Optimising Patient Outcomes in Tongue Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

A multidisciplinary approach to the management of tongue cancer is vital for achieving optimal patient outcomes. Nursing and allied health professionals play essential roles within the team. We developed symposia comprising a series of online lectures offering a detailed perspective on the role each discipline and consumer perspective has in the management of patients with tongue cancer.

Radiotherapy quality assurance in the TROG 12.01 randomised trial and its impact on loco-regional failure.

Introduction: There is no consensus as to what specifically constitutes head and neck cancer radiotherapy quality assurance (HNC RT QA). The aims of this study are to (1) describe the RT QA processes used in the TROG 12.01 study, (2) review the RT QA processes undertaken for all patients with loco-regional failure (LRF), and (3) provide prospective data to propose a consensus statement regarding the minimal components and optimal timing of HNC RT QA.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to the axilla and groin: Outcomes and prognostic factors.

Purpose: This study examined the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with metastatic cutaneous SCC metastatic to the axilla and groin when managed with curative-intent lymphadenectomy and received (neo)adjuvant treatment.

Methods And Materials: We conducted a single institution retrospective review. Patients who had nodal disease without distant spread were 18 years or older with no non-cutaneous primary identified.

Symptom burden, quality of life, functioning and emotional distress in survivors of human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer: An Australian cohort.

Background: This cross-sectional study examines patient-reported outcomes and functioning-based subgroups in human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal cancer survivors treated with chemoradiotherapy ≥12 months prior.

Method: Survivors completed EORTC QLQ-C30, MDASI-HN and PROMIS-Emotional distress questionnaires. Subgroups were identified via two-step clustering of QLQ-C30 functioning scales.

Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Survivors of Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Carcinoma.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of and characteristics associated with fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) among human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors.

Methods And Materials: We conducted a cross-sectional study in HPV-OPC survivors ≥12 months from completion of definitive (chemo)radiation therapy (RT/CRT). Eligible patients completed the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory short-form (FCRI-SF), the European Organisation for research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30, MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck, and PROMIS Anxiety and Depression short forms.

Sexual Health and Interpersonal Relationships After Chemoradiation Therapy for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Cross-sectional Study.

Purpose: To examine sexual health, including sexual satisfaction, and perceived changes in relationships and sexual relationships of human papillomavirus (HPV) oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors ≥12 months after (chemo)radiation therapy.

Methods And Materials: We undertook a cross-sectional study of HPV-OPC survivors who had completed treatment ≥12 months prior. Eligible patients completed the EORTC QLQ-SHQ22, a customized relationship questionnaire, the EORTC QLQ-C30, MDASI-HN, and PROMIS Anxiety and Depression scales.

Patient-reported quality of life and toxicity in unilateral and bilateral radiotherapy for early-stage human papillomavirus associated tonsillar carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare self-reported health-related quality of life (QoL) and symptom burden in early stage tonsillar carcinoma patients treated with unilateral (URT) and bilateral radiotherapy (BRT).

Methods And Materials: This is a secondary analysis of a larger study assessing patient reported outcomes in human papillomavirus (HPV) oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) patients. Recruited patients were ≥12 months from completion of radiotherapy.

Outcomes of curative (chemo)radiotherapy for patients with non-p16 positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are borderline for curative treatment.

Introduction: Appropriate selection of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) patients for curative treatment is difficult, and it is a very understudied issue. The aim of this study was to review the outcomes of curative intent treatment in non-p16 positive HNSCC patients assessed as having borderline curability.

Methods: A single institution retrospective review of the clinical outcomes of non-p16 positive HNSCC patients with borderline curability.

Treatment Package Time in Node-Positive Cutaneous Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: Treatment package time (TPT) prolongation is associated with lower overall survival and locoregional control in mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), but there are few reports in cutaneous HNSCC (cHNSCC). We sought to test the effect of TPT in a cohort of patients with cHNSCC.

Methods: This is a single institution retrospective study of node-positive cHNSCC patients involving either the parotid or cervical nodes treated with curative intent surgery with macroscopic tumor clearance followed by standard fractionation postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) from 2001 to 2014.

Human papillomavirus and p16 immunostaining, prevalence and prognosis of squamous carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck region.

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck (SCCUPHN), and prognosis by HPV status of SCCUPHN patients has been difficult to estimate because of the rarity of this subtype. In MEDLINE, Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, EMBASE, Cochrane library and Web of Science searches, observational studies and clinical trials that reported survival rates of patients with SCCUPHN by HPV status were identified. Meta-analysis estimated the prevalence and prognosis (overall survival, OS; progression-free survival, PFS) of SCCUPHN by HPV status, and compared them to studies of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) from the same institutions and across continents.

Partial Laryngeal IMRT for T2N0 Glottic Cancer: Impact of Image Guidance and Radiation Therapy Intensification.

Purpose: To assess the impact of the radiation therapy (RT) regimen and image guidance (image guided radiation therapy [IGRT]) protocol on local control (LC) for T2N0 glottic cancer treated with partial laryngeal intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Methods And Materials: All patients with T2N0 glottic cancer treated with IMRT from 2006 to 2013 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. The gross tumor volume (GTV), delineated from endoscopic and/or radiologic findings, was expanded 0.

Unilateral radiotherapy treatment for p16/human papillomavirus-positive squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary in the head and neck.

Objectives/hypothesis: The outcomes of unilateral radiotherapy treatment for patients with p16/HPV-positive squamous cell carcinomas of unknown primary (SCCUP) affecting cervical lymph nodes are under-reported. Compared to radiating large volumes of the pharyngeal axis (the more common approach), this is potentially a much less toxic treatment for a good prognosis group.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Retrospective audit of patients referred for further treatment following Mohs surgery for non-melanoma skin cancer.

Background/objectives: To describe the characteristics, subsequent management and outcomes of patients referred for further management following Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients referred to a quaternary cancer centre from 2000 to 2015.

Results: In total, 83 lesions in 82 patients were referred for further management; 52 (62%) were SCC and 80 (96%) were located in the head and neck.

National survey on image-guided radiotherapy practice in New Zealand.

Introduction: This survey aimed to assess the use of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) within New Zealand (NZ) and evaluate the quality of IGRT delivery.

Method: All nine centres in NZ were invited to participate in an online survey in November 2015. Questions were asked on type of IGRT technologies available, IGRT use by tumour site and frequency of imaging.

Outcomes of Routine Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Quality Assurance in a Large Head and Neck Cancer Center.

Purpose: The primary endpoint was to ascertain whether the percentage of major changes implemented from our routine intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) process was more than 10%. The secondary endpoints were to document the percentage of minor changes, ascertain the time taken to perform the IMRT QA process, evaluate potential predictors for major changes, and ascertain the perceived value of the program by the compliance of radiation oncologists (ROs) treating head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods And Materials: This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective database for all radically treated HNC patients.

Prognostic markers in metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: The minority of head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) metastasize to regional lymph nodes. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with node-positive head and neck cutaneous SCC who underwent lymphadenectomy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective single center study using the Kaplan-Meier method for the investigation of the overall survival (OS) and locoregional control rates.

Faculty of Radiation Oncology Position Paper on the use of Image-Guided Radiation Therapy.

The development of technology such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) has resulted in highly conformal radiotherapy treatments. While such technology has allowed for improved dose delivery, it has also meant that improved accuracy in the treatment room is required. Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), the use of imaging prior to or during treatment delivery, has been shown to improve the accuracy of treatment delivery and in some circumstances, clinical outcomes.

Weekly cisplatin and radiotherapy for low risk, locoregionally advanced human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: There is interest in different treatment strategies, including deintensification in good prognosis human papillomavirus-positive (HPV(+)) oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We reviewed our experience with weekly cisplatin in low-risk, locoregionally advanced HPV(+) oropharyngeal SCC since late 2009.

Methods: Data from patients with low-risk HPV(+) oropharyngeal SCC treated with weekly cisplatin (40 mg/m(2) ) and 70 Gy radiotherapy were collected.

A small tolerance for catheter displacement in high-dose rate prostate brachytherapy is necessary and feasible.

Purpose: We examined catheter displacement in patients treated with fractionated high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy boost for prostate cancer and the impact this had on tumor control probability (TCP). These data were used to make conclusions on an acceptable amount of displacement.

Methods And Materials: The last 20 patients treated with HDR brachytherapy boost for prostate cancer at our center in 2007 were replanned using simulated interstitial catheter displacements of 3, 6, 9, and 12 mm with originally planned dwell times.

Health issues in newly arrived African refugees attending general practice clinics in Melbourne.

Objective: To identify the most common health issues diagnosed by general practitioners in newly arrived African refugees.

Design: Descriptive study based on a purposive sample of six GPs to collate data from medical records of patients from African countries who had attended their clinics for the first time between 1 January and 30 June 2005.

Setting: Two community health centres and two private general practices in metropolitan Melbourne.