Dosimetric parameters predict radiation-induced temporal lobe necrosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review examines the role of dosimetric parameters in predicting temporal lobe necrosis (TLN) risk in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients treated with three-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). TLN is a serious late complication that can adversely affect the quality of life of NPC patients. Understanding the relationship between dosimetric parameters and TLN can guide treatment planning and minimize radiation-related complications.

Proton Beam Radiation Therapy for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Purpose: To discuss the role of proton beam therapy (PBT) in the treatment of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Materials And Methods: A review of the pertinent literature.

Results: Proton beam therapy likely results in reduced acute and late toxicity as compared with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Current management of xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients.

Radiotherapy (RT) continues to play a key role in the management of head and neck cancer (HNC). Xerostomia remains a principal detriment to the quality of life (QoL) for 80 % of surviving patients receiving head and neck radiation. Radiation-induced injury to the salivary glands is dose-dependent, and thus efforts have been focused on decreasing radiation to the salivary glands.

Current Radiotherapy Considerations for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Radiotherapy is the primary treatment modality for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Successful curative treatment requires optimal radiotherapy planning and precise beam delivery that maximizes locoregional control while minimizing treatment-related side effects. In this article, we highlight considerations in target delineation, radiation dose, and the adoption of technological advances with the aim of optimizing the benefits of radiotherapy in NPC patients.

Proton Therapy for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Early Clinical Experience and Current Challenges.

Proton therapy (PT) is a promising development in radiation oncology, with the potential to further improve outcomes for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). By utilizing the finite range of protons, healthy tissue can be spared from beam exit doses that would otherwise be irradiated with photon-based treatments. Current evidence on PT for HNSCC is limited to comparative dosimetric analyses and retrospective single-institution series.

Unilateral versus bilateral nodal irradiation: Current evidence in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Cancers of the head and neck region often present with nodal involvement. There is a long-standing convention within the community of head and neck radiation oncology to irradiate both sides of the neck electively in almost all cases to include both macroscopic and microscopic disease extension (so called elective nodal volume). International guidelines for the selection and delineation of the elective lymph nodes were published in the early 2000s and were updated recently.

Electrochemotherapy in Mucosal Cancer of the Head and Neck: A Systematic Review.

Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a local ablative treatment that is based on the reversible electroporation and intracellular accumulation of hydrophilic drug molecules, which greatly increases their cytotoxicity. In mucosal head and neck cancer (HNC), experience with ECT is limited due to the poor accessibility of tumors. In order to review the experience with ECT in mucosal HNC, we undertook a systematic review of the literature.

Contemporary management of the neck in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Up to 85% of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma present with regional nodal metastasis. Although excellent nodal control is achieved with radiotherapy, a thorough understanding of the current TNM staging criteria and pattern of nodal spread is essential to optimize target delineation and minimize unnecessary irradiation to adjacent normal tissue. Selective nodal irradiation with sparing of the lower neck and submandibular region according to individual nodal risk is now emerging as the preferred treatment option.

Radiation-Induced Sarcomas of the Head and Neck: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: As a result of the increased use of radiotherapy (RT) and improved long-term overall survival of patients with cancers of the head and neck (HN), the frequency of radiation-induced sarcomas of the head and neck (RISHN) may be increasing. The main objective of this systematic review was to determine the existing evidence on the frequency, treatment, and outcome of RISHN.

Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines we conducted a systematic review of the literature published from 2000 to 2020.

Radiotherapy in the management of glottic squamous cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Our purpose is to review the role radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of glottic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: A concise review of the pertinent literature.

Results: RT cure rates are Tis- T1N0, 90% to 95%; T2N0, 70% to 80%; low-volume T3-T4a, 65% to 70%.

Current management of stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma without distant metastasis.

Up to one in four patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma present with non-metastatic stage IV disease (i.e. T4 or N3).

Small cell and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx: A comparative analysis.

The poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) of the larynx are rare tumors that comprise of a small cell-type (SCNEC) and a large cell-type (LCNEC). In order to consolidate the current knowledge about their characteristics and management a systematic review of the available literature was performed. The PubMed/Medline and Scopus databases search resulted in 141 articles published between 1972 and 2019, describing 273 patients: 230 cases were of SCNEC histology (84.

Surgery is not the only determinant of an outcome in patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes in patients treated for hypopharyngeal carcinoma in a single-center and the importance of considering how patient factors influence outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients who were seen at the Prince of Wales Hospital from 1968 to 2015. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed for each patient and treatment factor to investigate outcomes of local control, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and ultimate local control.

Radiotherapy as a means of treating meningiomas.

Meningiomas are reasonably common benign intracranial tumours. Those treated surgically are not necessarily the same as those addressed by radiotherapy, in terms of patient factors and anatomical location. Using "lack of progression" as the criterion of benefit, in this population of 612 treated lesions (541 patients), the 10 year rate is 93% by any of the radiotherapy means used.

Radiotherapy for parapharyngeal space tumors.

A wide variety of tumors, both benign and malignant, occur in the parapharyngeal space. Depending on histology and extent, treatment may include surgery and/or radiotherapy (RT). Herein we discuss the role of RT in the management of some of the more commonly encountered neoplasms, including salivary gland tumors, paragangliomas, schwannomas, and soft-tissue sarcomas.

Prognosis of subglottic carcinoma: Is it really worse?

It is traditionally accepted that subglottic carcinoma has a worse prognosis than tumors arising in other subsites of the larynx, owing to its tendency to present in advanced stages, with a high incidence of cartilage invasion and extralaryngeal spread. The incidence of subglottic carcinoma varies among series, mainly because there is no uniform definition of the upper boundary of the subglottis. The extent of the tumor may be difficult to define because subglottic carcinoma may spread through the submucosa without visible mucosal changes.

Radiation-induced carotid artery lesions.

Purpose: To review the current aspects of knowledge related to the risk of cerebrovascular events in patients receiving head and neck radiotherapy.

Methods: A literature search was performed in PubMed. Papers meeting selection criteria were reviewed.

Parameters Associated With Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis.

The objective of this review is to discuss factors related to the risk of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) and how to minimize the likelihood of this complication. A PubMed search for publications pertaining to ORN within the last 3 years was conducted revealing 44 publications. The bibliographies of these publications were reviewed to identify additional references spanning a longer time period.

Survival outcomes for stage-matched endoscopic and open resection of olfactory neuroblastoma.

Background: Advanced-stage olfactory neuroblastoma requires multimodal therapy for optimal outcomes. Debate exists over endoscopic endonasal surgery in this situation. Stage-matched open and endoscopic surgical therapy were compared.

Treatment of late sequelae after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer.

Radiotherapy (RT) is used to treat approximately 80% of patients with cancer of the head and neck. Despite enormous advances in RT planning and delivery, a significant number of patients will experience radiation-associated toxicities, especially those treated with concurrent systemic agents. Many effective management options are available for acute RT-associated toxicities, but treatment options are much more limited and of variable benefit among patients who develop late sequelae after RT.

A prospective patient-focused evaluation of the tolerance and acceptability of a stereotactic radiosurgery procedure.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a frequently used non-surgical procedure to treat benign and malignant brain lesions. Few studies have focused on patient perceptions of SRS. The aims of this patient-focused study were to assess patient experiences of SRS, and changes in patient-reported symptoms over 12weeks post-SRS.

Olfactory Neuroblastoma: Fate of the Neck--A Long-term Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Objective: Olfactory neuroblastoma and the management of neck disease has posed considerable challenges to the treating physician. The aims of the study were to determine the incidence and factors influencing neck disease and to identify at-risk patients with cervical node-negative disease at presentation.

Study Design: Multicenter case series with retrospective chart review.

Should patients with laryngeal small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma receive prophylactic cranial irradiation?

While small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas (SCNCs) most often arise in the lung, extrapulmonary SCNCs arise in a variety of locations-including the head and neck region. In particular, laryngeal SCNCs-while rare tumors-are nevertheless recognized as distinct lesions. The rarity of laryngeal SCNC gives rise to two distinct difficulties: first (particularly with small biopsy specimens), laryngeal SCNC can be difficult to diagnose by routine light microscopy; second, limited experience with these tumors can make the crafting of a treatment plan for individual patients difficult.

Management of locally advanced HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: where are we?

HPV-related (HPV+) oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) has a better prognosis compared to HPV unrelated (HPV-) OPC. This review summarizes and discusses several of the controversies regarding the management of HPV+ OPC, including the mechanism of its treatment sensitivity, modern surgical techniques, chemotherapy regimens, and treatment de-intensification protocols. We also discuss and reconsider potential adverse prognostic factors such as tumor EGFR expression, tumor hypoxia, and patient smoking history, as well as the significance of retropharyngeal adenopathy.