Volumetric regression ratio of the primary tumor and metastatic lymph nodes after induction chemotherapy predicts overall survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective analysis.

Purpose: We looked for any predictive value of change in primary tumor and metastatic lymph node volumes after induction chemotherapy (IC) on oncologic outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: Nineteen patients with stage IVA/B HNSCC treated between 2004 and 2010 with at least one cycle of IC (docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil/TPF) and concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with cisplatin were retrospectively analyzed. Volumes were calculated separately for primary tumor (Vtm), lymph node metastases (Vln) and their sum (Vsum) on computed tomography (CT) images before and after IC.

Up-front neck dissection followed by definitive (chemo)-radiotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: Rationale, complications, toxicity rates, and oncological outcomes - A systematic review.

Background And Purpose: Lymph node metastases of head and neck cancer are considered one of the most negative prognostic factors. While outcomes and feasibility of chemo-radiotherapy ((C)RT) with or without adjuvant planned neck dissection (ND) in organ-preservation treatment strategy have been addressed, the role of ND before (C)RT, called up-front neck dissection (UFND), is not clearly established. This review provides a critical appraisal of UFND.

Outcomes in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Treated with Up-front Neck Dissection prior to (Chemo)Radiotherapy.

Objective: Our aim was to compare outcomes with and without up-front neck dissection prior to (chemo)radiotherapy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Improved VMAT planning for head and neck tumors with an advanced optimization algorithm.

Objective: In this study, the "Progressive Resolution Optimizer PRO3" (Varian Medical Systems) is compared to the previous version "PRO2" with respect to its potential to improve dose sparing to the organs at risk (OAR) and dose coverage of the PTV for head and neck cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: For eight head and neck cancer patients, volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) treatment plans were generated in this study. All cases have 2-3 phases and the total prescribed dose (PD) was 60-72 Gy in the PTV.

Definitive intensity modulated radiotherapy in locally advanced hypopharygeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: mature treatment results and patterns of locoregional failure.

Purpose: To assess clinical outcomes and patterns of loco-regional failure (LRF) in relation to clinical target volumes (CTV) in patients with locally advanced hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HL-SCC) treated with definitive intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and concurrent systemic therapy.

Methods: Data from HL-SCC patients treated from 2007 to 2010 were retrospectively evaluated. Primary endpoint was loco-regional control (LRC).

Superior vena cava syndrome in thoracic malignancies.

The superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) comprises various symptoms due to occlusion of the SVC, which can be easily obstructed by pathological conditions (eg, lung cancer, due to the low internal venous pressure within rigid structures of the thorax [trachea, right bronchus, aorta]). The resulting increased venous pressure in the upper body may cause edema of the head, neck, and upper extremities, often associated with cyanosis, plethora, and distended subcutaneous vessels. Despite the often striking clinical presentation, SVCS itself is usually not a life-threatening condition.

Stereotactic radiation treatment planning and follow-up studies involving fused multimodality imaging.

Object: Innovative new software solutions may enable image fusion to produce the desired data superposition for precise target definition and follow-up studies in radiosurgery/stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with intracranial lesions. The aim is to integrate the anatomical and functional information completely into the radiation treatment planning and to achieve an exact comparison for follow-up examinations. Special conditions and advantages of BrainLAB's fully automatic image fusion system are evaluated and described for this purpose.

Molecular whole-body cancer staging using positron emission tomography: consequences for therapeutic management and metabolic radiation treatment planning.

A prospective analysis was performed in 124 non-small cell lung cancer patients to determine the role of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) for molecular (metabolic) staging (n=63), therapy monitoring after induction-chemotherapy (n=34), and conformal radiation treatment planning (n=27). Staging by FDG-PET was significantly more accurate than CT (p<0.001) and changed therapeutic management in 52% of all patients.