Radiation and chemotherapy with no excessive toxicity in a patient with human papillomavirus-related tonsillar cancer and porphyria cutanea tarda: Case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Porphyria is a condition of cutaneous photosensitivity. It is unclear if radiotherapy (RT) is safe in patients with porphyria. METHODS: We report a patient case with uncontrolled porphyria cutanea tarda treated with chemoradiation for p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer. Given the scarcity of data on this subject, we also conducted a literature review on the topic of radiation in patients with porphyria. RESULTS: The patient in our study did not experience any unusual acute or late toxicity, despite receiving a high dose of cutaneous radiation. We also found the majority of the literature supports the safe use of therapeutic radiation in patients with porphyria. CONCLUSION: In this patient, and in the majority of the literature, radiation seems safe in patients with porphyria; however, there are few reports on the subject in the literature, therefore, caution is warranted.

Comparison of 2D and 3D imaging and treatment planning for postoperative vaginal apex high-dose rate brachytherapy for endometrial cancer.

PURPOSE: To evaluate bladder and rectal doses using two-dimensional (2D) and 3D treatment planning for vaginal cuff high-dose rate (HDR) in endometrial cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Ninety-one consecutive patients treated between 2000 and 2007 were evaluated. Seventy-one and 20 patients underwent 2D and 3D planning, respectively. Each patient received six fractions prescribed at 0.5 cm to the superior 3 cm of the vagina. International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) doses were calculated for 2D patients. Maximum and 2-cc doses were calculated for 3D patients. Organ doses were normalized to prescription dose. RESULTS: Bladder maximum doses were 178% of ICRU doses (p < 0.0001). Two-cubic centimeter doses were no different than ICRU doses (p = 0.22). Two-cubic centimeter doses were 59% of maximum doses (p < 0.0001). Rectal maximum doses were 137% of ICRU doses (p < 0.0001). Two-cubic centimeter doses were 87% of ICRU doses (p < 0.0001). Two-cubic centimeter doses were 64% of maximum doses (p < 0.0001). Using the first 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 fractions, we predicted the final bladder dose to within 10% for 44%, 59%, 83%, 82%, and 89% of patients by using the ICRU dose, and for 45%, 55%, 80%, 85%, and 85% of patients by using the maximum dose, and for 37%, 68%, 79%, 79%, and 84% of patients by using the 2-cc dose. Using the first 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 fractions, we predicted the final rectal dose to within 10% for 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100% of patients by using the ICRU dose, and for 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, and 75% of patients by using the maximum dose, and for 68%, 95%, 84%, 84%, and 84% of patients by using the 2-cc dose. CONCLUSIONS: Doses to organs at risk vary depending on the calculation method. In some cases, final dose accuracy appears to plateau after the third fraction, indicating that simulation and planning may not be necessary in all fractions. A clinically relevant level of accuracy should be determined and further research conducted to address this issue.

Dose to level I and II axillary lymph nodes and lung by tangential field radiation in patients undergoing postmastectomy radiation with tissue expander reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: To define the dosimetric coverage of level I/II axillary volumes and the lung volume irradiated in postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) following tissue expander placement. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-three patients were identified who had undergone postmastectomy radiotherapy with tangent only fields. All patients had pre-radiation tissue expander placement and expansion. Thirteen patients had bilateral expander reconstruction. The level I/II axillary volumes were contoured using the RTOG contouring atlas. The patient-specific variables of expander volume, superior-to-inferior location of expander, distance between expanders, expander angle and axillary volume were analyzed to determine their relationship to the axillary volume and lung volume dose. RESULTS: The mean coverage of the level I/II axillary volume by the 95% isodose line (V(D95%)) was 23.9% (range 0.3 - 65.4%). The mean Ipsilateral Lung V(D50%) was 8.8% (2.2-20.9). Ipsilateral and contralateral expander volume correlated to Axillary V(D95%) in patients with bilateral reconstruction (p = 0.01 and 0.006, respectively) but not those with ipsilateral only reconstruction (p = 0.60). Ipsilateral Lung V(D50%) correlated with angle of the expander from midline (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing PMRT with tissue expanders, incidental doses delivered by tangents to the axilla, as defined by the RTOG contouring atlas, do not provide adequate coverage. The posterior-superior region of level I and II is the region most commonly underdosed. Axillary volume coverage increased with increasing expander volumes in patients with bilateral reconstruction. Lung dose increased with increasing expander angle from midline. This information should be considered both when placing expanders and when designing PMRT tangent only treatment plans by contouring and targeting the axilla volume when axillary treatment is indicated.

Central nervous system myelomatosis with optic neuropathy and intramedullary spinal cord compression responding to radiation therapy.

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement by multiple myeloma is a rare complication that occurs in less than 1% of cases. The purpose of this report is to highlight the unique presentation and treatment of a patient with CNS myelomatosis. A 58-year-old Caucasian woman with multiple myeloma developed subacute vision loss bilaterally and was found to have plasma cells in her cerebrospinal fluid. Using a helmet field to 25 Gy in 10 fractions, her vision was stabilized with radiotherapy. After developing right upper extremity numbness and weakness, magnetic resonance imaging revealed intramedullary spinal cord lesions from C5 to C7. She received radiotherapy to 25 Gy in 10 fractions from C4 to T1, with improvement in upper extremity strength after 15 Gy. Although CNS involvement by multiple myeloma is a rare complication, increasing awareness is necessary for clinicians to consider meningeal myelomatosis in patients with this neoplasm.