International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2000
Nodal basin recurrence following lymph node dissection for melanoma: implications for adjuvant radiotherapy.
To analyze patterns of failure in malignant melanoma patients with lymph node involvement who underwent complete lymph node dissection (LND) of the nodal basin. To determine prognostic factors predictive of local recurrence in the lymph node basin in order to select patients who may benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. ⋯ Malignant melanoma patients with nodal involvement have a significant risk of nodal basin failure after LND if they have cervical involvement, ECE, >3 positive lymph nodes, clinically involved nodes, or any node larger than 3 cm. Patients with these risk factors should be considered for adjuvant radiotherapy to the lymph node basin to reduce the incidence of nodal basin recurrence. Patients with nodal basin failure are at higher risk of developing distant metastases.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2000
Neurobehavioral toxicity of total body irradiation: a follow-up in long-term survivors.
Total body irradiation (TBI) in preparation for bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a routine treatment of hematological malignancy. A retrospective and a prospective group study of long-term cerebral side effects was performed, with a special emphasis on neurobehavioral toxicity effects. ⋯ The incidence of long-term neurobehavioral toxicity was very low for the present TBI/BMT regimen.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2000
Prognostic factors in brain metastases: should patients be selected for aggressive treatment according to recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classes?
To determine whether or not Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) derived prognostic classes for patients with brain metastases are generally applicable and can be recommended as rational strategy for patient selection for future clinical trials. Inclusion of time to non-CNS death as additional endpoint besides death from any cause might result in further valuable information, as survival limitation due to uncontrolled extracranial disease can be explored. ⋯ Despite some differences, this analysis essentially confirmed the value of RPA-derived prognostic classes, as published by the RTOG, when survival was chosen as endpoint. RPA class I patients seem to be most likely to profit from aggressive treatment strategies and should be included in appropriate clinical trials. However, their number appears to be very limited. Considering time to non-CNS death, our results suggest that certain patients in RPA class II also might benefit from increased local control of brain metastases.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2000
Letter Review Case ReportsLactation after conservative treatment for breast cancer.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jan 2000
Clinical TrialPostimplant analysis of transperineal interstitial permanent prostate brachytherapy: evidence for a learning curve in the first year at a single institution.
The utilization of transperineal interstitial permanent prostate brachytherapy (TIPPB) is increasing in the United States. Quality assessment of TIPPB is in its infancy, and to date, dosimetric analyses have only been reported from centers with a large experience in prostate brachytherapy. The purpose of this report is to critically analyze the dosimetric coverage achieved following TIPPB in the first 63 cases performed by a multidisciplinary group of investigators with no prior experience with TIPPB. ⋯ In this single institution experience with the first 63 men receiving TIPPB by a multidisciplinary group of investigators, there is evidence for a learning curve. All quantifiers of implant adequacy improved as clinicians gained experience. In the most recent group of patients, quantifiers of implant adequacy are similar to those reported from other groups with significantly more experience with TIPPB.