Impact of Performance Status and Comorbidity on Palliative Radiation Treatment Tolerance and End-Of-Life Decision-Making

Custom Cesium-131 Vicryl Mesh Brachytherapy for Recurrent Anal Cancer: A Report of Two Cases

While the standard of care for anal cancer consists of concurrent chemoradiation, patients with advanced T stages often succumb to local failures. Salvage treatment consists of an abdominoperineal resection (APR). While this is a good surgery to treat the local recurrence, there may be a risk of obtaining a positive margin due to the advanced nature and location of the recurrence. Addressing these high-risk positive margin sites with adjuvant brachytherapy after surgical resection is a good option to deliver a high dose of radiation to the R1 resection site while sparing the adjacent critical organs at risk. Herein, we present a case report of two patients with persistent or recurrent anal cancer who were treated with an APR with placement of a custom Cesium-131 brachytherapy mesh implant.

Clinical predictors of premature radiotherapy terminations in senior adults with oral cavity and laryngeal carcinoma

INTRODUCTION

The underlying factors that contribute to early radiotherapy (RT) termination are understudied, especially in the era of hypofractionated treatment regimens. In this retrospective investigation, we examined the characteristics and causes of premature RT terminations in senior adults (>70 years old) with oral cavity (OC) and laryngeal carcinomas.

METHODS

Hundred and eighty-eight patients treated with RT ± systemic therapy for OC and laryngeal cancer from 2017 to 2022 were identified. Premature termination was defined as completion of less than 95% of the prescribed RT. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine factors predictive of premature termination, and survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Twenty patients (10.6%) experienced premature RT terminations. On regression analysis, ECOG score at initiation of RT was the only covariate studied to be independently associated with premature termination (OR 2.00, 95%CI: [1.21, 3.30], p = 0.007). Three-year overall survival (49.1% vs. 77.3%) was significantly reduced in the termination cohort (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis demonstrated over 1 in 10 patients had premature RT termination, which prognosticated inferior survival outcomes. Poor performance status may highlight patients at risk for premature termination and thus identify good candidates for hypofractionated protocols.

Predictors of postoperative performance status after surgical management of infratemporal fossa malignancies

Infratemporal fossa (ITF) tumors are difficult to access surgically due to anatomical constraints. Moreover, aggressive ITF carcinomas and sarcomas necessitate aggressive treatment strategies that, along with tumor-related symptoms, contribute to decreases in patient performance status. To assess factors that predict postoperative performance in patients undergoing surgery for ITF tumors. We reviewed medical records for all patients surgically treated for an ITF malignancy between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2017, at our institution. We collected patient demographics, preoperative performance, tumor stage, tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, pathological data, and postoperative performance data. The 5-year survival rate was 62.2%. Higher preoperative Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score (n = 64; p < 0.001), short length of stay (p = 0.002), prior surgery at site (n = 61; p = 0.0164), and diagnosis of sarcoma (n = 62; p = 0.0398) were predictors of higher postoperative KPS scores. Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) (n = 9; p = 0.0327), and tracheostomy tube placement (n = 20; p = 0.0436) were predictors of lower postoperative KPS scores, whereas age at presentation (p = 0.72), intracranial tumor spread (p = 0.8197), and perineural invasion (n = 40; p = 0.2195) were not. Male patients and patients with carcinomas showed the greatest decreases in KPS scores between pretreatment and posttreatment. Higher preoperative KPS score and short length of stay were the best predictors of higher postoperative KPS scores. This work provides treatment teams and patients with better information on outcomes for shared decision-making.

Understanding the Health Characteristics and Treatment Choices of Older Men with Stress Urinary Incontinence

OBJECTIVE

To describe the health characteristics and current treatment choices of male stress urinary incontinence (mSUI) patients to inform patient-centered decision-making.

METHODS

We identified a cohort of mSUI patients aged ≥65 at UCSF and San Francisco VA. Using retrospective chart review and telephone interviews, we ascertained demographics, incontinence characteristics, Charlson Comorbidity Index (score ≥ 4 indicates significant morbidity), frailty with Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, functional dependence with activities of daily living (ADL), calculated life expectancy, and assessed mental health and quality of life (QOL). Bivariate analysis evaluated associations between subject characteristics and ultimate treatment type (conservative vs surgery; sling vs sphincter). Logistic multivariable models evaluating treatment choice were also constructed.

RESULTS

The 130 participants had a mean age of 75 and a mean incontinence score of 14.2 representing moderately bothersome incontinence. Nearly 80% had significant morbidity, three-quarters had >50% 10-year mortality risk, 10% needed help with 1 + ADL and 22% had a TUG >10 seconds indicating frailty. The mean physical and mental QOL scores were similar to the general population. Anxiety and depression were reported by 3.9% and 10%. In univariate and multivariable analysis, only incontinence characteristics were associated with conservative vs surgical treatment choice (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Multi-morbidity, functional dependence, frailty, and limited life expectancy are common among older men with mSUI, yet current treatment choices appear to be driven by incontinence characteristics. As such, mSUI surgery should be considered among men across the spectrum of health and life expectancy.