ABSTRACT
Postoperative management of patients with brain metastases is controversial. Besides local control, cognitive function and quality of life are the most important outcomes of postoperative radiotherapy. In this case report, we introduce a patient with aggressive recurred solid metastasis treated with repeated surgery and an individual radiotherapy approach in order to highlight that close mutual collaboration leads to a clear benefit for our patients. The local targeted radiotherapy with 35 Gy in 10 fractions was performed with the volumetric modulated arc technique, leading to more than 2.5 years of local control and survival without any of the side effects usually attributed to whole brain radiotherapy.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hypofractionated accelerated radiotherapy (HART) is now a feasible option for prostate cancer treatment apropos toxicity, biochemical control and shortening of treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate hypofractionated schedules in the treatment of patients with localized prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2011-2014, 158 patients were treated using the RapidArc technique with IGRT. The target volume for low risk patients was the prostate alone with a prescribed dose of 20x3.0 Gy (EQD2=77 Gy). Targets volumes for intermediate and high risk patients were prostate and two thirds of the seminal vesicles with a prescribed dose 21-22x3.0/2.1 Gy (EQD2=81/45.4-84.9/47.5). Based on radiobiological modelling of early toxicity, we used four fractions per week in the low risk group and four fractions in odd weeks and three fractions in even weeks in intermediate and high risk groups. The RTOG/EORTC toxicity scale was used. RESULTS: Early genitourinary (GU) toxicity was observed for grades 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 in 73 (46%), 60 (38%), 22 (14%), 0 and 3 (2%), respectively; early gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity was recorded for grades 0, 1, 2 and 3 in 119 (75%), 37 (23%), and 2 (1%) patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: A combination of moderate hypofractionation, number of fractions per week adapted to target volume and precise dose delivery technique with image guidance appears safe with low early toxicity. Longer follow up is needed to assess late toxicity and tumor control probability.
Subject(s)
Prostatic Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Aged , Feasibility Studies , Femur Head/radiation effects , Humans , Male , Radiation Dose Hypofractionation , Radiation Injuries/prevention & control , Radiotherapy/adverse effects , Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted , Rectum/radiation effects , Risk Factors , Urinary Bladder/radiation effectsABSTRACT
Radiation myelopathy (RM) is a rare complication of spinal cord irradiation. Diagnosis is based on the history of radiotherapy, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord. The MRI findings may nevertheless be quite unspecific. In this paper, we describe the findings of diffusion tensor imaging in a case of the delayed form of RM. We observed areas of restricted diffusion within the spinal cord which probably corresponded to the ischemic changes. This would concur with the currently accepted pathogenetic theory concerning RM.
