Coverage of Lateral Lymph Nodes in Rectal Cancer Patients with Routine Radiation Therapy Practice and Associated Locoregional Recurrence Rates.

Purpose: Involved internal iliac and obturator lateral lymph nodes (LLNs) are a known risk factor for the occurrence of ipsilateral local recurrences (LLR) in rectal cancer. This study examined coverage of LLNs with routine radiation therapy practice in the Netherlands and associated LLR rates.

Methods And Materials: Patients with a primary tumor ≤8 cm of the anorectal junction, cT3-4 stage, and at least 1 internal iliac or obturator LLN with short axis ≥5 mm who received neoadjuvant (chemo)radiation therapy, were selected from a national, cross-sectional study of patients with rectal cancer treated in the Netherlands in 2016.

Development of a consensus-based delineation guideline for locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Background And Purpose: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) is used in locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC) to increase chances of a radical surgical resection. Delineation in LRRC is hampered by complex disease presentation and limited clinical exposure. Within the PelvEx II trial, evaluating the benefit of chemotherapy preceding nCRT for LRRC, a delineation guideline was developed by an expert LRRC team.

The Dutch-Belgian Registry of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Liver Metastases: Clinical Outcomes of 515 Patients and 668 Metastases.

Purpose: Although various studies have reported that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for liver metastases has high local control rates and relatively low toxicity, most series included a small number of patients. We aimed to validate these outcomes in a large multi-institution patient cohort treated in accordance with a common protocol.

Methods And Materials: A shared web-based registry of patients with liver metastases treated with SBRT was developed by 13 centers (12 in the Netherlands and 1 in Belgium).

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus: A Nationwide Analysis of Treatment and Outcome at Patient Level in Locoregional Disease.

Background And Purpose: Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCEC) is a rare subtype of esophageal cancer for which optimal treatment is unknown. We analyzed the impact of treatment factors on outcome in patients with nonmetastasized SCEC.

Methods: Patients with a histologically confirmed SCEC without distant metastases were analyzed in a nationwide multicenter retrospective cohort.

Patient explicit consideration of tradeoffs in decision making about rectal cancer treatment: benefits for decision process and quality of life.

Patient preferences are often not discussed in treatment decisions in oncology. We introduced an online values clarification method (VCM) to help newly diagnosed rectal cancer patients participate in shared decision making about short-course preoperative radiotherapy. We offered a link to the VCM to a subset of consecutive patients before the pretreatment consultation with the radiation oncologist.

Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Rectal Cancer After Preoperative Short-Course and Long-Course (Chemo) Radiotherapy.

Background: Both preoperative short-course radiotherapy (SC-PRT) and preoperative long-course chemo radiotherapy (CRT) have shown to reduce local recurrence rates after total mesorectal excision (TME), but neither resulted in improved survival. This study compared the long-term health-related quality of life (HRQL) and symptoms between CRT and SC-PRT.

Methods: Patients who were preoperatively treated with a total dose of 50.

[Decision-making in preoperative radiotherapy in rectal cancer: variation in provision of information].

Objective: To investigate the information provision concerning possible benefits and harms of short-course preoperative radiotherapy (PRT) at pre-treatment consultations between radiation oncologists and rectal cancer patients.

Design: Observational study.

Method: We audiotaped the consultations between 17 radiation oncologists and 81 patients with primary rectal cancer who were eligible for PRT.

Acute toxicity after a diverting stoma and spacer prior to chemoradiation in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background And Purpose: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery is the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). For grade ⩾3 acute diarrhea there is a relationship between dose and irradiated small bowel volume. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether combined placement of a diverting stoma and sigmoid spacer (DSSS) led to reduced irradiated small bowel volume and less grade ⩾3 acute diarrhea in the treatment of LARC.