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Purpose: The role of postoperative irradiation to contralateral non-involved neck nodes in lateralized carcinoma of the head and neck is not clear. The contralateral neck failure rate in head and neck carcinoma treated postoperatively with ipsilateral neck irradiation only was evaluated.Methods: Patients with carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or hypopharynx without midline extension treated between 1990 and 2016 were analyzed. After tumor resection and neck dissection (ND), radiotherapy was given to the primary tumor site and ipsilateral neck. High-risk patients additionally received concurrent chemotherapy. Freedom from contralateral neck recurrence (FCNR), locoregional control rate (LRC), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated.Results: 197 patients (median age 60.7 years, 66.5% males, 52.8% oropharyngeal carcinomas) were analyzed. Complete resection (R0) was achieved in 85.8% of cases. Ipsilateral ND was performed in all patients and contralateral ND in 144 patients (73.1%). Concurrent chemotherapy was given to 59 patients (30.0%). After a median follow-up of 45.5 months, OS and DFS of all patients were 73.6% and 70.9% at 5 years, respectively. A total of 45 patients (22.8%) suffered from a locoregional recurrence, lymph node metastases of the contralateral neck developed in 12 patients (6.1%) only. There was no significant difference in contralateral nodal failure rate with or without performance of contralateral ND.Conclusion: Regional failure of the contralateral neck was low after surgery and ipsilateral neck irradiation in head and neck carcinomas without midline extension, supporting evidence that contralateral neck radiotherapy can safely be omitted in selected cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large mediastinal mass (LMM) at initial staging represents a risk factor in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and is measured by X-ray. Depending on location of the LMM, different results can occur regardless of the initial lymphoma volume. To assess this risk factor more accurately, we evaluated the method of volumetry in 77 patients of HD13/14 study of the German Hodgkin Study Group. Furthermore, volume calculations based on three or only one diameter, were performed to simplify volume assessment. Inter-rater reliability was good for all methods. The 3-diameter measurement produced larger volumes than volumetric assessment with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.93, which could be improved to 0.95 by multiplying volumes with a correction factor of 0.86. The 1-dimensional measurement strongly overestimated the volume with an ICC of 0.7. In conclusion, the simplified volume estimation based on 3 largest diameters provides a reliable concept for the staging of HL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation reduces tumour volume and improves the R0 resection rate, followed by extended survival for patients with advanced oesophageal cancer. The degree of tumour regression has high prognostic relevance. To date, there is still no generally accepted tumour regression grading system. The aim of this study was to compare the prognostic discrimination power of different histological regression grading systems: (i) the fibrosis/tumour ratio within the primary tumour (Mandard classification), (ii) the percentage of residual vital tumour cells (VTC) compared to the original primary tumour (Cologne Regression) and (iii) the ypT category, in patients with cT3 carcinoma of the oesophagus after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Methods and results: This study included 216 patients with oesophageal cancer clinically staged as cT3NxM0 and treated from 2009 to 2012 with standardised chemoradiation followed by oesophagectomy [median age 62 years, 176 (81%) male and 138 (64%) adenocarcinoma patients]. The subgroup frequencies of the three classification systems were ypT category: ypT0 = 18%, ypT1 = 14%, ypT2 = 23%, ypT3 = 44%, ypT4 = 1%; Mandard classification: TRG1 = 18%, TRG2 = 26%, TRG3 = 24%, TRG4 = 30%, TRG5 = 2%; and Cologne Regression Scale: no tumour = 18%, 1–10% VTC = 27%, 10–50% VTC = 26% and >50% VTC = 29%. The Mandard and Cologne Regression classifications showed better prognostic differentiation for the subgroups than the ypT category. The four‐tiered Cologne Regression system had a good prognostic relevance. Comparing results of the re‐evaluated Cologne Regression classification with the classification by routine pathological report showed very good inter‐rater agreement, with kappa value 0.891. Conclusion: Compared to the original primary tumour, the tumour regression grading system using the percentage of residual vital tumour has prognostic relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy and toxicity of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with CyberKnife® (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) in a selected cohort of primary, medically inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.Methods: From 2012 to 2016, 106 patients (median age 74 years, range 50-94 years) with primary NSCLC were treated with SBRT using CyberKnife®. Histologic confirmation was available in 87 patients (82%). For mediastinal staging, 92 patients (87%) underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography (18-FDG-PET) and/or endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS)-guided lymph node biopsy or mediastinoscopy. Tumor stage (UICC8, 2017) was IA/B (T1a-c, 1-3 cm) in 86 patients (81%) and IIA (T2a/b, 3-5 cm) in 20 patients (19%). Depending on tumor localization, three different fractionation schedules were used: 3 fractions of 17Gy, 5 fractions of 11Gy, or 8 fractions of 7.5 Gy. Tracking was based on fiducial implants in 13 patients (12%) and on image guidance without markers in 88%.Results: Median follow-up was 15 months (range 0.5-46 months). Acute side effects were mild (fatigue grade 1-2 in 20% and dyspnea grade 1-2 in 17%). Late effects were observed in 4 patients (4%): 3 patients developed pneumonitis requiring therapy (grade 2) and 1 patient suffered a rib fracture (grade 3). In total, 9/106 patients (8%) experienced a local recurrence, actuarial local control rates were 88% (95% confidence interval, CI, 80-96%) at 2 years and 77% (95%CI 56-98%) at 3 years. The median disease-free survival time was 27 months (95%CI 23-31 months). Overall survival was 77% (95%CI 65-85%) at 2 years and 56% (95%CI 39-73%) at 3 years.Conclusion: CyberKnife® lung SBRT which allows for real-time tumor tracking and risk-adapted fractionation achieves satisfactory local control and low toxicity rates in inoperable early-stage primary lung cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of head and neck cancer. It represents the main curative option in advanced tumors. Due to technical progress of treatment appliances, the translation of radiobiological research into clinical praxis (altered fractionation), and the concurrent application of chemotherapy (radiochemotherapy), the efficacy of radiotherapy has markedly improved. Current developments focus on the integration of functional imaging into the treatment planning process to allow individualized dose prescription. Different systemic agents have shown to improve prognosis when applied concurrently with radiotherapy, whereas induction chemotherapy has not proven to be of further benefit. Treatment of human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal carcinomas is challenging. Reduced treatment intensity for this entity is being investigated but cannot be recommended for clinical routine at this point. Adjuvant radiotherapy and radiochemotherapy improve the prognosis in high-risk head and neck cancer after surgical treatment. Further reductions in the treated neck volume in adjuvant radiotherapy need clinical investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast-conserving surgery followed by whole-breast irradiation is the standard local therapy for early breast cancer. The international discussion of reduced importance of wider tumor-free resection margins than "tumor not touching ink" leads to the development of five principles in targeted oncoplastic breast surgery. IORT improves local recurrence risk and diminishes toxicity since there is less irradiation of healthy tissue. Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) can be delivered in two settings: an IORT boost followed by a conventional regimen of external beam radiotherapy or a single IORT dose. The data from TARGIT-A and ELIOT reinforce the conviction that intraoperative radiotherapy during breast-conserving surgery is a reliable alternative to conventional postoperative fractionated irradiation, but only in a carefully selected population at low risk of local recurrence. We describe our experiences with IORT boost (50 kV energy X-rays; 20 Gy) in combination with targeted oncoplastic breast surgery in a routine clinical setting. Our experiences demonstrate the applicability and reliability of combining IORT boost with targeted oncoplastic breast surgery in breast-conserving therapy of early breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions. An intensive diagnostic work-up including 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) detects many unknown primary tumours, leads to a low emergence rate of primary tumours, and selects carcinoma of unknown primary with much more favourable results after neck dissection and postoperative radiotherapy. Objective. To investigate the optimal diagnostic approach and best treatment modality for rare head and neck cancer of unknown primary. Patients and methods. In a retrospective study, 69 patients admitted from 1987 to 2002 with cervical lymph node metastases without apparent primary were reviewed. Test characteristics of all diagnostic procedures were calculated. Disease-free and overall survival rates were calculated. Major prognostic factors were analysed univariately. Results. At the primary site FDG-PET showed the best sensitivity with 69% and the highest negative predictive value with 87%. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging had a better specificity with 87% and 95%, respectively. The primary tumour was detected in 23 cases (33%). Frequent primary tumour origin was the palatine tonsil ( n =8, 35%), base of the tongue ( n =6, 26%) and lung ( n =4, 17%). All patients with unknown primary were treated by neck dissection. Adjuvant radiotherapy was performed in 26 patients (57%), concurrent radiochemotherapy was performed in 12 patients (26%). The primary emergence rate was 7%. The 5-year overall survival rate was inferior in patients with detected primary in comparison with patients with unknown primary (22% versus 52%). Significant prognostic factors in case of unknown primary were M stage, smoking, alcohol consumption and tonsillectomy. Radiotherapy but not chemotherapy with carboplatin influenced the overall survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To prove an expected benefit of concurrent radiochemotherapy (RCT), a two-arm randomized multicentric study was performed. In a subgroup analysis the influence of pretherapeutical hemoglobin level (p-Hb) on survival under locoregional control (SLC) was tested. Patients and Methods: The study included primarily untreated Stage III/IV (International Union Against Cancer [UICC]) oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas. Patients were randomized to receive either hyperfractionated (hf) and accelerated (acc) RCT with two cycles 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m2/day) and carboplatin (70 mg/m2/day) on Days 1–5 and 29–33 or hf-acc radiotherapy (RT) alone. Total RT dose in both arms was 69.9 Gy in 38 days in concomitant boost technique. Results: After a median follow-up time of 57 months, SLC is significantly better in RCT than in RT (p = 0.01), with median SLC of 17 months and 11 months, respectively. Also overall survival (OS) shows a benefit for RCT (p = 0.016), with a median survival of 23 months for RCT and 16 months for RT. However, the benefit in SLC and OS is not seen in hypopharyngeal carcinomas. In a multivariate analysis of oropharyngeal cancer patients, p-Hb levels lower than 12.7 g/dL resulted in lower SLC compared with higher p-Hb levels up to 13.8 g/dL. P-Hb levels >13.8 g/dL did not further improve SLC. Conclusions: Hyperfractionated-accelerated RCT is superior to hf-acc RT in oropharyngeal carcinomas. P-Hb levels >13.8 g/dL do not further improve SLC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Permanent prostate implants are widely used as therapy for localized prostate cancer. Transperineal placement of 125I seeds can be directed safely by transrectal ultrasound imaging. Misplaced seeds can produce serious damage in various organs, especially in the rectal mucosa. The rescue of misplaced seeds can be performed with open surgery or with minimally invasive percutaneous intervention. We report a case of percutaneous fluoroscopically guided salvage of misplaced perirectal 125I prostate customized stranded seeds using an interventional angiographic catheter. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background The prognostic effect of neoadjuvant treatment in advanced oesophageal cancer is still debated because most studies included undefined T-stages, different radio/chemotherapies or different types of surgery. Objectives To analyse the prognostic impact of neoadjuvant chemoradiation in patients with clinical T3 oesophageal cancer and oesophagectomy. Methods In a retrospective study 768 patients from two centres with cT3/Nx/M0 oesophageal cancer and transthoracic en-bloc oesophagectomy were selected. Clinical staging was based on endoscopy, endosonography and spiral-CT scan. Propensity score matching using histology, location of tumour, age, gender and ASA-classification identified 648 patients ( n = 302 adenocarcinoma (AC), n = 346 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)) for the intention-to-treat analysis comparing group-I ( n = 324) patients with planned oesophagectomy and group-II ( n = 324) patients with planned neoadjuvant chemoradiation (40 Gy, 5-FU, cisplatin) followed by oesophagectomy. The prognosis was analysed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results In the intention-to-treat analysis group-I had a 17% and group-II a 28% 5-year survival rate (5-YSR) ( p < 0.001). After excluding patients without oesophagectomy the 5-YSR of group-II increased to 30%. The results were more favourable for patients with AC (5y-SR of 38%) compared to SCC (22%) ( p = 0.060). In group-II patients with major response ( n = 128) had a 41% 5-YSR compared to 20% for those with minor response ( n = 155, p < 0,001). In multivariate analysis neoadjuvant chemoradiation was a favourable independent prognostic factor. Conclusion Neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by oesophagectomy results in 11% higher 5-YSR than surgery alone for patients with cT3/Nx/M0 oesophageal cancer. This effect is due to the substantial prognostic benefit of the major responders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: PurposeTo guarantee the treatment quality of involved-field radiotherapy (IF-RT) of patients in the Hodgkin''s disease (HD)10 and HD11 trials of the German Hodgkin Study Group, with 460 participating study centers, a quality assurance program was conducted. It was based on a central prospective radiation oncologic review of all patients'' entire diagnostic imaging and clinical findings. An individual RT prescription was provided for every study patient. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the feasibility of such a procedure and its impact on the final definition of disease extension and patient treatment.: Methods and materialsBetween 1998 and 2002, 1371 patients were enrolled into the HD10 trial (early-stage disease) and 1570 patients into the HD11 trial (intermediate-stage disease). The HD10 trial tested four cycles of Adriamycin (doxorubicin), bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) against two cycles of ABVD followed by 20 Gy of IF-RT vs. 30 Gy of IF-RT (four study arms). The HD11 trial compared four cycles of ABVD with four cycles of BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone) baseline followed by 20 Gy IF-RT vs. 30 Gy IF-RT in a four-arm design. All study centers were required to score disease involvement at a total of 34 possible anatomic sites on case report forms and send them, together with all diagnostic imaging, to the RT reference center in Cologne, Germany. Images were reviewed there by a panel of expert radiation oncologists and radiologists and compared with the case report form. Differences between the disease involvement documented by the participating center and the reference center were recorded. Subsequently, an individualized treatment proposal was compiled. Complete sets of documentation were submitted to the reference center for 89% of the patients in both HD10 and HD11.: ResultsA considerable proportion of involved sites were incorrectly recorded on the corresponding case report form by the participating center. For patients with early-stage HD (HD10), there was a correction of disease involvement in 49% (593 of 1214 patients) and for patients with intermediate-stage HD (HD11) in 67% (936 of 1397 patients). Most discrepancies were seen in the lower mediastinum (23%), infraclavicular (17%), upper cervical (16%), supraclavicular (13%), and pulmonary hilar region (13%). This resulted in a change of disease stage in 41 of those 1,529 patients whose documented disease involvement had to be corrected (2.7%). Ninety-three patients had to be treated in a different protocol, because of changes in stage and risk factors. Owing to incorrect lymph node documentation of the participating centers, the RT treatment volume had to be enlarged in 891 (34%) and reduced in 82 (3%) of 2,611 patients.: ConclusionA central prospective review of patient data and consecutive prescription of individual RT treatment volume is feasible within large multicenter trials for HD. Such a procedure has a significant impact on the correctness of stage definition, allocation to treatment groups, and extent of the IF treatment volume. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: PurposeDeviations of radiation treatment portals and dose from prospective treatment plans are unfavorable prognostic factors for lymphoma patients. Therefore, an extensive radiotherapy quality assurance program is used in the ongoing German lymphoma studies. The introduction of teleradiotherapy offered the opportunity to optimize and simplify the workflow of these quality assurance programs. The purpose of this report was to evaluate the feasibility of teleradiotherapy and to describe our experiences with these innovative tools.: Methods and materialsDuring this pilot phase, five radiotherapy centers were equipped with the hardware and software that guarantees a rapid and high-quality transfer of imaging data, as well as real-time teleconferences. The workstation consists of standard PCs with Windows NT as the operating system and the commercial telemedicine software Hipax.: ResultsAs a first step, imaging communication between the radiotherapy reference centers in Cologne and Homburg/Saar was established. Subsequently, three additional radiotherapy departments (Universities of Berlin, Mu¨nster, and Munich) with large numbers of lymphoma patients were connected. Other study centers delivered digital imaging on mobile data carriers or via an Integrated Services Digital Network point-to-point connection. Communication units were completed for interactive teleconferences. A facility for central online documentation was installed. Telemedical functions were integrated into the ongoing radiotherapy quality assurance program. Since the introduction of a teleradiotherapeutic workstation in the radiotherapy reference center in Cologne in January 2001, the images of 10% (n = 228 patients) of all reviewed cases of the ongoing Hodgkin's disease 10–12 trials were delivered digitally. The amount of digitally available imaging is continuously increasing.: ConclusionThe introduction of teleradiotherapy improved the dialog between the radiotherapy reference centers and study centers and thus contributed toward high radiotherapy quality for lymphoma patients in Germany. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]