PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of implanted surgical clips for detecting interfractional errors in the treatment of hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancer with postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty patients had been treated with PORT for locally advanced hepatobiliary or pancreatic cancer, from November 2014 to April 2016. Patients underwent computed tomography simulation and were treated in expiratory breathing phase. During treatment, orthogonal kilovoltage (kV) imaging was taken twice a week, and isocenter shifts were made to match bony anatomy. The difference in position of clips between kV images and digitally reconstructed radiographs was determined. Clips were consist of 3 proximal clips (clip_p, ≤2 cm) and 3 distal clips (clip_d, >2 cm), which were classified according to distance from treatment center. The interfractional displacements of clips were measured in the superior-inferior (SI), anterior-posterior (AP), and right-left (RL) directions. RESULTS: The translocation of clip was well correlated with diaphragm movement in 90.4% (190/210) of all images. The clip position errors greater than 5 mm were observed in 26.0% in SI, 1.8% in AP, and 5.4% in RL directions, respectively. Moreover, the clip position errors greater than 10 mm were observed in 1.9% in SI, 0.2% in AP, and 0.2% in RL directions, despite respiratory control. CONCLUSION: Quantitative analysis of surgical clip displacement reflect respiratory motion, setup errors and postoperative change of intraabdominal organ position. Furthermore, position of clips is distinguished easily in verification images. The identification of the surgical clip position may lead to a significant improvement in the accuracy of upper abdominal radiation therapy.
Diaphragm ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms* ; Radiotherapy* ; Respiration ; Surgical Instruments* ; Uncertainty*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to identify the prognostic factors of distant metastasis (DM) after induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer (HNC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 321 patients with HNC who underwent IC followed by CRT treated between January 2005 and December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. IC consisted of three courses of docetaxel (70 mg/m2) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2) every three weeks, followed by radiotherapy of 66-70 Gy/2 Gy per fraction/5 fractions per week concurrent with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m2). Tumor/nodal stage, primary site, tumor differentiation, lower neck node involvement (level IV, VB, and supraclavicular regions), number of concurrent chemotherapy cycles, overall duration of radiotherapy, and response to IC were assessed as potential prognostic factors influencing DM and survival outcome. RESULTS: The five-year loco-regional recurrence and DM rates were 23.6% and 18.2%. N stage, overall duration of radiotherapy, lower neck node involvement, and response to IC were significant factors for DM. With a median follow-up period of 52 months (range, 4 to 83 months), the 5-year progression-free, DM-free, and overall survival rates were 41.2%, 50.7%, and 55.1%, respectively. Lower neck node involvement (p=0.008) and poor response to IC (p < 0.001) showed an association with significantly inferior DM-free survival. CONCLUSION: Even with the addition of IC, the DM rate and survival outcome were poor when metastatic lower neck lymph nodes were present or when patients failed to respond after receiving IC.
Chemoradiotherapy* ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head and Neck Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the clinical outcomes of 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) for portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) alone in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data on 46 patients who received 3D-CRT for PVTT alone between June 2002 and December 2011. Response was evaluated following the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Prognostic factors and 1-year survival rates were compared between responders and non-responders. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (80.4%) had category B Child-Pugh scores. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status score was 2 in 20 patients. Thirty patients (65.2%) had main or bilateral PVTT. The median irradiation dose was 50 Gy (range, 35 to 60 Gy) and the daily median dose was 2 Gy (range, 2.0 to 2.5 Gy). PVTT response was classified as complete response in 3 patients (6.5%), partial response in 12 (26.1%), stable disease in 19 (41.3%), and progressive disease in 12 (26.1%). There were 2 cases of grade 3 toxicities during or 3 months after radiotherapy. Twelve patients in the responder group (15 patients) received at least 50 Gy irradiation, but about 84% of patients in the non-responder group received less than 50 Gy. The 1-year survival rate was 66.8% in responders and 27.4% in non-responders constituting a statistically significant difference (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Conformal radiotherapy for PVTT alone could be chosen as a palliative treatment modality in patients with unfavorable conditions (liver, patient, or tumor factors). However, more than 50 Gy of radiation may be required.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular* ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Portal Vein* ; Radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy, Conformal* ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Thrombosis*

BACKGROUND: Helical tomotherapy is a new form of image-guided intensity modulated radiation therapy that may improve local control and decrease radiation toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate if high-dose helical tomotherapy is tolerated by patients aged 75 years or older and if the side effects are comparable with those experienced by younger patients. METHODS: Between January 2011 and August 2012, patients with prostate cancer who underwent helical tomotherapy without elective pelvic irradiation as definitive aim were reviewed and divided into two age groups: > or =75 years and <75 years. Acute genitourinary (GU) and lower gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Twenty patients aged 75 years or older and 23 patients younger than 75 years were evaluated. Radiotherapy was administered to a total dose of 76-78Gy in 38-39 fractions or 70Gy in 28 fractions. There was no grade 3 or 4 acute toxicity and no grade 2 acute lower GI symptom, but the patients complained of grade 2 acute GU toxicity, 25.0% for the older group and 13.0% for the younger group. There was no significant difference in the rate of acute toxicity between the age groups. Hypofractionation showed a significant association with higher grade 2 acute GU toxicity (p=0.024) with the grade 2 acute GU toxicity having no significant correlation with T-stage, Gleason score, prostate specific antigen level, androgen deprivation therapy, and comorbidities. CONCLUSION: High-dose helical tomotherapy to the prostate without pelvic irradiation was well tolerated by elderly prostate cancer patients 75 years and older.
Aged ; Humans ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated

PURPOSE: The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of short-course hypofractionated radiotherapy (RT) for the palliation of uterine cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with cancer of the uterine cervix, who underwent palliative hypofractionated 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy between January 2002 and June 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. RT was delivered to symptomatic lesions (both the primary mass and/or metastatic regional lymph nodes). The total dose was 20 to 25 Gy (median, 25 Gy) in 5 Gy daily fractions. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 12.2 months (range, 4 to 24 months). The median survival time was 7.8 months (range, 4 to 24 months). Vaginal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom followed by pelvic pain (9 patients). The overall response rates were 93.8% and 66.7% for vaginal bleeding control and pelvic pain, respectively. Nine patients did not have any acute side effects and 7 patients showed minor gastrointestinal toxicity. Only 1 patient had grade 3 diarrhea 1 week after completion of treatment, which was successfully treated conservatively. Late complications occurred in 4 patients; however, none of these were of grade 3 or higher severity. CONCLUSION: Short-course hypofractionated RT was effective and well tolerated as palliative treatment for uterine cervical cancer.
Cervix Uteri ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Palliative Care ; Pelvic Pain ; Radiotherapy* ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* ; Uterine Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: The optimal treatment of advanced maxillary sinus cancer has been challenging for several decades. Intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) for head and neck cancer has been controversial. We have analyzed the long-term outcome of neoadjuvant IAC followed by radiation therapy (RT) and surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with advanced maxillary sinus cancer were treated between 1989 and 2002. Five-fluorouracil (5-FU, 500 mg/m2) was infused intra-arterially, and followed by RT (total 50.4 Gy/28 fractions). A planned surgery was performed 3 to 4 weeks after completion of IAC and RT. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 77 months (range, 12 to 169 months), the 5-year rates of overall survival in all patients were 63%. The 5-year rates of overall survival of stage T3/T4 patients were 70.0% and 58.8%, respectively. Seven of fourteen patients with disease recurrence had a local recurrence alone. The 5-year actuarial local control rates in patients with stage T3/T4, and in all patients were 20.0%, 32.3%, and 27.4%, respectively. Overall response rate after the completion of IAC and RT was 70.3%. During the follow-up, seven patients (25.9%) showed mild to moderate late complications. The tumor extent (i.e., the involvement of either orbit and/or base of skull) appeared to be related with local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant IAC with 5-FU followed by RT and surgery may be effective to improve local tumor control in the patients with advanced maxillary sinus cancer. However, local failure was still the major cause of death. Further investigations are required to determine the optimal treatment schedule, radiotherapy techniques and chemotherapy regimens.
Appointments and Schedules ; Cause of Death ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Infusions, Intra-Arterial ; Maxillary Sinus ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; Orbit ; Recurrence

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the 3-dimensional (D) notch volume and the 2D notch width and notch shape as measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), between subjects with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and those without ACL injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Knee MRI images were taken from 72 subjects with ACL injury and 80 subjects without ACL injury (January 2007 to January 2012; Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju, Korea). We measured 3D notch volume and 2D notch width and notch shape. The measured values from MRI figures between ACL-injured subjects and non-ACL-injured subjects were compared and analyzed. These measurements (notch width, notch ratio) were correlated to notch volume. Both intra-observer reliability and inter-observer reliability were calculated. RESULTS: Notch width differed significantly between ACL injured subjects and non-injured subjects (p<0.001), while no significant differences in notch volume and notch shape were observed between the groups (male: p=0.43, female: p=0.22). CONCLUSION: The results of this study might suggest that certain 2D measurements (notch width) of the notch could be better than notch volume for prediction of ACL rupture risk.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Rupture

Traumatic lumbosacral spinal subdural hematoma due to anatomical and pathological causes is rare, compared to epidural hematoma. If the time of trauma cannot be determined, intracranial and intraspinal signal intensity according to lapse of time are not coincident, resulting in confusion in terms of differentiation. Fat suppression magnetic resonance image (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are utilized for differentiation. The intention of this study is to report on a case where spinal subdural hematoma of unknown time of occurrence is differentiated from subdural lipoma by taking advantage of fat suppression MRI and CT in order to perform an early surgical decompression with auxiliary review of literature demonstrating good prognosis of the procedure.
Decompression, Surgical ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal* ; Intention ; Lipoma* ; Magnetics ; Magnets ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to find out the differences of distal femur morphology between the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-injured and the non-ACL injured on an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the difference of bone structure by gender. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI Measurements of notch width (NW), bicondylar width (BCW), medial condyle width (MCW), lateral condyle width (LCW), medial-to-lateral condyle ratio (M:L ratio), and notch entrance width (NE) were taken from 120 subjects with ACL injury and the other 106 subjects without ACL injury, by three independent observers, at two different times. The measured values from MRI figures between the ACL-injured and the non-ACL-injured were compared and analyzed, with consideration of the differences by gender. Both intra and inter-observer reliability were calculated. RESULTS: There were significant differences of NW, BCW, MCW, LCW and NE by gender (p<0.001). While NW and MCW in male group were different (p<0.001), NW, MCW, M:L ratio and NW index (NWI) in female group were significantly different (p<0.001) in the bone morphology between the ACL-injured and non-ACL-injured. The intra- and inter-observer reliability was satisfying. CONCLUSIONS: If necessary to take an MRI, female patients with small NWI and NW injury should be carefully treated because of possibility of ACL injuries.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

PURPOSE: To examine the feasibility of the treatment planning for minimizing carotid artery dose in the radiotherapy of early glottic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2007 to 2010, computed tomography simulation images of 31 patients treated by radiotherapy for early glottic cancer were analyzed. The virtual planning was used to compare the parallel-opposing fields (POF) with the modified oblique fields (MOF) placed at angles to exclude the ipsilateral carotid arteries. Planning target volume (PTV), irradiated volume, carotid artery, and spinal cord were analyzed at a mean dose, V35, V40, V50 and with a percent dose-volume. RESULTS: The beam angles were arranged 25 degrees anteriorly in 23 patients and 30 degrees anteriorly in 8 patients. The percent dose-volume of PTV shows no statistical difference. Conversely, the cumulative percent dose-volume of carotid artery shows the significant difference (p<0.001). The mean doses of carotid artery were 38.5 Gy for POF and 26.3 Gy for MOF and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.012). Similarly, V35, V40, and V50 also showed significant differences between POF and MOF. CONCLUSION: The modified oblique field was respected to prevent a carotid artery stenosis and reduce the incidence of a stroke based on these results.
Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Stenosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Spinal Cord ; Stroke