Resection with external beam and intraoperative radiotherapy for recurrent colon cancer

OBJECTIVE

To review treatment outcomes for patients with locoregional recurrent colon cancer who underwent resection, intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

DESIGN

Retrospective study of patients treated between January 1990 and June 1994.

SETTING

Tertiary care cancer center.

PATIENTS

Eleven patients with bulky recurrent colon cancer extending to adjacent organs or structures signed informed consent forms to receive IORT.

INTERVENTION

Of 10 patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy, 5 had no metastatic disease and underwent resection, IORT, and EBRT. Complete resection was accomplished in 4 patients. Doses of IORT ranged from 13 to 20 Gy depending on residual tumor burden; EBRT was typically delivered postoperatively to a dose of 45 Gy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Survival and locoregional tumor control.

RESULTS

All 4 patients who underwent complete resection, IORT, and EBRT are alive without locoregional recurrence 53 to 77 months after treatment. Of these, only 1 patient developed distant metastases. The fifth patient, who had gross residual tumor, developed local recurrence 5 months after IORT. One patient developed an IORT complication-ureteral fibrosis leading to ipsilateral nephrectomy.

CONCLUSION

Long-term disease-free survival can be achieved in selected patients with bulky regional recurrence of colon cancer with complete tumor resection, IORT, and EBRT.

High-dose therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation for Hodgkin's disease patients with relapses potentially treatable by radical radiation therapy

PURPOSE

A retrospective review evaluated the results of autologous bone marrow transplantation (A-BMT) for patients with relapsed Hodgkin's disease (HD) who were potentially treatable by radical radiation therapy (RRT).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Evaluated patient cases met the following criteria: initial treatment with chemotherapy (with or without involved field radiation therapy < 25 Gy); no history of bone marrow or extensive lung involvement; no current or previous evidence of systemic metastases except liver; radiation therapy used with salvage chemotherapy for prior relapse would not preclude use of RRT (e.g., > 20 Gy to spinal cord); HD at time of salvage therapy limited to lymph nodes, Waldeyer's ring, liver, spleen, direct extension sites, and/or one lung.

RESULTS

There were 23 A-BMT patients treated between 1986 and 1991 who fulfilled the criteria. Three (13%) patients died from treatment-related complications and eight (35%) developed nonfatal Grade 3-4 complications. The 3-year actuarial disease-free survival rate was 61%. The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 55% for the nine patients with at least one prior disease-free interval (DFI) > 12 months, 67% for nine patients with DFI < 12 months, and 60% for five induction failure patients (p > 0.10). These results are comparable to retrospective studies of RRT results in selected relapsed HD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term disease-free survival is frequently possible with either A-BMT or RRT in appropriately selected relapsed HD patients. In considering treatment options, important prognostic factors include initial stage of disease, number of prior relapses, DFI, and extent of relapsed disease.

Involved field radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease autologous bone marrow transplantation regimens

From 1986 through 1992, involved-field radiation therapy (IF-RT) was administered to 29 of 86 patients with recurrent Hodgkin's disease (HD) who received a high-dose cyclophosphamide/etoposide regimen with autologous bone marrow transplantation (A-BMT). Patients without a significant history of prior RT received total body irradiation (TBI), initially as a single dose 5-7.5 Gy, and subsequently with fractionated TBI (F-TBI) delivering 12 Gy. Previously irradiated patients received a high-dose BCNU regimen instead of TBI. IF-RT was employed selectively, usually for sites of bulky disease (> 5 cm). IF-RT doses were typically 20 Gy at 2 Gy per fraction for TBI patients and 30-40 Gy at 1.8-2.0 Gy per fraction for non-TBI Patients. Fatal complications developed in four patients while second malignancies have developed in two. The region which received IF-RT was the site of first recurrence in only two cases (7%). With a median follow-up of 28 months, the two-year disease-free survival rate was 44%. For the 22 patients treated by either F-TBI or high-dose BCNU, the 2-year disease-free survival rate was 50% with a median follow up of 29 months. Selective use of IF-RT may increase the chances of complete remission and disease free survival in HD patients with a history of bulky disease.

Radical radiotherapy as salvage treatment for relapse of Hodgkin's disease initially treated by chemotherapy alone: prognostic significance of the disease-free interval

PURPOSE

A study was performed to determine the effectiveness of radical radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of patients with Hodgkin's disease who relapsed following initial treatment with chemotherapy alone.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

A retrospective review of patients treated at City of Hope National Medical Center between 1970 and 1987 revealed a total of 10 patients who received radical RT with curative intent as salvage therapy.

RESULTS

Complete remission was achieved in eight of the ten patients. Patients had an overall 5-year actual survival of 60% and 10-year actuarial survival of 38%. Relapse-free survival was 30% at 5 years and at 10 years. For the five patients with a disease-free interval (DFI) of at least 12 months prior to radical RT, overall actual survival at 5 years was 100% and relapse-free survival was 60%. Three of the ten patients, all with a DFI > 12 months and in first relapse when undergoing radical RT, were long-term relapse-free survivors.

CONCLUSION

Radical RT is an effective salvage regimen for select patients with advanced stage Hodgkin's disease who relapse following initial treatment with chemotherapy alone provided that relapse is limited to sites which can be encompassed by radical RT fields and the DFI is greater than 12 months. Review of other published series supports DFI > 12 months as a favorable prognostic factor. Comparison to other salvage regimens such as autologous bone marrow transplantation is limited. Reviews of other treatment modalities should perform subset analysis on patients with similar presentations to compare the relative effectiveness of various salvage approaches.

Breast conservation therapy: local tumor control in patients with pathologically clear margins who receive 5000 cGy breast irradiation without local boost

A retrospective study was performed to determine the value of pathological evaluation of inked primary tumor specimen margins in the local control of patients with stage I and II breast cancer. In 150 patients with 153 invasive breast cancers, treatment involved surgical resection of the primary tumor, pathological determination of tumor-free inked specimen margins, and 5000 cGy whole breast radiation therapy (RT) without tumor bed RT local boost. This approach yielded an actuarial five-year local control rate of 95%. The local control rate was 96% for T-1 cases and 93% for T-2 cases. The local control rate was 96% for patients with clear margins achieved at initial resection and 94% for patients with clear margins achieved at re-excision. Among patients with clear margins at re-excision, the local control rate was 97% for those with no residual cancer and 88% for those with residual cancer. Patients with surgical margins clear by 3 mm or less had a local control rate of 92% at five years. Local control rates appear to be comparable to other breast conservation approaches which routinely employ local RT boosts. In omitting the local RT boost in patients with clear margins, the overall RT course will be briefer and the cosmetic changes associated with high-dose, large volume local RT boosts can be avoided.

Wound-healing complications following biopsy of the irradiated breast

A retrospective review evaluated results of 38 posttreatment biopsies (with resulting benign pathologic findings) that were performed on 32 irradiated breasts or axillae in 31 of 232 patients who underwent conservation treatment of early-stage breast cancer. Postbiopsy wound-healing complications developed in eight (30%) of 27 patients who were undergoing open biopsies but in none of 11 who underwent only needle biopsies. Wound-healing complications occurred in two of five patients who underwent incisional skin biopsy, three of five who underwent mammographic needle-localized excisional biopsy, and three of 17 who underwent other types of open biopsies. Frequency of wound-healing complications following open biopsy was not related to patient age, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, or use of chemotherapy. Wound-healing complications were related to breast size, developing in four (67%) of six patients with large breasts (brassiere cup size D or DD) as compared with that in only four (19%) of 21 patients with smaller breasts. Significant worsening of cosmetic breast retraction was frequently associated with wound-healing complications, especially wounds that took more than 1 month to heal.

Factors affecting cosmetic outcome in breast-conserving cancer treatment--objective quantitative assessment

A battery of objective measurements of cosmetic outcome was performed on 114 patients who had been treated by breast-preservation techniques for breast cancer. Cosmetic breast retraction, as determined by Breast Retraction Assessment (BRA) measurements, was significantly greater in patients who underwent extensive primary tumor resection, were more than 60 years old, weighed more than 150 lbs, or had a primary tumor in an upper breast quadrant. While use of a local RT boost, per se, was not a significant factor, those patients with high dose and/or large volume local boosts more frequently had marked retraction. Breast telangiectasia and depigmentation (T/D) was related to use of a local RT boost, patient age greater than 60 years, and use of separate nodal RT fields. Breast T/D was significantly more frequent with use of electron beam local RT boost which delivered a boost skin dose exceeding 1600 cGy. Objective quantitative assessments, such as BRA and T/D area measurements, provide data to determine factors related to each type of cosmetic change and thus provide guidelines for optimizing cosmetic outcome. Limiting the extent of primary tumor resection may minimize the amount of breast retraction. Omitting the local RT boost, particularly large volume, high dose boosts, may reduce the frequency of marked cosmetic retraction and skin T/D.

Spontaneous pneumothorax in patients irradiated for Hodgkin's disease and other malignant lymphomas

A retrospective review of patients treated for Hodgkin's disease or other malignant lymphomas between 1953 and 1988 revealed 10 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax. Nine had Hodgkin's disease whereas one had diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. Ages of the 10 patients ranged from 11 to 54 years, although nine were less than 30-years old. Spontaneous pneumothorax was observed only in patients who had received mantle or mini-mantle radiation therapy (RT). Five patients had concurrent severe parenchymal pulmonary disease including chemotherapy-induced interstitial fibrosis, Varicella pneumonia and severe radiation pneumonitis. Pneumothorax in these patients tended to be severe, bilateral and/or recurrent. All five required chest tube placement. Three of the five also required thoracotomy. RT dose ranged from 3000-7500 cGy, exceeding 4700 cGy in three patients who required a second course of RT which included the involved lung apex. In comparison, the five who did not have concurrent severe lung disease had milder episodes of pneumothorax. Only one required chest tube placement, whereas none required thoracotomy. Pulmonary apex RT dose ranged from 3672-4257 cGy. For Hodgkin's disease patients treated by RT, the frequency of spontaneous pneumothorax in the absence of concurrent pulmonary disease was 2.2%. Limiting analysis to patients in the peak age population of 10-30 years raised the frequency to 3.0%. No RT dose-response effect could be demonstrated, although spontaneous pneumothorax was not observed in patients who received less than 3000 cGy. Spontaneous pneumothorax was not more frequent among patients who also received chemotherapy as compared to those treated only by RT. Exploratory thoracotomy in three cases with severe pulmonary disease revealed subpleural apical blebs and/or dense pleural fibrosis. Unusual aspects in the medical histories of other cases suggest the possibility that patients who develop pneumothorax may have unusually dense pulmonary and/or pleural fibrosis compared to the majority of patients who receive RT for Hodgkin's disease or other malignant lymphomas.

The reverse hockey stick technique: postmastectomy radiation therapy for breast cancer patients with locally advanced tumor presentation or extensive loco-regional recurrence

A combination of photon and electron radiation therapy (RT) fields was devised to treat patients with initial or recurrent breast cancer presentations which extensively involved the chest wall (CW) and/or the axilla. The ipsilateral supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary, and lateral CW regions are treated in continuity by anterior and posterior opposed photon beam "reverse hockey stick" fields. The internal mammary and medial chest wall regions are treated by an anterior electron beam field which is tightly junctioned to the photon beam fields. Electron beam energy and thickness of applied bolus are selected so that the electron beam 80% depth isodose curve matches the anterior pleural surface and/or deepest extent of tumor. The goal of treatment is to deliver 4400-5000 cGy to regions at risk of microscopic tumor with local boosts to 6000-7500 cGy to sites of gross disease. Between January 1977, and June 1985, this technique was selectively used in 46 patients, 31 patients with loco-regional tumor recurrence and 15 post-mastectomy patients who initially presented with locally advanced disease. A minimum tumor dose of 4400 cGy was delivered in all except five patients. A diffuse moist skin reaction developed in 31 of the 44 (70%) patients who received at least 3800 cGy. This healed in less than 1 month in all except seven. Frequency of CW diffuse moist skin reaction within the electron beam field was related to the daily applied RT dose. Diffuse moist skin reactions were also noted to be more frequent among patients who had received prior or concurrent Adriamycin. Significant complications included symptomatic arm lymphedema in seven; CW ulcer in two; and acute radiation pneumonitis; steroid-withdrawal radiation pneumonitis, pleuritis, and marked thrombocytopenia in one patient each. With a follow-up of 36-100 months, there was no evidence of loco-regional tumor relapse in 55% of patients treated for recurrent disease and in 73% treated following mastectomy for locally advanced presentations. In summary, we find the reverse hockey stick technique to be a simple, highly reproducible and effective RT approach for postmastectomy breast cancer patients with extensive initial presentation or recurrent disease.

Total skin electron irradiation for mycosis fungoides: relationship between acute toxicities and measured dose at different anatomic sites

From June 1978 to June 1986, 50 patients with primary and recurrent mycosis fungoides were treated with total skin electron irradiation (TSEI), using the Stanford technique, to a total dose of 3600 cGy. TSEI was used alone, or in combination with low dose total body photon irradiation, or MOPP. Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) measurements of the prescribed skin dose were obtained on twenty patients. The dorsum of the foot was 24% higher. The axillae, the bottom, and the arch of the foot were significantly underdosed. Frequencies of acute toxicities noted at 2000 cGy were: Skin, Grade I-II (RTOG) 80%. Partial epilation: scalp, 100%; eyebrows and at eyelashes, 20%. Nail dystrophy, 48%. Edema: hands and feet, 44%. Bullae: dorsum of feet, 8%; hands, 4%; and 3600 cGy: Skin, grade III 22%. Total epilation: scalp, 66%; eyebrows and eyelashes, 56%. Nail loss, 38%. Edema: hands and feet, 76%. Bullae: dorsum of feet, 34%; hands, 12%. Conjunctivitis, 4%. Large bullae, were more significant on the dorsum of the feet. Severe moist desquamation occurred in eight patients who had ulcerated lesions on initial presentation. Three patients were hospitalized due to ulceration and skin infection. All patients completed treatment after a short to moderate break. No patient developed skin necrosis, or corneal ulceration. No correlation exists between dose level, degree and onset of toxicity with previous chemotherapy or TBI. We conclude that the overall toxicity of TSEI is well tolerated.

Postoperative radiation as adjuvant treatment for carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx: preliminary report of a prospective randomized trial

A prospective randomized trial was performed in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the oral cavity, larynx, and pharynx to examine the effect of adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy on locoregional recurrence and survival following "curative" resection. Fifty-one patients with stage III or IV SCC treated from 1981 through 1984 were randomized to receive either surgery alone (n = 27) or surgery with postoperative radiation (n = 24). Five patients were excluded from the study after randomization because of ineligibility or protocol violations. Overall recurrence rates of 55.6% and 36.8% were noted in the surgery and surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy arms, respectively (p = NS). This trend towards a higher recurrence rate in the surgery only arm was in part due to the development of lymph node metastases in the contralateral, nonoperated neck. Thus far, no significant differences in either locoregional or overall survival have been noted between the two treatment arms. In this preliminary analysis, adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy does not appear to improve disease-free or overall survival.

To boost or not to boost: decreasing radiation therapy in conservative breast cancer treatment when "inked" tumor resection margins are pathologically free of cancer

A retrospective study was performed to compare local treatment approaches for 108 treated breasts in 105 patients with Stage I or II breast cancer. Six cases with intraductal carcinoma have shown no evidence of recurrence. The other 102 cases had invasive cancer. In 54 treated breasts in 53 patients, the treatment approach involved surgical resection of the primary tumor, pathological determination of tumor-free "inked" specimen margins and 5000 cGy to the whole breast. Local radiation therapy (RT) boosts to the primary site were not given. This approach produced a 100% local control rate (mean follow-up of 38 months). In 28 treated breasts in 27 patients, the treatment approach involved tumor excision without evaluation of specimen margins followed by RT which included a local boost by either interstitial Iridium-192 implant or electron beam. This approach yielded an actuarial local control rate of 87% at 48 months (mean follow-up of 47 months). The difference in local control rate between the two groups was statistically significant (p less than 0.03). Among patients with clear surgical margins who received a local RT boost, 1 of 9 developed a local recurrence. Among those with tumor involving specimen margins who received a local boost, 1 of 8 developed local recurrence. Local recurrence developed more frequently among patients with poorly differentiated cancers (2 of 11 cases) than among those with other invasive cancers (3 of 91 cases). Comparison of treatment approaches was limited since poorly differentiated cancer was present in 25% of cases with unknown specimen margins, as compared with only 2% of those with clear surgical margins who did not receive a local RT boost. Our preliminary findings suggest that when "inked" primary tumor resection margins are pathologically free of cancer, 5000 cGy whole breast RT appears to be highly effective for local tumor control in patients with Stage I or II disease. Our results are inconclusive as to whether patients with poorly differentiated cancers should receive a local RT boost even when surgical margins are clear.

Tube feeding enteral nutritional support in patients receiving radiation therapy for advanced head and neck cancer

A retrospective study evaluated the role of tube feeding enteral nutritional support in patients receiving radiation therapy (RT) for Stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Tube feeding (TF) by either nasogastric, cervical esophagostomy, or gastrostomy route was based on individual physician preference and patient acceptance. TF feeding starting before and continuing through RT (planned TF) was completed in 17 patients, whereas 9 patients did not receive TF until they lost weight during RT (interventional TF). No tube feeding was performed in 63 patients. By the end of RT, the planned TF group lost an average of 4.8% of initial body weight, compared to 7.1% in the no TF group and 9.4% in the interventional TF group. At the end of RT, only 6% of the planned TF group had lost over 10% of initial body weight, compared to 24% of the no TF group and 44% of the interventional group. Excluding patients who continued to lose weight after the end of RT due to rapidly recurrent tumor, 49% of the no TF group had a post-RT nadir weight loss over 10% of initial body weight, compared to 0% of the planned RT group. However, failure to receive the full RT dose and/or lengthy rest periods during RT were just as likely to occur in the planned TF group as in the no TF group. This retrospective review also could not demonstrate improved survival in the planned TF group. Complications, including peptic ulcer disease, aspiration pneumonia, cervical stoma abscess, and hepatic encephalopathy, occurred in 7 of the 26 patients (27%) receiving either planned or interventional TF. We conclude that TF will help minimize weight loss due to side effects of RT for head and neck cancer, particularly when TF is instituted before the onset of significant weight loss due to RT side effects. Survival differences, however, were not apparent.

Arm lymphedema in patients treated conservatively for breast cancer: relationship to patient age and axillary node dissection technique

Arm lymphedema (ALE) was evaluated in 74 patients treated conservatively for breast cancer. ALE was defined based upon measurements performed upon 35 volunteer subjects who did not have and were never treated for breast cancer. Multiple variable statistical analysis of 74 breast cancer patients revealed that age at diagnosis was the most important factor related to the subsequent development of ALE. ALE appeared in 7 of 28 patients (25%) 60 years of age or older but in only 3 of 46 (7%) younger patients (p less than 0.02). Axillary node dissection (AND) was the only other statistically significant factor. For the younger patients, obesity and post-operative wound complications appeared to be contributing factors. For the older patients, AND technique was the only significant factor. ALE developed in only 1 of 10 (10%) of the older patients who underwent AND without splitting the pectoralis minor muscle (PMM), but in 6 of 11 (55%) who underwent AND with PMM split (p less than 0.03). Splitting the PMM during AND did not yield more lymph nodes for pathological analysis nor did it yield a higher incidence of patients with nodal metastases. Neither the use of lymph node radiation therapy fields, radiation to the full axilla, nor systemic chemotherapy was associated with ALE. We conclude that older patients are at higher risk of ALE and that this complication can possibly be reduced by not splitting the PMM during axillary node dissection.

Patient self-evaluation of cosmetic outcome of breast-preserving cancer treatment

Thirty-two patients with Stage I or II breast cancer who had completed conservative breast-preserving treatment were asked to rate their cosmetic outcomes. Within this group, extent of the surgical excision of the breast tumor varied, with biopsy scars ranging from 2 to 19.5 cm. All patients had received external beam radiotherapy, with local boost doses in 17 cases. The average interval between self-evaluation and the completion of radiotherapy was 19 months. Patients completed a questionnaire rating the appearance of the treated breast, the degree of difference between breasts and overall satisfaction with cosmesis. They were asked to describe differences between breasts and to make any additional comments. Appearance of the treated breast was rated good to excellent by 94%, although 88% noted a difference of slight to moderate degree between treated and untreated breasts. Overall, 78% of patients were very to extremely satisfied, while moderate satisfaction was reported by 19%. Reports of breast differences included reduced size of the treated breast (44%), increased firmness (31%), elevation (25%), and skin color changes (22%). Reasons for dissatisfaction included chronic breast pain in 3 patients, breast edema in one and arm edema in one. Two patients wanted the untreated breast reduced in size. Statistically significant inverse relationships were found between the length of the biopsy scar and patient ratings of both appearance of the treated breast and overall satisfaction. These results indicated that although most patients were satisfied with cosmetic results of breast-preserving treatments, they are quite discriminating in their evaluations of differences between breasts. Functional factors such as pain and edema had a negative impact on satisfaction with cosmesis.

Breast edema in patients treated conservatively for stage I and II breast cancer

Breast edema was evaluated in 45 patients with Stage I or II breast cancer (including two with simultaneous, bilateral disease), who were treated by breast-preserving treatment approaches. Multiple variable statistical analysis revealed that bra cup size was the only factor significantly related to the appearance of breast edema. Breast edema occurred in 3 of 20 breasts (15%) with bra cup size A or B, as compared to 13 of 27 breasts (48%) with bra cup size C, D or DD(p less than 0.03). Breast edema was more likely to occur in patients who underwent full axillary dissection as compared to those who underwent axillary sampling or no axillary surgery. This observation, however, was not statistically significant. Neither the radiation therapy parameters nor the use of adjuvant chemotherapy were found to be related to the development of breast edema. Breast edema appears to be a transient phenomenon observed most frequently in the first year after the end of irradiation. It was observed much less frequently in those patients evaluated over 1 year following the end of radiation therapy.

Breast retraction assessment. Multiple variable analysis of factors responsible for cosmetic retraction in patients treated conservatively for stage I or II breast carcinoma

A method for objective evaluation of cosmetic outcome of patients treated conservatively for breast carcinoma allowed the location of the nipples on two coordinates. The method was applied in 41 patients, 5 to 41 months following the completion of radiation therapy. Multiple variable analysis revealed that extensiveness of resection of the primary breast tumor was the major factor associated with breast retraction. The only other factor of significance was patient age at diagnosis. Neither the radiation therapy parameters, the use of adjuvant chemotherapy, nor any other analyzed factor was found to be associated with cosmetic breast retraction.

Limited usefulness of observer-based cosmesis scales employed to evaluate patients treated conservatively for breast cancer

We evaluated the relative usefulness of two observer-based scales commonly employed to assess the cosmetic outcome of patients treated by breast-preserving techniques for breast cancer. We asked 44 volunteer observers to employ one or the other scale to assess cosmetic outcome in a series of 14 projected color photographs of frontal views of treated patients. Our results demonstrate that observer concensus with either scale is rarely attained, particularly for patients with T1 or T2 tumors. Experienced observers could reach a concensus more often, although still infrequently. Moreover, the reliability of both scales is poor, since approximately one-third of observers evaluating one photograph twice during the same test session changed their answer. We conclude that while observer-based cosmesis scales demonstrate that current surgical and radiation therapy techniques can provide a "good" cosmetic result in 66-90% of patients with Stage I or II breast cancer, they lack the sensitivity and reliability to evaluate factors affecting cosmetic outcome since all forms of cosmetic change are lumped together into one assessment. Each type of cosmetic change should be evaluated separately by objective measures to determine factors related to its development.

Breast retraction assessment: an objective evaluation of cosmetic results of patients treated conservatively for breast cancer

Breast Retraction Assessment (BRA) is an objective evaluation of the amount of cosmetic retraction of the treated breast in comparison to the untreated breast in patients who receive conservative treatment for breast cancer. A clear acrylic sheet supported vertically and marked as a grid at 1 cm intervals is employed to perform the measurements. Average BRA value (+/- standard deviation) in 29 control patients without breast cancer was 1.2 cm (+/- 0.7 cm). Average BRA value in 27 patients treated conservatively for clinical Stage I or II unilateral breast cancer was 3.7 cm (+/- 2.1 cm). BRA values in breast cancer patients ranged from 0.0 to 8.5 cm. Statistical analysis revealed that tumor size, employment of adjuvant chemotherapy and use of separate radiation lymph node fields were not factors in breast retraction. Patients who received a local radiation boost to the primary tumor bed site had statistically significantly less retraction than those who did not receive a boost. Patients who had an extensive primary tumor resection had statistically significantly more retraction than those who underwent a more limited resection. In comparison to qualitative forms of cosmetic analysis, BRA is an objective test that can quantitatively evaluate factors which may be related to cosmetic retraction in patients treated conservatively for breast cancer.

Steroid-withdrawal radiation pneumonitis in cancer patients

Two cancer patients developed steroid-withdrawal radiation pneumonitis. This complication is a recognized risk in the treatment of patients with Hodgkin's disease and other malignant lymphomas, but is under-recognized in patients receiving treatment for carcinoma.

Peptic ulcer disease and other complications in patients receiving dexamethasone palliation for brain metastasis

A retrospective analysis was done of 106 patients who received radiation therapy for brain metastasis. Dexamethasone therapy was instituted in 97 patients. Peptic ulcer disease developed in 5 of 89 patients (5.6 percent) who received a dosage of at least 12 mg a day, but did not occur in patients who received a lower dose or in those who did not receive steroids. The interval between institution of dexamethasone therapy and the development of peptic ulcer disease ranged from three to nine weeks. Two patients had perforated ulcers, one of whom required surgical resection. Peptic ulcer disease contributed to the general deterioration and death of three of the five patients. Overall, in 14 of the 89 patients (15.7 percent) a complication of steroid therapy developed in the form of peptic ulcer disease, steroid myopathy or diabetes mellitus (or a combination of these).

High-dose fractionated radiation therapy for select patients with brain metastases

Four patients with metastases to the brain were treated by high-dose fractionated radiation therapy. In all four cases, a complete response and prolonged disease-free survival could be documented. Unlike the standard therapy for such patients (i.e., craniotomy and postoperative irradiation), high-dose fractionated radiation therapy carries no operative risk and can encompass multiple brain metastases and metastases in deep or critical intracranial sites.

Limited epithelial carcinoma of the ovary treated with curative intent by the intraperitoneal installation of radiocolloids

Between January 1960 and September 1972, 104 patients with limited epithelial carcinoma of the ovary received intraperitoneal radiocolloid. Fifty-six of these patients also received external beam radiation therapy to the pelvis (pelvic RT). Five-year actuarial no-evidence-of-disease survival rates were 95% for stage Iai, 82% for Iaii, 73% for Ib, 67% for Ic, 67% for IIa, 67% for IIb without gross residual tumor (GRT), 25% for IIb with GRT, and 50% for III with minimal or no GRT. The addition of pelvic RT following radiocolloid could not be shown to affect survival of patients with Stage I and IIa tumors. Small bowel complications were related to the use of pelvic RT, however, occurring in 2.2% of patients treated with radiocolloid alone and 24% of patients treated with colloid and pelvic RT (p less than 0.005). In patients who underwent abdominal surgery following treatment of ovarian cancer, no excessive complication rate was observed. We conclude that for patients with stages Iaii through IIa, postoperative radiocolloid appears to provide the greatest chance of survival with the least chance of complication. For patients with Stage IIb and III lesions in whom there is minimal or no GRT, radiocolloid followed by pelvic RT produced survival rates comparable or superior to any other form of postoperative therapy.