Incidence of inguinofemoral lymph node metastases at the first local recurrence of vulvar cancer: a Dutch nationwide study.

Background: Up to 40% of vulvar cancer patients present with local recurrence within 10 years of follow-up. An inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy (IFL) is indicated if not performed at primary treatment. The incidence and risk factors for lymph node metastases (LNM) at first local recurrence, however, are unclear.

F-FDG-PET/CT-based treatment planning for definitive (chemo)radiotherapy in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma improves regional control and survival.

Background And Purpose: Multimodality imaging including F-FDG-PET has improved the detection threshold of nodal metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The aim of this retrospective analysis is to investigate the impact of FDG-PET/CT-based nodal target volume definition (FDG-PET/CT-based NTV) on radiotherapy outcomes, compared to conventional CT-based nodal target volume definition (CT-based NTV).

Materials And Methods: Six-hundred-thirty-three patients treated for HNSCC with definitive (chemo)radiotherapy using IMRT/VMAT techniques between 2008 and 2017 were analyzed.

Reirradiation of head and neck cancer: Long-term disease control and toxicity.

Background: The purpose of this study was to report long-term disease control and late radiation toxicity for patients reirradiated for head and neck cancer.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 137 patients reirradiated with a prescribed dose ≥45 Gy between 1986 and 2013 for a recurrent or second primary malignancy. Endpoints were locoregional control, overall survival (OS), and grade ≥4 late complications according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria.

Patterns of Recurrence in Electively Irradiated Lymph Node Regions After Definitive Accelerated Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: To provide a comprehensive risk assessment on the patterns of recurrence in electively irradiated lymph node regions after definitive radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

Methods And Materials: Two hundred sixty-four patients with stage cT2-4N0-2M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, larynx, or hypopharynx treated with accelerated intensity modulated radiation therapy between 2008 and 2012 were included. On the radiation therapy planning computed tomography (CT) scans from all patients, 1166 lymph nodes (short-axis diameter ≥5 mm) localized in the elective volume were identified and delineated.

Multicenter validation of recursive partitioning analysis classification for patients with squamous cell head and neck carcinoma treated with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.

Purpose: To validate the recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification system for squamous cell head and neck cancer as recently reported by the VU University Medical Center.

Methods And Materials: In eight Dutch head and neck cancer centers, data necessary to classify patients according to the RPA system were retrospectively collected from the charts of a group of 780 patients treated between 1989 and 2003. The patients in this validation group were classified according to the RPA classification system.

The decision evaluation scales.

There are several instruments to assess how patients evaluate their medical treatment choice. These are used to evaluate decision aids. Our objective is to investigate which psychological factors play a role when patients evaluate their medical treatment choices.

Decision analysis of prophylactic surgery or screening for BRCA1 mutation carriers: a more prominent role for oophorectomy.

Purpose: BRCA1 mutation carriers have a high risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Carriers may opt for prophylactic surgery and screening. Recent data suggesting that prophylactic oophorectomy reduces breast cancer risk have been incorporated in a decision analysis.