scholarly journals Evaluation of treatment-associated eye toxicity after irradiation in childhood and adolescence—results from the Registry of the Evaluation of Side Effects after Radiotherapy in Childhood and Adolescence (RiSK)

Author(s):  
Fenja Albrecht ◽  
Heidi Wolters ◽  
Yvonne Ziert ◽  
Beate Timmermann ◽  
Rolf-Dieter Kortmann ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study is to evaluate treatment-related acute and late eye toxicity associated with radiation therapy in childhood and adolescence as correlated with RT (radiotherapy) doses. Methods From 2001 to 2016, a total of 1725 children and adolescents undergoing radiation therapy were prospectively documented in the Registry of the Evaluation of Side Effects after Radiotherapy in Childhood and Adolescence (RiSK). The RTOG/EORTC criteria were used to classify ocular acute and late effects. Uni- and multivariate analyses were carried out to evaluate the impact of patient age, pre-existing impairments, and radiation dose on ocular toxicity. Results Of all documented patients, 593 received dose to the eye and formed the basis of this analysis. In 435 patients, information on acute reaction was available and graded 1, 2, 3, and 4 in 49, 17, 0, and 2 patients, respectively. Information on late toxicity was available in 268 patients and graded 1, 2, 3, and 4 in 15, 11, 11, and 5 patients, respectively. The acute toxicity rate was significantly higher in children who received a maximum dose > 50 Gy to the eye (p < 0.001) and who had a pre-existing eye impairment (p < 0.001 in multivariate analysis). The development of late toxicity was significantly higher for patients experiencing acute toxicity and having received a radiation dose > 50 Gy. Conclusion Acute and late toxicity both correlate with high radiation dose to the eye (> 50 Gy) and acute toxicity additionally with pre-existing eye impairments.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose G. Bazan ◽  
Dominic DiCostanzo ◽  
Karen Hock ◽  
Sachin Jhawar ◽  
Karla Kuhn ◽  
...  

Background/PurposeShoulder/arm morbidity is a late complication of breast cancer treatment with surgery and regional nodal irradiation (RNI). We set to analyze the impact of radiation technique [intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or 3D conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT)] on radiation dose to the shoulder with a hypothesis that IMRT use results in smaller volume of shoulder receiving radiation. We explored the relationship of treatment technique on long-term patient-reported outcomes using the quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (q-DASH) questionnaire.Materials/MethodsWe identified patients treated with adjuvant RNI (50 Gy/25 fractions) from 2013 to 2018. We retrospectively contoured the shoulder organ-at-risk (OAR) from 2 cm above the ipsilateral supraclavicular (SCL) planning target volume (PTV) to the inferior SCL PTV slice and calculated the absolute volume of shoulder OAR receiving 5–50 Gy (V5–V50). We identified patients that completed a q-DASH questionnaire ≥6 months from the end of RNI.ResultsWe included 410 RNI patients: 54% stage III, 72% mastectomy, 35% treated with IMRT. IMRT resulted in significant reductions in the shoulder OAR volume receiving 20–50 Gy vs. 3DCRT. In total, 82 patients completed the q-DASH. The mean (SD) q-DASH=25.4 (19.1) and tended to be lower with IMRT vs. 3DCRT: 19.6 (16.4) vs. 27.8 (19.8), p=0.078.ConclusionWe found that IMRT reduces radiation dose to the shoulder and is associated with a trend toward reduced q-DASH scores ≥6 months post-RNI in a subset of our cohort. These results support prospective evaluation of IMRT as a technique to reduce shoulder morbidity in breast cancer patients receiving RNI.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e21521-e21521
Author(s):  
Ofer Merimsky ◽  
Viacheslav Soyfer ◽  
Benjamin W. Corn ◽  
Solomon Dadia ◽  
Yehuda Kollender

e21521 Background: Adjuvant radiation therapy is an essential part of combined limb sparing treatment of STS. The recommended dose of radiation lies in the range of 60 Gy in standard fractionation of 1.8-2 Gy. Elderly or medically unfit patients often have difficulty in completing 6-7w of daily treatment. A prolonged course of radiation may be interrupted by acute side effects, which sometimes demands further extension of the overall course or even discontinuation of treatment. We intended to evaluate the efficacy of a hypofractionated adjuvant approach with radiation therapy for STS in the elderly and debilitated patients. Methods: 21 elderly patients were treated with a short course of adjuvant RT (39 to 48 Gy, 3 Gy per fraction) for STS. The medical records of the patients were retrospectively reviewed for the local or distant recurrence and side effects of RT. Results: Overall, the hypofractionated irradiation regimen of 39-48 Gy in 13-16 fractions was well tolerated with only 3 patients developing Grade 2-3 acute toxicity (mainly dermatitis). Three patients suffered from delayed Grade 2-3 toxicity (chronic pain, skin atrophy, teleangiectasiae) scaled according to CTSC. The mean time from the surgery until the initiation of RT was 65 days (SD 21.6). Mean RT time was 18.4 (SD 3) days. No delay of treatment due to acute toxicity was registered. All patients except for one were able to receive RT in the ambulatory setting. With a mean follow-up of 532 days (SD: 325), three local recurrences (14%) were detected. Three of eight patients with distant metastases died of sarcoma (graph 1). One patient with metastatic disease in the lung received salvage stereo tactic radiation therapy and was still alive 6 month after completion of SBRT with no evidence of disease. At a mean 532 days of follow up three local recurrences (14%) were detected .Eight patients (38%) had lung metastases during the observed period. Three of them died from metastatic disease. The hypofractionated radiation was well tolerated with minimum long term side effects. Conclusions: Hypofractionated adjuvant radiation appears to be an effective treatment in terms of local control in elderly and debilitated patients.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 125-125
Author(s):  
Kristin Kowalchik ◽  
Elizabeth Johnson ◽  
George P. Kim ◽  
C. Daniel Smith ◽  
Siyong Kim ◽  
...  

125 Background: Treatment for locally advanced esophageal carcinoma is radiation and chemotherapy, with or without surgery. Radiation has traditionally been delivered with 3D conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT). This study evaluates late toxicity in patients treated with IMRT as well as early outcomes and acute toxicity. Methods: This is a retrospective review of 32 patients with esophageal carcinoma treated with IMRT at Mayo Clinic Florida from 2008 -2012. Pathology includes squamous cell and adenocarcinomas. Tumor sites include middle and lower thoracic and GE junction. Clinical stages are TX-T3, N0-3, M0-1. All patients received at least one cycle of concurrent chemotherapy. IMRT dose was 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions prescribed to a target volume including the tumor and regional lymphatics. IMRT plans utilized coplaner beams in a 7-9 beam arrangement or volumetric modulated arc therapy. Results: Median follow-up is 8.9 months (range 2.4-23.0) for all patients and 13.1 months (range 2.8-23.0 months) in surviving patients. Median patient age is 69 (range 46-87). Trimodality treatment was completed in 20 patients (62.5%). Surgery was either an open or minimally invasive esophagogastrectomy. The incidence of grade 3 or greater late toxicity at 1 year was 48% in surgery patients and 26% in non-surgery patients. The most common grade 3 or higher toxicity was esophageal strictures in 25%. The incidence of any grade 3 or greater acute toxicity was 65% in the surgery patients and 75% in the non-surgery patients. Overall survival (OS) for all patients at 18 months is 57% (CI 37-86%) and progression-free survival (PFS) is 60% (36-99%). OS and PFS for trimodality therapy at 12 months is 83% (66-100%) and 81% (63-100%) respectively and for bimodality therapy is 34% (12-93%) and 70% (33-100%) respectively. Conclusions: Increased late toxicity occurs in surgery patients, and increased acute toxicity in non-surgery patients. Lower survival in non-surgery patients may be due to early progression, morbidities which preclude surgery or improved survival with surgery. Overall, IMRT is a feasible treatment modality, which may be equally efficacious to 3D CRT for the treatment of esophageal carcinoma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana Vidali ◽  
Mara Severgnini ◽  
Gabriele Bellio ◽  
Fabiola Giudici ◽  
Vittorino Milan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Breast intraoperative electron radiation therapy (B-IOERT) can be used in clinical practice both as elective irradiation (partial breast irradiation – APBI) in low risk breast cancer patients, and as an anticipated boost. The procedure generally includes the use of a shielding disk between the residual breast and the pectoralis fascia for the protection of the tissues underneath the target volume. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) in improving the quality of B-IOERT. Patients and methods B-IOERT was introduced in Trieste in 2012 and its technique was improved in 2014 with IOUS. Both, needle and IOUS were used to measure target thickness and the latter was used even to check the correct position of the shielding disk. The primary endpoint of the study was the evaluation of the effectiveness of IOUS in reducing the risk of a disk misalignment related to B-IOERT and the secondary endpoint was the analysis of acute and late toxicity, by comparing two groups of patients treated with IOERT as a boost, either measured with IOUS and needle (Group 1) or with needle alone (Group 2). Acute and late toxicity were evaluated by validated scoring systems. Results From the institutional patients who were treated between June 2012 and October 2019, 109 were eligible for this study (corresponding to 110 cases, as one patients underwent bilateral conservative surgery and bilateral B-IOERT). Of these, 38 were allocated to group 1 and 72 to group 2. The target thickness measured with the IOUS probe and with the needle were similar (mean difference of 0.1 mm, p = 0.38). The percentage of patients in which the shield was perfectly aligned after IOUS introduction increased from 23% to more than 70%. Moreover, patients treated after IOUS guidance had less acute toxicity (36.8% vs. 48.6%, p = 0.33) from radiation therapy, which reached no statistical significance. Late toxicity turned out to be similar regardless of the use of IOUS guidance: 39.5% vs. 37.5% (p = 0.99). Conclusions IOUS showed to be accurate in measuring the target depth and decrease the misalignment between collimator and disk. Furthermore there was an absolute decrease in acute toxicity, even though not statistically significant, in the group of women who underwent B-IOERT with IOUS guidance.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Embring ◽  
Eva Onjukka ◽  
Claes Mercke ◽  
Ingmar Lax ◽  
Anders Berglund ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: There is a lack of consensus concerning the definition of re-irradiation and re-irradiation volumes in head and neck cancer (HNC). The aim of the present study is to introduce a more strict definition of the re-irradiated volume that might better predict the risk of serious side-effects from treatment. Methods: Fifty-four consecutive patients re-irradiated for HNC cancer were retrospectively analysed. CT images were deformably registered and the dose distributions accumulated after conversion to EQD2. Patients with a cumulative dose of ≥100 Gy in the overlapping volume (V100) were included in the study. Survival data and radiation-related acute and late toxicities were recorded. Results: The overall survival of all included patients at 2 and 5 years was 42.6% and 27.3% respectively and the progression free survival at 2 and 5 years was 32.5% and 28.5% respectively. The overall rate of any event of severe (grade ≥3) acute and late toxicity was 26% and 51%, respectively. We found that severe acute toxicity was more common in patients who had a larger overlapping volume (V100 >mean) where 43% of the patients experienced grade ≥3 acute toxicity, compared to the patients with smaller overlapping volumes (V100 <mean) where only 11% had severe toxicity (p = 0.02). The seemingly high rates of late toxicity in the present study could be due to the use of a more strict definition of re-irradiation. In previous studies also patients with low dose overlap are included and our results imply that there is a risk that previous studies might have overestimated the risk-benefit ratio in re-irradiation of HNC.Conclusions: Our study describes the outcome of a patient material where a more strict definition of the re-irradiated volume is used. With this definition, which could better describe the volume of highest risk for serious complications, we found that larger such overlapping volumes result in an increase in severe acute side-effects. A clear definition of re-irradiation and re-irradiation volumes is of utmost importance for future studies of HNC to make results from different studies comparable.


2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (35) ◽  
pp. 4158-4166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pirus Ghadjar ◽  
Stefanie Hayoz ◽  
Jürg Bernhard ◽  
Daniel R. Zwahlen ◽  
Tobias Hölscher ◽  
...  

Purpose Patients with biochemical failure (BF) after radical prostatectomy may benefit from dose-intensified salvage radiation therapy (SRT) of the prostate bed. We performed a randomized phase III trial assessing dose intensification. Patients and Methods Patients with BF but without evidence of macroscopic disease were randomly assigned to either 64 or 70 Gy. Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy or intensity-modulated radiation therapy/rotational techniques were used. The primary end point was freedom from BF. Secondary end points were acute toxicity according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.0) and quality of life (QoL) according to the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaires C30 and PR25. Results Three hundred fifty patients were enrolled between February 2011 and April 2014. Three patients withdrew informed consent, and three patients were not eligible, resulting in 344 patients age 48 to 75 years in the safety population. Thirty patients (8.7%) had grade 2 and two patients (0.6%) had grade 3 genitourinary (GU) baseline symptoms. Acute grade 2 and 3 GU toxicity was observed in 22 patients (13.0%) and one patient (0.6%), respectively, with 64 Gy and in 29 patients (16.6%) and three patients (1.7%), respectively, with 70 Gy (P = .2). Baseline grade 2 GI toxicity was observed in one patient (0.6%). Acute grade 2 and 3 GI toxicity was observed in 27 patients (16.0%) and one patient (0.6%), respectively, with 64 Gy, and in 27 patients (15.4%) and four patients (2.3%), respectively, with 70 Gy (P = .8). Changes in early QoL were minor. Patients receiving 70 Gy reported a more pronounced and clinically relevant worsening in urinary symptoms (mean difference in change score between arms, 3.6; P = .02). Conclusion Dose-intensified SRT was associated with low rates of acute grade 2 and 3 GU and GI toxicity. The impact of dose-intensified SRT on QoL was minor, except for a significantly greater worsening in urinary symptoms.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 5928
Author(s):  
Sofiane Allali ◽  
Youlia Kirova

Background: Radiation therapy has been progressively improved in order to maintain a satisfactory tumour response, while reducing toxicity. We will review the incidence of radiodermatitis and fibrosis according to the various radiation and fractionation techniques. We will then focus on the various methods used to manage, prevent, and quantify this toxicity. Method: More than 1753 articles were identified using the various search terms. We selected 53 articles to answer the questions addressed in this study according to criteria set in advance. Result: The literature reports lower acute toxicity with IMRT compared to 3DCRT, but no significant differences in terms of late toxicities. Partial breast irradiation appears to be less effective in terms of local control with a higher rate of late toxicity. Intra operative radiation therapy appears to provide good results in terms of both local control and late toxicity. The hypofractionation has equivalent efficacy and safety to the normofractionated regimen, but with lower rates of radiodermatitis and fibrosis. The adddition of a boost, particularly a sequential boost, increases the risk of fibrosis and radiodermatitis during treatment. Conclusion: The development of IMRT has significantly reduced acute toxicity and has improved tolerability during treatment. Modified fractionation has reduced treatment time, as well as adverse effects.


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