Among the 63 patients with histopathologically proven primary squamous cell anal cancer who were managed in Presbyterian Medical Center and Yonsei University Cancer from Jan. 1971 to Dec. 1991, 34 patients, who were managed with surgery alone (abdominoperineal resection) or post-operative radiotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy were analyzed. With mean follow up time of 81.3 months, 30 patients (88%) were followed up from 17 to 243 months. In methods, 10 patients were treated with surgery alone. 9 patients were treated with combined surgery and postoperative radiotherapy (59~60 Gy in 28~30 fractions). 15 patients were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Chemotherapy (Mitomycin C 15 mg/squ, bolus injection day 1;5-FU, 750 mg/squ, 24hr infusion, day 1 to 5) and radiotherapy started the same day. A dose of 30 Gy was given to the tumor and to the pelvis including inguinal nodes, in 15 fractions. After 2 weeks a boost of radiotherapy (20 Gy) to the ano-perineal area and second cycle of chemotherapy completed the treatment. The overall 50year survival rate was 56.2%. concurrent chemoradiotherapy group was 70% and surgery alone group was 16.7%. According to the cox proportional harzard model, there was significant different between survival with concurrent chemoradiotherapy and surgery alone (p=0.0129), but post-operative radiotherapy was 64.8%, which was not stastically significant (p=0.1412). In concurrent chemoradiotherapy group, the anal function preservation rate was 87% and the severe complication rate (grade 3 stenosis and incontinence) was 13.3%. In conclusion, we conclude that the concurrent chemoradiotherapy may be effective treatment modality in patients with anal cancer
Anus Neoplasms* ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Pelvis ; Protestantism ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate

We describe our initial experience with the use of biodegradable (BD) stents in benign ischemic colorectal strictures with two cases. The first case is of a 40-year-old male with a history of retroperitoneal sarcoma who developed a benign stricture in the descending colon postsurgical and radiotherapy treatment. Balloon dilation was required in order to pass the delivery system. The patient experienced significant pain postdeployment and post procedure computed tomography scan demonstrated a small perforation requiring an emergency laparotomy. The second case is a 61-year-old male with a history of retroperitoneal sarcoma who also developed an ischemic stricture in the descending colon after surgical excision. Using a combined fluoroscopic and endoscopic approach 3 separate BD stents were inserted over a 17-month period improving clinical symptoms of intermittent obstruction. These symptoms reoccurred after stent disintegration and the patient was definitively managed surgically with colostomy formation. The use of BD stents, although appealing, does not provide an adequate long term result. Additionally, more flexible, smaller calibre systems are required for deployment in tortuous environments.
Adult ; Colon, Descending ; Colostomy ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcoma ; Stents* ; Tigers*

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of intraluminal irradiation with Holmium-166 (166Ho) for reducing the pseudointimal hyperplasia (PIH) in the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) tract in a swine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TIPS was performed in 12 domestic pigs, after the creation of portal hypertension by intraportal injection of a mixture of N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and lipiodol. Five pigs first underwent intraluminal irradiation (30 Gy) in the parenchymal tract with using a 166Ho solution-filled balloon catheter, and this was followed by the placement of a nitinol stent in the TIPS tract. For the seven control pigs, the balloon was filled with saline and contrast media mixture. Two weeks later, follow-up portography and histological analysis were performed. RESULTS: TIPS was successfully performed in all twelve pigs with achieving artificially induced portal hypertension. Portography performed two weeks after TIPS showed the patent tracts in the TIPS tracts that were irradiated with 166Ho (5/5, 100%), whereas either completely (5/6, 83.3%) or partially (1/6, 16.7%) occluded TIPS were seen in the seven pigs of the nonirradiated control group, except in one pig that experienced periprocedural death due to bleeding. Histological analysis showed a statistically significant difference for the maximal PIH (irradiated: 32.8%, nonirradiated: 76.0%, p < 0.001) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Intraluminal irradiation with 30 Gy of 166Ho for TIPS significantly improved the TIPS patency in a swine model of portal hypertension during a 2-week period of follow-up.
Alloys ; Animals ; Constriction, Pathologic/*radiotherapy ; Holmium/*therapeutic use ; Hypertension, Portal/therapy ; Portasystemic Shunt, Transjugular Intrahepatic ; Radioisotopes/*therapeutic use ; Stents ; Swine

PURPOSE: To overcome the limitations of expandable metallic stent placement by using balloon dilation combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the treatment of malignant esophageal strictures involving the esophagogastric junction (EGJ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fluoroscopically guided balloon dilation was performed in 14 patients with strictures due to squamous cell carcinoma (n=5) or adenocarcinoma (n=9). After balloon dilation all patients underwent chemotherapy or radiation therapy. RESULTS: There were no technical failures or major complications. After dilation, dysphagia improved in 13 (92%) of 14 patients, and the long-term success rate was 50%. Six of the seven patients in whom the condition recurred underwent further balloon dilation (n=4) or placement of an expandable metallic stent (n=2). Ten of the 13 who were followed up died after diffuse metastasis. Prior to their eventual death (mean survial, 20 weeks), the dysphagia experienced by seven (70%) of these ten improved, and thus they required no further treatment. CONCLUSION: Balloon dilation combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy seems to be a safe and effective secondary therapy for patients with dysphagia due to malignant stiricture involving the EGJ.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Deglutition Disorders ; Drug Therapy* ; Esophagogastric Junction* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Palliative Care* ; Radiotherapy* ; Stents

Among 165 patients of esophagus cancer treated by either radiation alone or postoperative radiation, median survival period was 6.6 months, 16% 3 years and 8% 5 years crude survival in biphasic plotting of survival curve semilogarithmically all nonresponder died within one year regardless of treatments and in responder each 1, 2, 3 years survival rate was 80%, 70%, 60% in the group of postoperative radiation among 20 patients (54% of 37 patients) respectively and 62%, 38%, 23% each in the group of radiation alone among 61 patients (48% of 128 patients) respectively, better survival rate of postoperative radiation vs radiation alone in 3 year (p<0.01). The most common cause of death was dysphagia 55%, and majority of patients died by failure to control the disease locally 62%, 88% of stricture were associated with persistenece of cancer in esophagus. 50% of patients was found to have locoregional metastatic nodes. Preoperative diagnostic failure rate was for metastatic locoregional nodes was 54%, for grossly metastatic nodes 29.7%, for blood borne organ metastasis 13.5%, and for local extent of the disease 14%. The residual cancer at surgical margin on postitive node was not effectively killed by either 5000 to 5500 cgy conventional radiation or 5290 to 5750 cgy with 115 cgy fraction in 2 times daily; hyperfractionated radiation. However hyperfractionation schedule decreased the both acute and late complications in this study.
Appointments and Schedules ; Cause of Death ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Esophagus* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Radiotherapy* ; Survival Rate

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The traditional form of reconstruction of multiple defects after head and neck cancer ablation has been the two-combined regional flaps or that of one regional flap and skin graft. Such flaps, however, have functional and aesthetic problems such as donor site morbidity, and post-operative stenosis and fistula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed clinical data of eleven head and neck cancer patients who have been reconstructed with bilobed flaps or gemini flaps after ablation from November 1988 to October 1998. The patients were divided into four groups. Type I flap is bilobed flap consisting of one bed and fused skin, type II flap is gemini flap consisting of one bed and separated skin, type III flap is gemini flap consisting of separated skin and bed, and type IV flap is bilobed flap or gemini flap composed of free bone graft. RESULTS: The survival rate of bilobed flaps and gemini flaps was 91%. The most common complication was fistula, followed by donor vein thrombosis and total loss of flap. CONCLUSIONS: The advantages of bilobed flaps and gemini flaps were one-stage operation, and aesthetic effect for reduced bulk of thinned radial free forearm flap, and diminished morbidity of donor site. Bilobed flaps and gemini flaps were also used for salvage operation of the patients who had been treated with concomitant chemo-radiotherapy, or combined chemo-radiotherapy, or radiotherapy alone for malignant tumors of head and neck.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Fistula ; Forearm ; Head and Neck Neoplasms* ; Head* ; Humans ; Neck ; Radiotherapy ; Skin ; Survival Rate ; Thrombosis ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Veins

Curative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein invasion is difficult to achieve, and the prognosis is dismal. Combining external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) has shown favorable local therapeutic effects for patients with HCC exhibiting portal vein invasion. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a recently developed EBRT modality that shows excellent tumor control. The combination of SBRT and HAIC for HCC with portal vein invasion has not been well-studied. We report a patient with HCC and portal vein invasion who achieved 15 months of survival with complete response status after combination SBRT and HAIC. The patient later experienced grade 3 biliary stricture and died of liver abscesses of unknown etiologies that subsequently appeared.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Liver Abscess ; Portal Vein ; Prognosis ; Radiosurgery ; Radiotherapy ; Therapeutic Uses ; Venous Thrombosis

PURPOSE: Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN), a rare premalignant condition, is difficult to eradicate. We assess the effectiveness of high-dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-ICR) in patients with VAIN or carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the vagina after hysterectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 34 patients treated for posthysterectomy VAIN or CIS of the vagina by brachytherapy as the sole treatment. All patients underwent a coloposcopic-directed punch biopsy or had abnormal cytology, at least 3 consecutive times. All patients were treated with a vaginal cylinder applicator. The total radiation dose was mainly 40 Gy in 8 fractions during the periods of 4 weeks at a prescription point of the median 0.2 cm (range, 0 to 0.5 cm) depth from the surface of the vaginal mucosa. RESULTS: Acute toxicity was minimal. Seven patients had grade 1/2 acute urinary and rectal complications. There were 15 cases of late toxicity, predominantly vaginal mucosal reaction in 12 patients. Of these patients, two patients suffered from grade 3 vaginal stricture and dyspareunia continuously. After a median follow-up time of 48 months (range, 4 to 122 months), there were 2 recurrences and 2 persistent diseases, in which a second-line therapy was needed. The success rate was 88.2%. The average prescription point in failure patients was 1.1 mm from the surface of the vagina compared to an average of 2.6 mm in non-recurrent patients (p=0.097). CONCLUSION: HDR-ICR is an effective treatment method in VAIN patients. In spite of high cure rates, we should consider issues regarding vaginal toxicity and radiation techniques to reduce the occurrence of failure and toxicity.
Biopsy ; Brachytherapy* ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dyspareunia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Methods ; Mucous Membrane ; Prescriptions ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Vagina ; Vaginal Neoplasms

PURPOSE: Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN), a rare premalignant condition, is difficult to eradicate. We assess the effectiveness of high-dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy (HDR-ICR) in patients with VAIN or carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the vagina after hysterectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 34 patients treated for posthysterectomy VAIN or CIS of the vagina by brachytherapy as the sole treatment. All patients underwent a coloposcopic-directed punch biopsy or had abnormal cytology, at least 3 consecutive times. All patients were treated with a vaginal cylinder applicator. The total radiation dose was mainly 40 Gy in 8 fractions during the periods of 4 weeks at a prescription point of the median 0.2 cm (range, 0 to 0.5 cm) depth from the surface of the vaginal mucosa. RESULTS: Acute toxicity was minimal. Seven patients had grade 1/2 acute urinary and rectal complications. There were 15 cases of late toxicity, predominantly vaginal mucosal reaction in 12 patients. Of these patients, two patients suffered from grade 3 vaginal stricture and dyspareunia continuously. After a median follow-up time of 48 months (range, 4 to 122 months), there were 2 recurrences and 2 persistent diseases, in which a second-line therapy was needed. The success rate was 88.2%. The average prescription point in failure patients was 1.1 mm from the surface of the vagina compared to an average of 2.6 mm in non-recurrent patients (p=0.097). CONCLUSION: HDR-ICR is an effective treatment method in VAIN patients. In spite of high cure rates, we should consider issues regarding vaginal toxicity and radiation techniques to reduce the occurrence of failure and toxicity.
Biopsy ; Brachytherapy* ; Carcinoma in Situ ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dyspareunia ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Methods ; Mucous Membrane ; Prescriptions ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Vagina ; Vaginal Neoplasms

The incidence of tracheal stenosis is increased because of the longterm respiratory care with endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy. Present therapeutic modalities for the relief of an tracheal or bronchial stenosis include laser resection, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, bougienation, stent insertion, dilatation with balloon catheter and finally reconstruction surgery. However, reconstruction surgery have some problems in ventilation during anesthetic management. Small sized tube insertion through lesion, high frequency jet ventilation, cardiopulmonary bypass are served to resolve ventilatory problem. We experienced a case of severe tracheal stenosis due to tracheostomy. The stenotic lesion was 2.5 cm above the carina, 3 mm in diameter and length of the stenotic segment was 1 cm. We used bougienation with endotracheal tube replace obturator for the ventilation before the reconstruction surgery and the patient was successfully managed without complications.
Airway Management* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Catheters ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Cryotherapy ; Dilatation ; High-Frequency Jet Ventilation ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Radiotherapy ; Stents ; Trachea ; Tracheal Stenosis* ; Tracheostomy ; Ventilation