The quality of radiation care: the results of focus group interviews and concept mapping to explore the patient's perspective.

Background And Purpose: In this study, we explore the quality aspects of radiation care from the patient's perspective in order to develop a draft Consumer Quality Index (CQI) Radiation Care instrument.

Materials And Methods: Four focus group discussions with (former) cancer patients were held to explore the aspects determining the quality of radiation care. The list of aspects generated was categorised based on similarity and importance in a concept mapping procedure.

High-dose superselective intra-arterial cisplatin and concomitant radiation (RADPLAT) for advanced head and neck cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to study the effect of intensive targeted chemoradiation in a group of patients with head and neck cancer with stage IV inoperable disease.

Methods: We examined 79 patients with inoperable stage IV head and neck cancer receiving intra-arterial infusion of high-dose cisplatin (150 mg/m(2)) on days 2, 9, 16, and 23 concomitant with delivery of external beam radiotherapy (total dose, 70 Gy; 2 Gy, 35 fractions; 1 fraction/day for 7 weeks). Sodium thiosulfate was administered intravenously to provide effective cisplatin neutralization.

Incidence and treatment of recurrent plantar fibromatosis by surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.

Background: The incidence of plantar fibromatosis (PF) is unknown. Sometimes PF tends to recur repetitively after surgical treatment. In our institute we have used postoperative radiotherapy in an attempt to diminish the change on recurrence.

Quality-of-life assessment after supradose selective intra-arterial cisplatin and concomitant radiation (RADPLAT) for inoperable stage IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To evaluate quality-of-life (QOL) aspects of an organ preservation intra-arterial chemotherapy and concomitant radiation protocol, RADPLAT.

Design: Nonrandomized phase 2B feasibility trial.

Patients: Fifty consecutive patients with inoperable stage IV head and neck cancer.

T stage as prognostic factor in irradiated localized squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule.

Background: To investigate the impact of T stage according to Wang on the prognosis of irradiated nasal vestibule carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Treatment results of 47 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Treatment consisted of external beam radiotherapy (n = 26) or interstitial radiotherapy (n = 19) or a combination of both (n = 2) for a primary, localized, squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal vestibule.

Increased risk of ischemic stroke after radiotherapy on the neck in patients younger than 60 years.

Purpose: To estimate the risk of ischemic stroke in patients irradiated for head and neck tumors.

Patients And Methods: The incidence of ischemic stroke was determined in 367 patients with head and neck tumors (162 larynx carcinomas, 114 pleomorphic adenomas, and 91 parotid carcinomas) who had been treated with local radiotherapy (RT) at an age younger than 60 years. Relative risk (RR) of ischemic stroke was determined by comparison with population rates from a stroke-incidence register, adjusted for sex and age.