Delayed renal dysfunction after total body irradiation in pediatric malignancies.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the incidence of delayed renal dysfunction after total body irradiation (TBI) in long-term survivors of TBI/hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Between 1989 and 2006, 24 pediatric patients underwent TBI as part of the conditioning regimen for HSCT at Chiba University Hospital. Nine patients who survived for more than 5 years were enrolled in this study. No patient had any evidence of renal dysfunction prior to the transplant according to their baseline creatinine levels. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 6 years old (range: 1-17 years old). The follow-up period ranged from 79-170 months (median: 140 months). Renal dysfunction was assessed using the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The TBI dose ranged from 8-12 Gy delivered in 3-6 fractions over 2-3 d. The patients were treated with linear accelerators in the supine position, and the radiation was delivered to isocentric right-left and left-right fields via the extended distance technique. The kidneys and the liver were not shielded except in one patient with a left adrenal neuroblastoma. No patient required hemodialysis. The eGFR of four patients (44.4%) progressively decreased. The remaining patients did not demonstrate any eGFR deterioration. Only one patient developed hypertension. By evaluating the changes in eGFR, renal dysfunction among long-term survivors of TBI/HSCT could be detected. Our results suggested that the TBI schedule of 12 Gy in 6 fractions over three consecutive days affects renal function.

The incidence and significance of retropharyngeal lymph node metastases in hypopharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical significance of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis in hypopharyngeal cancer. METHODS: Pretreatment computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance images of 152 patients treated between 1998 and 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. The prognostic significance of retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis for 116 patients who received definitive treatment was also analyzed. RESULTS: Twelve patients (8%) were radiologically positive for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis. Tumors originating from the posterior wall showed significantly higher incidence of retropharyngeal lymph node than those originating from other sites (23.8 vs. 5.3%, P = 0.01). The majority of patients with retropharyngeal lymph node involvement experienced distant metastasis. The overall survival rate of patients with retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis was worse than in those lacking retropharyngeal lymph node involvement (0 vs. 68.8% at 2 years, P < 0.01), and so was the cause-specific survival rate (0 vs. 74% at 2 years, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hypopharyngeal cancer, especially those with posterior wall tumors, are at high risk for retropharyngeal lymph node involvement. Patients with retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis developed distant metastasis frequently, and showed dismal outcomes.

Dumbbell-shaped nonpsammomatous malignant melanotic schwannoma of the cervical spinal root.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Melanotic schwannoma is a very rare tumor of Schwann cell origin, which can develop in various locations, similar to conventional schwannoma. This tumor has a malignant potential and therefore careful therapy is required. PURPOSE: To describe a case of melanotic schwannoma with a histopathologically and clinically malignant behavior. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. METHODS: A 64-year-old man presented with sensory changes in his arm and gait disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a dumbbell-shaped tumor at the left C7 spinal root, which was hyperintense on T1-weighted images and generally hypointense on T2-weighted images in comparison with conventional schwannoma; however, the peripheral zone was relatively hyperintense, and the central zone was hypointense like a target sign. RESULTS: The tumor was partially resected and diagnosed to be nonpsammomatous malignant melanotic schwannoma. The patient experienced local recurrence and metastases to the bone and lung and finally developed quadriplegia. Radiation therapy failed to palliate the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Some melanotic schwannomas present with an aggressive behavior, which thus leads to poor prognosis. We should therefore be familiar with its characteristic clinical imaging and pathologic findings to provide a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment for such patients.

Intrafractional gastric motion and interfractional stomach deformity using CT images.

To evaluate the intra- and interfractional gastric motion using repeated CT scans, six consecutive patients with gastric lymphoma treated at our institution between 2006 and 2008 were included in this study. We performed a simulation and delivered RT before lunch after an overnight fast to minimize the stomach volume. These patients underwent repeated CT scanning at mild inhale and exhale before their course of treatment. The repeated CT scans were matched on bony anatomy to the planning scan. The center of stomach was determined in the X (lateral), Y (superior-inferior), and Z (ventro-dorsal) coordinate system to evaluate the intra- and interfractional motion of the stomach on each CT scan. We then calculated the treatment margins. Each patient was evaluated four to five times before their course of RT. The average intrafractional motions were -12.1, 2.4 and 4.6 mm for the superior-inferior (SI), lateral (LAT), and ventro-dorsal (VD) direction. The average interfractional motions of the center of the stomach were -4.1, 1.9 and 1.5 mm for the SI, LAT and VD direction. The average of the vector length was 13.0 mm. The systematic and random errors in SI direction were 5.1, and 4.6 mm, respectively. The corresponding figures in LAT and VD directions were 10.9, 5.4, 10.0, and 6.5 mm, respectively. Thus, the 15.9, 31.0 and 29.6 mm of margins are required for the SI, LAT, and VD directions, respectively. We have demonstrated not only intrafractional stomach motion, but also interfractional motion is considerable.

A long-term follow-up study of prospective 80%-dose CHOP followed by involved-field radiotherapy in elderly lymphoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the long-term clinical outcome of elderly patients with localized aggressive lymphoma and to explore appropriate treatment strategies for this population. METHODS: Subjects of this multicenter prospective study were untreated patients aged ≥70 years with aggressive Stage IA-IIA lymphoma. Therapy with 80%-dose CHOP (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2), doxorubicin 40 mg/m(2), vincristine 1.1 mg/m(2) and prednisolone 80 mg/day for 5 days) was repeated every 3 weeks. After three cycles of chemotherapy, involved-field radiotherapy was performed with 30-50 Gy in 15-28 fractions. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients (median age, 75 years; range, 70-84 years) were enrolled. Nineteen patients (79%) had non-bulky tumors <6 cm. The median follow-up period was 7.3 years. The 7-year overall and progression-free survival rates were 78.9% (95% confidence interval, 62.3-95.5) and 65.3% (95% confidence interval, 45.3-85.3), respectively. Six patients developed systemic relapse, two of them after 6 years. The median survival time after relapse was only 5 months (range, 2 weeks-5.2 years). Five patients developed second malignancies, and three other patients died from other causes without lymphoma progression. None of the patients developed local relapse within the radiation field and/or regional relapse in adjacent lymph node areas. CONCLUSIONS: Although systemic relapses, short survival time after relapse and death from other causes occurred, no loco-regional relapses were observed. Less intensive radiotherapy such as low-dose and small field might not compromise the treatment outcome for this population.

Radiation pneumonitis following twice-daily radiotherapy with concurrent carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of dose-volume factors on the development of radiation pneumonitis in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who received twice-daily radiotherapy concurrently with carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy. METHODS: Radiotherapy consisted of twice-daily fractionation of 1.2 Gy, to a total dose of 60 Gy. Weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel were used as a concurrent chemotherapy. Effects of radiotherapy parameters on the development of radiation pneumonitis were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Fourteen of 37 patients developed Grade 2 or worse (> or = G2) radiation pneumonitis. Grade 2 or worse radiation pneumonitis occurred in all 5 patients with V5 >40%, all 4 patients with V10 >35%, all 4 patients with V13 >32%, 9 of 14 patients with V20 >24% and 8 of 11 patients with V30 >22%, whereas 9 of 32 patients with V5 <40%, 10 of 33 patients with V10 <35%, 10 of 33 patients with V13 <32%, 5 of 23 patients with V20 <24% and 6 of 26 patients with V30 <22%, with respective P values of 0.0045, 0.015, 0.015, 0.015 and 0.008. Eight of 11 patients with a mean lung dose of >14 Gy developed > or = G2 radiation pneumonitis in contrast to 6 of 26 patients with a mean lung dose of <14 Gy (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Several cut-off values in the V(dose) and the mean lung dose differentiating probabilities of developing > or = G2 radiation pneumonitis were identified in this combination therapy.

Vessel-contouring-based pelvic radiotherapy in patients with uterine cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess clinically the adequacy of vessel-contouring-based pelvic radiotherapy with regard to nodal coverage for uterine cervical cancer. METHODS: Fifty patients with Stages I-III cervical cancer, treated with vessel-contouring-based three-dimensional radiotherapy since August 2002, were entered into the study (median age: 54, 47 received concurrent daily cisplatin). All patients were treated with external beam radiotherapy using a four-field box technique with or without brachytherapy. Pelvic blood vessels were identified and contoured on computed tomography simulation images. A generous margin was set outside these vessels outlined on digitally reconstructed radiograph accounting for normal size lymph nodes, patient's motion and set-up uncertainty. Multi-leaf collimator (MLC) was inserted and adjusted manually. Patterns of recurrence were clinically evaluated. RESULTS: Distance between major vessels and MLC edges varied inter- and intra-individually. Median distance in the mid-iliosacral joint level was 25 mm (left) and 24 mm (right). The maximum and the minimum distances ranged from 25 to 45 mm (median, 32) and 9 to 27 mm (median, 15) for left side and 24 to 41 mm (median, 30) and 7 to 28 mm (median, 15) for right side, respectively. With a median follow-up of 43 months, 10 patients developed recurrence. However, no marginal recurrence was occurred just lateral to the contoured vessels. All three patients who developed regional recurrence had recurred at the internal iliac node or the obturator node medial to contoured vessels. CONCLUSIONS: Contoured vessels can be used as surrogate markers for location of the pelvic lymph nodes.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma in Japan: changes in clinical features, treatment, and prognosis during 1985-2004.

We have conducted nationwide surveys of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) treated since 1985. In the present study, we newly collected data between 2000 and 2004 and investigated changes in clinical features and outcome over time. A total of 739 patients with histologically proven PCNSL under going radiotherapy were analyzed. Seventeen institutions were surveyed, and data on 131 patients were collected. These data were compared with updated data that were previously obtained for 466 patients treated during 1985-1994 and 142 patients treated during 1995-1999. Recent trends toward decrease in male/female ratio, increase in aged patients, and increase in patients with multiple lesions were seen. Regarding treatment, decrease in attempts at surgical tumor removal and increases in use of systemic chemotherapy and methotrexate (MTX)-containing regimens were observed. The median survival time was 18, 29, and 24 months for patients seen during 1985-1994, 1995-1999, and 2000-2004, respectively, and the respective 5-year survival rates were 15%, 30%, and 30%. In groups seen during 1995-1999 and during 2000-2004, patients who received systemic or MTX-containing chemotherapy had better prognosis than those who did not. Multivariate analysis of all patients seen during 1985-2004 suggested the usefulness of MTX-containing chemotherapy as well as the importance of age, lactate dehydrogenase level, and tumor multiplicity as prognostic factors. Thus, this study revealed several notable changes in clinical features of PCNSL patients. The prognosis improved during the last 10 years. Advantage of radiation plus chemotherapy, especially MTX-containing chemotherapy, over radiation alone was suggested.

Intrafractional gastric motion and interfractional stomach deformity during radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To evaluate intrafractional gastric motion and interfractional variability of the stomach shape during radiation therapy (RT) for gastric lymphoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For 11 patients with gastric lymphomas, we undertook fluoroscopic examinations at the time of the simulation, and once a week during RT to evaluate inter- and intrafractional gastric variations. We recorded anteroposterior and left to right X-ray images at inhale and exhale in each examination. We gave coordinates based on the bony landmarks in each patient, and identified the most superior, inferior, lateral, ventral, and dorsal points of the stomach on each film. The interfractional motion was assessed as the distance between a point at inhale and the corresponding point at exhale. We also analyzed interfractional variation based on each point measured. RESULTS: The intrafractional gastric motion was 11.7+/-8.3, 11.0+/-7.1, 6.5+/-6.5, 3.4+/-2.3, 7.1+/-8.2, 6.6+/-5.8mm (mean+/-SD) for the superior, inferior, right, left, ventral and dorsal points, respectively, which was significantly different between each point. The interfractional variability of stomach filling was -2.9+/-14.4, -6.0+/-13.4, 9.3+/-22.0mm for the superior-inferior (SI), lateral (LAT), and ventro-dorsal (VD) directions, respectively, and the differences of variabilities were also statistically significant. Thus, the appropriate treatment margins calculated from both systematic and random errors are 30.3, 41.0, and 50.8mm for the SI, LAT, and ventro-dorsal directions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both intrafractional gastric motion and interfractional variability of the stomach shape were considerable during RT. We recommend regular verification of gastric movement and shape before and during RT to individualize treatment volume.

Quality assurance of radiotherapy in a clinical trial for lymphoma: individual case review.

BACKGROUND: A multi-institutional clinical trial was conducted for localized lymphoma. This study evaluated whether a quality assurance (QA) program could clarify the source of variation in radiotherapy treatment between the institutions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two- or three-dimensional treatment planning is required to cover the target volumes adequately and to minimize doses to organs at risk. An original QA tool was used to compare pretreatment images with portal images and dose distribution, concurrently. RESULTS: In two of the first 12 cases, there was a deviation in the delineation of planning target volume (PTV). The QA committee clarified that there were ambiguities in the definition of PTV The study office distributed a memorandum outlining the definition of PTV in order to reduce deviations. Thereafter, a minor deviation was identified in one of the latter 11 cases. CONCLUSION: This QA program clarified the source of variation, and adapted the policy to reduce these problems.

A multicenter phase II study of local radiation therapy for stage IEA mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas: a preliminary report from the Japan Radiation Oncology Group (JAROG).

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of moderate dose radiation therapy (RT) for mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in a prospective multicenter phase II trial. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The subjects in this study were 37 patients with MALT lymphoma between April 2002 and November 2004. There were 16 male and 21 female patients, ranging in age from 24 to 82 years, with a median of 56 years. The primary tumor originated in the orbit in 24 patients, in the thyroid and salivary gland in 4 patients each, and 5 in the others. The median tumor dose was 30.6 Gy (range, 30.6-39.6 Gy), depending on the primary site and maximal tumor diameter. The median follow-up was 37.3 months. RESULTS: Complete remission (CR) or CR/unconfirmed was achieved in 34 patients (92%). The 3-year overall survival, progression-free survival, and local control probability were 100%, 91.9%, and 97.3%, respectively. Thirteen patients experienced Grade 1 acute toxicities including dermatitis, mucositis, and conjunctivitis. One patient developed Grade 2 taste loss. Regarding late toxicities, Grade 2 reactions including hypothyroidism, and radiation pneumonitis were observed in three patients, and Grade 3 cataract was seen in three patients. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective phase II study demonstrated that moderate dose RT was highly effective in achieving local control with acceptable morbidity in 37 patients with MALT lymphoma.

Initial experience with the quality assurance program of radiation therapy on behalf of Japan Radiation Oncology Group (JAROG).

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the efficacy of our quality assurance (QA) program of radiation therapy (RT) in a prospective phase II study. This is the first description of the experience of the Japan Radiation Oncology Group (JAROG) with this program. METHODS: Clinical records, all diagnostic radiological films or color photos that depicted the extent of disease of 37 patients with stage IEA extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) were collected for review. Radiation therapy charts, simulation films or digitally reconstructed radiographs, portal films and isodose distributions at the central axis plan were also reviewed. All documents were digitally processed, mounted on Microsoft PowerPoint, and for security returned from researchers by mail in CD-ROM format. The QA committee members reviewed all documents centrally, utilizing the slide show functionality. RESULTS: All patients were prescribed their specified dose to the dose specification point in accordance with the protocol. Three patients were regarded as deviations, because of a smaller margin than that specified in the protocol (n = 2) or a prolonged overall treatment time (n = 1). No violations were observed in this study. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report with regard to the QA program in MALT lymphoma. We demonstrated that our QA program was simple and inexpensive. We also confirmed that the radiation oncologists in Japan adhered closely to the protocol guidelines.

Treatment of primary intraocular lymphoma with radiation therapy: a multi-institutional survey in Japan.

This study evaluated the clinical features and treatment outcome of 15 patients with primary intraocular lymphoma. There were nine females, with a median age of 68 years. Thirteen patients presented with bilateral lesions and median time from the onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 12 months. All but one showed the B-cell phenotype. All patients received radiation therapy (RT) with a median of 41 Gy and 10 were administered chemotherapy as well. Three patients were treated with high-dose methotrexate and nine received prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) with a median of 30.6 Gy. Thirteen patients obtained a complete remission. The 2-year overall and disease free survival were 74% and 58%, respectively. Although only one patient experienced local recurrence, PCI did not prevent intracranial recurrence. One patient developed a grade 3 cognitive disturbance. It was concluded that ocular RT was effective to control primary lesions. However, some modifications are indispensable to improve outcomes.

A prospective study of reduced-dose three-course CHOP followed by involved-field radiotherapy for patients 70 years old or more with localized aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE: We conducted a multicenter prospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of reduced-dose three-course CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) followed by involved-field radiotherapy for elderly patients with localized aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The primary endpoint was compliance with the combined modality. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This study included untreated patients, > or =70 years old, with diffuse aggressive lymphoma, Stage IA or contiguous nonbulky Stage IIA. 80%-CHOP (cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2), doxorubicin 40 mg/m(2), vincristine 1.1 mg/m(2), and prednisolone at 80 mg/day for 5 days) was repeated every 3 weeks. After three cycles of chemotherapy, involved-field radiotherapy was performed with a radiation dose of 30-50 Gy in 15-28 fractions. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients with a median age of 75 years (range, 70-84 years) were enrolled. The compliance rate of the protocol study was 87.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 67.6-97.3). Three patients received only two cycles of chemotherapy because of toxicity or second neoplasm. There were no deaths caused by severe toxicity. The 3-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 83.1% (95% CI, 75.4-90.8) and 82.9% (95% CI, 75.1-90.6), respectively. CONCLUSION: Three-course 80%-CHOP followed by involved-field radiotherapy may be safe for administration to elderly patients over 70 years old. The next step is to evaluate three-course 80%-CHOP and rituximab followed by radiotherapy in elderly patients with localized disease.

Postoperative radiation therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) for cervical cancer has been empirically performed for patients with pathologic risk factors for recurrence after surgery. The efficacy of PORT is mainly supported by retrospective studies. Despite convincing evidence demonstrating a reduction in pelvic recurrence rates when PORT is employed, there is no evidence that it eventually improves patient survival. Local recurrence, such as vaginal stump recurrence, is not always fatal if diagnosed earlier. Some patients, unfortunately, may develop distant metastases even after PORT. The positive effects of PORT also may be counterbalanced by increased toxicities that result from combining local therapies. These factors obscure the efficacy of PORT for cervical cancer patients. There has been no consensus on the predictive value of risk factors for recurrence, which renders indication of PORT for early-stage cervical cancer quite variable among institutions. Today, efforts have been made to divide patients into three risk groups based on the combination of risk factors present after radical hysterectomy. In Europe/USA and Japan, however, a fundamental difference exists in the indications for radical surgery, highlighting differences in the concept of PORT; "adjuvant pelvic irradiation for stage IB-IIA patients after complete resection" in Europe/USA and "pelvic irradiation after surgery irrespective of initial clinical stage and surgical margin status" in Japan. Thus, it is questionable whether scientific evidence established in Europe/USA is applicable to Japanese clinical practice. The purpose of this article is to review the role of PORT by interpreting the results of clinical studies.

A case of gastric lymphoma with marked interfractional gastric movement during radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy has been a widely accepted treatment for patients with localized gastric lymphoma. We encountered a patient with gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, whose stomach volume, and the position and location of the clips that had been endoscopically placed to define the gastric lesions clearly differed considerably at three simulation times. The positions of the clips moved between 5 and 35 mm (mean 24 mm) laterally on simulation films. The mean movement of these clips along the cephalocaudal directions was 8 mm (range 0-15 mm). There have been no published articles which systemically evaluated interfractional gastric motion between each treatment session. Therefore this is an important observation in the management of patients with gastric lymphoma with RT.

Dose-volume factors predicting radiation pneumonitis in patients receiving salvage radiotherapy for postlobectomy locoregional recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The correlation between treatment-related factors and lung toxicity has not been sufficiently evaluated in salvage radiotherapy. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after lobectomy received salvage radiotherapy to a total dose of 46-60 Gy. The effects of radiotherapy parameters on the development of radiation pneumonitis (RP) were examined using dose-volume histograms. RESULTS: Grade 1 RP was observed in 4, grade 2 in 2, and grade 3 in 1 patient. Patients who developed RP had a significantly higher value in V dose (V13, V20) parameters and mean lung dose (MLD) than those who did not develop RP. Concerning G2 or higher RP, 3 patients who developed > or = G2 RP had a significantly higher value in V20, V13, and MLD than the remaining patients with P values of 0.01, 0.015, and 0.016, respectively. The mean V20, V13, and MLD in these 3 patients were 27%, 29.3%, and 14.8 Gy, respectively, whereas the mean V20, V13, and MLD in the remaining 18 patients were 15.8%, 18.3%, and 8.8 Gy, respectively. Three of 6 patients with a V20 > or = 20% developed > or = G2 RP whereas this did not occur in the remaining patients (P = 0.015). Similarly, 3 of 6 patients with a V13 > or = 23% developed > or = G2 RP whereas this did not occur in the remaining patients (P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a somewhat lower V dose value or MLD, as compared with the setting of definitive radiotherapy, could be a surrogate for RP in patients undergoing salvage radiotherapy for recurrent NSCLC.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type: the significance of radiotherapeutic parameters.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between local recurrence and radiotherapeutic parameters, including dose and RT radiotherapy (RT) field. METHODS: The current study included 35 patients who were diagnosed with immunohistochemically confirmed nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma between 1976 and 2004. There were 21 males and 14 females, and they ranged in age from 18 years to 76 years (median, 51 yrs). The primary tumor originated in the nasal cavity in 28 patients, and 32 patients had Stage I disease. Seventeen patients received treatment solely with RT, and the remaining 18 patients received a combination of chemotherapy and RT. The median tumor dose was 50 grays (Gy) (range, 22-60 Gy). Twenty-seven patients received RT to include all macroscopic lesions, all paranasal sinuses, the palate, and the nasopharynx. Eight patients received RT to all macroscopic lesions with generous margins. RESULTS: A complete remission (CR) or a CR/unconfirmed was achieved in 28 patients (80%). The 5-year overall survival (OAS) rate, disease-free survival (DFS) rate, and local control probability (LCP) were 47.3%, 42.9%, and 65.2%, respectively. Patients who received RT only to macroscopic lesions fared less well in terms of LCP (LCP 5 years, 71.9% vs. 41.7%; P=0.007). The difference in RT field also affected both the OAS rate and the DFS rate. Patients who received RT doses>or=50 Gy tended to achieve favorable local control. CONCLUSIONS: In the management of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma, the RT field affected treatment outcomes. RT doses>or=50 Gy resulted in favorable local control.

Preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess the prognostic factors for the management of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the maxillary sinus, who received preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT). We also elucidated the appropriate sequence of chemotherapy. METHODS: A total of 124 patients (median age 62 years) with SCC of the maxillary sinus were analysed retrospectively. T3 or T4 disease was found in 93% of the patients. Thirty-nine patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NA), 38 patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and 47 patients received NA followed by CRT. The median dose of RT was 60 Gy. Maxillectomy was undertaken in 98 patients. RESULTS: The 5 year overall survival (OAS) and local control probability (LCP) were 56.6 and 73.7%, respectively. On univariate analysis, surgery (P < 0.0001) and T classification (P < 0.04) were significant prognostic factors for OAS and LCP. Histological grade and nodal status were also related to OAS. However, any chemotherapy sequence was not associated with the treatment outcome. On multivariate analysis, surgery (P < 0.0005) and T classification (P < 0.05) were identified as significant prognostic factors for LCP and OAS. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that both surgery and T stage are important prognostic factors for LCP and OAS in the management of SCC of the maxillary sinus. The appropriate sequence of chemotherapy remains to be elucidated in the future study.