groups in patients with head and neck cancer receiving definitive radiotherapy (RT). METHODS: Ninety-one patients with head and neck cancer were treated to a median RT dose of 69.96 Gy in 33 fractions. The patient's self-reported race/ethnicity, primary tumor, and nodal GTV were obtained. Two-year actuarial local, nodal, and distant control, and overall and disease-free survival were calculated. RESULTS: The patients were categorized as white (n = 43) or non-white (n = 48), which included 29 African Americans, 11 Hispanics, 5 Asians, and 3 others. The mean primary GTV was 21.0 cc and 39.9 cc for whites and non-whites, respectively (p = .011). White patients reported improved overall survival of 85.4% compared to non-whites (65.8%; p = .006). Improvements in local and nodal control and disease-free survival rates were also observed. CONCLUSION: White patients demonstrated improved treatment outcomes compared with non-whites, which may be reflective of tumor volume.
Subject(s)
Asian/statistics & numerical data , Black or African American/statistics & numerical data , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/ethnology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/radiotherapy , Head and Neck Neoplasms/ethnology , Head and Neck Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Hispanic or Latino/statistics & numerical data , White People/statistics & numerical data , Aged , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Head and Neck Neoplasms/pathology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Radiotherapy Dosage , Radiotherapy, Conformal/methods , Retrospective Studies , Tumor Burden/radiation effects , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To examine the subjective patient experience after cataract surgery. SETTING: Single multisurgeon cataract facility. DESIGN: Prospective intraindividual observational study. METHODS: Patients completed a questionnaire immediately after cataract extraction performed in their second eye. All patients had second-eye surgery within 6 months of first-eye surgery. Cases longer than 30 minutes were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 292 patients who completed the questionnaire, 12 were excluded based on surgical time. The response rate varied per question. The surgery was rated as taking longer or being more painful in the second eye by 127 patients (45.4%) and in the first eye by 38 patients (13.5%) (P < .05); 115 patients (41.1%) reported no difference. Patients (47.83%) who rated the second eye as the generally more negative experience thought their vision would be better and 3.48% worse (P < .05); 48.70% thought it would be the same. No difference was noted in length of surgery (P = .3) or sedation used (P = .96). CONCLUSIONS: Of 125 patients who rated second-eye surgery as the generally more unpleasant procedure, 90 (72.0%) were similarly or more relaxed during the second procedure. Second-eye cataract surgery was perceived as being a longer and/or more painful procedure by a significant number of patients (45.4%), and only 3.48% thought that vision in the second eye would be worse. These results can help surgeons when counseling patients regarding expectations for second surgery. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Subject(s)
Cataract Extraction/psychology , Eye Pain/psychology , Pain, Postoperative/psychology , Patient Satisfaction , Patients/psychology , Humans , Lens Implantation, Intraocular , Operative Time , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Pain Measurement , Prospective Studies , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
To evaluate the change in volume and movement of the parotid gland measured by serial contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans in patients with head and neck cancer treated with parotid-sparing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). A prospective study was performed on 13 patients with head and neck cancer undergoing dose-painted IMRT to 69.96Gy in 33 fractions. Serial computed tomography scans were performed at baseline, weeks 2, 4, and 6 of radiotherapy (RT), and at 6 weeks post-RT. The parotid volume was contoured at each scan, and the movement of the medial and lateral borders was measured. The patient's body weight was recorded at each corresponding week during RT. Regression analyses were performed to ascertain the rate of change during treatment as a percent change per fraction in parotid volume and distance relative to baseline. The mean parotid volume decreased by 37.3% from baseline to week 6 of RT. The overall rate of change in parotid volume during RT was-1.30% per fraction (-1.67% and-0.91% per fraction in≥31Gy and<31Gy mean planned parotid dose groups, respectively, p = 0.0004). The movement of parotid borders was greater in the≥31Gy mean parotid dose group compared with the<31Gy group (0.22% per fraction and 0.14% per fraction for the lateral border and 0.19% per fraction and 0.06% per fraction for the medial border, respectively). The median change in body weight was-7.4% (range, 0.75% to-17.5%) during RT. A positive correlation was noted between change in body weight and parotid volume during the course of RT (Spearman correlation coefficient, r = 0.66, p<0.01). Head and neck IMRT results in a volume loss of the parotid gland, which is related to the planned parotid dose, and the patient's weight loss during RT.
