Biomedical subjects

Christopher G Morris

Publications and source records attributed to Christopher G Morris.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Adjuvant radiation therapy for resectable retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma: the University of Florida experience.

BACKGROUND: In the management of retroperitoneal sarcomas it is necessary to achieve local control to ensure survival. The role of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT), either pre- or postoperative, remains controversial. METHODS: Outcomes for 40 patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma treated with surgery and postoperative RT (n = 25) or preoperative RT (n = 15) were analyzed for variables prognostic for local control, survival, and associated complications. RESULTS: Patterns of failure for patients treated by resection and postoperative RT were local (n = 4), local and distant (n = 3), and distant (n = 3). The failure patterns for preoperative RT cases were local (n = 2), local and distant (n = 2); and distant (n = 4). Median time to local recurrence in the postoperative and preoperative RT series were 1 year and 2.5 years respectively. The margin status was predictive for local control (P = 0.0065) and survival (P = 0.0012), regardless of treatment sequence. Absolute 5-year survival was 12% with positive margins versus 69% if negative. Histologic grade was indicative of the risk for distant metastasis (low grade 8% vs high grade 64%; P = 0.1373), and significantly predicted 5-year absolute survival (low grade 77% vs high grade 34%; P = 0.0267). Postoperative RT was associated with significant complications (infection, hemorrhage, and bowel obstruction--2 cases each). CONCLUSION: Compared with the surgery-alone series, adjuvant RT appears to improve the probability of local control. Preoperative RT may be the preferred sequence potentially to improve tumor resectability and local-regional control with less risk of complications than with postoperative RT.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Late xerostomia after intensity-modulated radiation therapy versus conventional radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To evaluate xerostomia following intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institutional review board-approved study of xerostomia was conducted in 210 head and neck cancer patients who were beyond the acute recovery phase (> 1 year) after radiation therapy. Xerostomia was evaluated with the 8-question XQ developed and validated at the University of Michigan. RESULTS: Median XQ scores (normalized so that no xerostomia = 0 and maximum xerostomia = 100) were larynx-only group, 4 points, ipsilateral radiotherapy, 34 points; bilateral radiotherapy, 64 points; IMRT with mean contralateral parotid dose more than 26 Gy, 44 points; and IMRT with mean contralateral parotid dose 26 Gy or less, 32 points (P < 0.05 for all major comparisons). CONCLUSION: The XQ is an excellent tool for identifying important differences in xerostomia after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. The authors' IMRT program decreases the severity of xerostomia symptoms compared with what is typically seen after conventional radiation therapy.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Larynx-sparing radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma from an unknown head and neck primary site.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of larynx-sparing radiotherapy (RT) alone or in combination with a neck dissection for patients with squamous cell carcinomas metastatic to cervical lymph nodes from an unknown head and neck primary site. Seventeen patients were treated with curative intent between 1997 and 2002; 16 of 17 patients had follow up for at least 2 years. No patient developed a squamous cell carcinoma in a head and neck mucosal site after treatment. One patient (6%) had persistent nodal disease and 1 patient (6%) had recurrent nodal disease 1 year after completing RT. No patients experienced distant metastases. The 5-year cause-specific and overall survival rates were 88% and 82%, respectively. Based on our limited experience, larynx-sparing RT appears to result in a high likelihood of local-regional control and survival and likely reduces both acute and late toxicity.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Radiotherapy in the treatment of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) for patients with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Ten patients were treated with surgery and postoperative RT and had follow-up from 21 to 185 months. Nine patients had DFSP and 1 patient had a fibrosarcomatous component (DFSP-FS). No patient had gross disease at the time of RT. RESULTS: Nine patients with DFSP remained disease free after surgery and postoperative RT. The patient with DFSP-FS experienced a local recurrence after surgery, external beam RT, and a brachytherapy boost, and died with disease. There were no severe complications. CONCLUSION: Postoperative RT may reduce the risk of local recurrence in patients with DFSP who have a high risk of residual disease after surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal margin.

PURPOSE: To define the optimal treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the anal margin. METHODS: Nineteen patients treated with curative intent by radiotherapy (RT) alone or combined with adjuvant chemotherapy (CTX) between 1979 and June 2000 were analyzed. The pertinent literature was reviewed and discussed as it related to our experience. RESULTS: Local control after RT or RT and CTX was observed in all 19 patients (100%). One T1 patient developed inguinal lymph node metastases and subsequently died secondary to regional and distant disease. This patient did not receive elective inguinal node RT; the lymph nodes of the other 18 patients in this analysis were irradiated. Four patients died of intercurrent disease at 25, 29, 37, and 113 months after RT, respectively. The remaining 14 patients were alive and disease-free from 52 to 143 months after treatment. No patient suffered a severe complication or required a diverting colostomy or an abdominoperineal resection (APR) after treatment. Review of the literature reveals that the probability of cure is similar after RT alone or combined with CTX compared with surgery. Therefore, the choice of treatment depends on the anticipated functional result. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SCCA of the anal margin have a high likelihood of cure with sphincter preservation after RT or RT and CTX. Patients with well to moderately differentiated T1 tumors may undergo excision if it can be accomplished without compromising the sphincter. The remainder are treated with RT. Adjuvant CTX is indicated for those with T3-T4 tumors and/or involved regional nodes.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Inflammatory breast carcinoma: outcomes with trimodality therapy for nonmetastatic disease.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were to summarize a single-institution experience in treating patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) using trimodality therapy and to identify prognostic factors for outcome. METHODS: Sixty-one women underwent radiation therapy with curative intent for IBC between 1982 and 2001. All but five women received trimodality therapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given to the majority of women (n = 43 patients), although some received "up-front" surgery as first therapy (n = 18 patients). RESULTS: With a median potential observation time after diagnosis of 14 years, freedom from locoregional disease progression was 78%, freedom from distant metastasis was 45%, and the cause-specific survival rate was 47% at 5 years. Approximately 40% of the 56 patients who received trimodality therapy remained free of disease. Multivariate analysis demonstrated three factors that were found to be associated significantly with improved cause-specific survival: pathologic tumor size < 4 cm (P = 0.0001), up-front surgery (P = 0.0078), and local disease control (P = 0.0003). Factors that were found to be associated with better freedom from locoregional disease progression were pathologic tumor size (< 4 cm; P = 0.0157), age (> 55 years; P = 0.0596), and radiation dose (> or = 60 grays [Gy]; P = 0.0621). CONCLUSIONS: IBC is an aggressive disease that is treated effectively in select patients by multimodality therapy. Patient outcomes may be improved with therapies that result in better local and systemic control. Further studies are warranted to address the optimal sequence of trimodality therapy and the optimal administration of each agent.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Should decisions on internal mammary lymph node irradiation be based on current lymphoscintigraphy techniques for sentinel lymph node identification?

BACKGROUND: Treatment of internal mammary lymph node (IMN) metastases remains controversial because of the difficulty in predicting involvement, potential treatment-related morbidity, and questionable efficacy. Lymphoscintigraphy with sentinel lymph node biopsy offers a means to identify occult involvement of IMN, allowing appropriate patient selection for IMN treatment. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed 262 lymphoscintigraphies (LS) of 248 patients treated at the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) between 1998 and 2002. Tumor characteristics were assessed for their value in predicting IMN drainage and their association with IMN radiation. RESULTS: Lymph flow to the IMN was documented with LS in 23 of 262 tumor specimens (9%). Flow to the IMN was not correlated with any of the five factors: tumor location, tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, pathologic lymph node status, and laterality of the involved breast (right vs. left breast). Identification of IMN flow increased from 5.7% to 10.1% with the use of a deep injection technique. IMN radiotherapy was used more frequently in patients with larger tumors (15 of 188 in Tis/T1 vs. 31 of 70 in T2-T4; P<0.0001) and positive lymph nodes (17 of 91 in lymph node-negative patients vs. 28 of 66 in lymph node-positive patients; P<0.0001). In patients with T2N0 tumors (n=32), IMN radiotherapy was used more frequently with medial tumors (5 of 11 [45%]) than with lateral tumors (4 of 21 [19%]). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of flow to the IMN documented with the current LS technique was low compared with other LS and extended radical mastectomy series. Histopathologic information was obtained for the sentinel IMN when IMN flow was identified on the LS. In the absence of histopathologic information, treatment decisions should continue to be based on clinical factors known to be correlated with occult IMN involvement.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Radiotherapy alone or combined with surgery for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of radiotherapy (RT) alone or combined with surgery for adenoid cystic carcinoma. METHODS: Between September 1966 and November 2001, 101 previously untreated patients were treated with curative intent with RT alone or combined with surgery. Follow-up ranged from 0.4 to 30.6 years (median, 6.6 years). All living patients had follow-up for at least 1 year. RESULTS: The 5- and 10-year rates of local control were as follows: RT alone, 56% and 43%; surgery and RT, 94% and 91%; and overall, 77% and 69%. Multivariate analysis of local control revealed that T stage (p=.0101) and treatment group (p=.0008) significantly influenced this endpoint. The 5- and 10-year rates of distant metastases-free survival were 80% and 73%. The 5- and 10-year absolute survival rates were as follows: RT alone, 57% and 42%; surgery and RT, 77% and 55%; and overall, 68% and 49%. Multivariate analysis of absolute survival revealed that T stage (p=.0043) and clinical nerve invasion (p=.0011) significantly influenced this endpoint. The 5- and 10-year cause-specific survival rates were as follows: RT alone, 65% and 48%; surgery and RT, 81% and 71%; and overall, 74% and 61%. Multivariate analysis revealed that T stage (p=.0008) and clinical nerve invasion (p=.0005) significantly influenced cause-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal treatment for patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma is surgery and adjuvant RT. A significant proportion of patients with incompletely resectable disease are cured after RT alone. Improvements in locoregional control are offset, in part, by the relatively high incidence of distant metastases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Postoperative irradiation for squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: 35-year experience.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze factors influencing outcome in patients who received postoperative irradiation for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. METHODS: Between October 1964 and November 2000, 226 patients with 230 previously untreated primary invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity were treated postoperatively with continuous-course external beam irradiation. All patients had a minimum follow-up of 2 years (analysis, November 2002). No patient was lost to follow-up. RESULTS: The 5-year actuarial rates of locoregional control by pathologic American Joint Committee on Cancer stage were: stage I, 100%; stage II, 84%; stage III, 78%; and stage IV, 66%. Recurrence of cancer above the clavicles developed in 55 patients (24%). In multivariate analysis of locoregional control, positive margins, vascular invasion, perineural invasion, extracapsular extension, and T classification remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: This article provides additional data defining relatively favorable and unfavorable groups of patients in the postoperative setting. Dose recommendations are re-examined and selectively increased for high-risk patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Postoperative adjuvant and salvage radiotherapy for prostate cancer: impact on freedom from biochemical relapse and survival.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the therapeutic outcomes in patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated with adjuvant or salvage radiotherapy (RT) after radical prostatectomy. METHODS: Between 1982 and 2000, 163 patients were treated with RT after radical prostatectomy. Adjuvant therapy was administered to 107 consecutive node-negative patients (T2-T4N0) referred to our institution less than 1 year after surgery for postoperative RT. Salvage treatment was delivered to 56 patients for a persistently elevated prostate-specific antigen level, biochemical relapse after surgery, or local recurrence. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 70 months (range 2 to 167) from the initiation of RT. Patients treated with adjuvant RT were less likely than those treated with salvage RT to experience biochemical relapse. At 5 and 10 years, the rate of freedom from biochemical relapse was 80% and 66% in the adjuvant cohort compared with 39% and 22% for patients treated with salvage intent, respectively (P <0.0001). This did not translate into a statistically significant improvement in absolute survival (72% versus 70%) or cause-specific survival (93% versus 86%) at 10 years. On multivariate analysis, neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (P = 0.0187), presence of seminal vesicle involvement (P = 0.0002), and referral indication for postoperative RT (salvage versus adjuvant RT; P <0.001) were predictors of biochemical relapse. CONCLUSIONS: In this single-institution experience, patients at high risk of disease recurrence after radical prostatectomy realized a greater biochemical relapse-free survival benefit when treated with adjuvant RT than with salvage RT. Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy and seminal vesicle involvement predicted for inferior treatment outcome.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

Valvular dysfunction and carotid, subclavian, and coronary artery disease in survivors of hodgkin lymphoma treated with radiation therapy.

CONTEXT: The majority of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma are young and highly curable. This necessitates concern for prevention, diagnosis, and optimal management of potential treatment-related complications. OBJECTIVE: To identify and quantify the incidence of and factors contributing to long-term cardiac and vascular complications after radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study comparing patients treated from 1962 to 1998 at a university-based referral center with a matched general population. PATIENTS: Four hundred fifteen consecutive patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of a minimum 2-year follow-up (median, 11.2 years) and whose radiation fields included the heart or carotid or subclavian arteries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multivariable analyses of potential risk factors and observed-to-expected ratios for cardiac valve surgery, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention, or both based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) and National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) data. RESULTS: Forty-two patients (10.4%) developed coronary artery disease at a median of 9 years after treatment, 30 patients (7.4%) developed carotid and/or subclavian artery disease at a median of 17 years after treatment, and 25 patients (6.2%) developed clinically significant valvular dysfunction at a median of 22 years. The most common valve lesion was aortic stenosis, which occurred in 14 valves. The observed-to-expected ratio for valve surgery was 8.42 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.20-13.65) and the observed-to-expected ratio for coronary artery bypass graft surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention was 1.63 (95% CI, 0.98-2.28). At least 1 cardiac risk factor was present in all patients who developed coronary artery disease. The only treatment-related factor associated with the development of coronary artery disease was utilization of a radiation technique that resulted in a higher total dose to a portion of the heart (relative risk, 7.8; 95% CI, 1.1-53.2; P =.04). No specific treatment-related factor was associated with carotid or subclavian artery disease or valvular dysfunction. Freedom from any cardiovascular morbidity was 88% at 15 years and 84% at 20 years. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients treated with radiation therapy for Hodgkin lymphoma, there are statistically higher than expected rates of valve surgery and coronary revascularization procedures over the next 10 to 20 years. Coronary vascular disease is associated with higher radiation doses and traditional coronary heart disease risk factors. Noncoronary vascular disease and clinically important valvular dysfunction are less well understood complications at 15 to 20 years after radiation, requiring surveillance and further study.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Impact of race on outcome after definitive radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of race (black vs. white) on the outcome of patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. METHODS: Between 1983 and 1997, 686 patients completed definitive, twice-daily radiotherapy (RT) alone or combined with a planned neck dissection; no patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. The minimum follow-up was 2 years, and median follow-up was 7 years for living patients. No patients were lost to follow-up. Fifty-five patients were black (8%). RESULTS: Although the two groups had similar 5-year local-regional control rates (black patients vs. white patients: 70% vs. 76%, respectively; P = 0.275), black patients had double the risk for distant recurrence compared with white patients (27% vs. 13%; P = 0.012). The 5-year cause-specific and absolute survival rates were lower for black patients (52% vs. 74% [P = 0.001] and 29% vs. 52% [P < 0.001], respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that race was an independent predictor of freedom from distant metastasis (P = 0.013), cause-specific survival (P = 0.005), and absolute survival (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although equal local-regional control rates can be achieved in black patients and white patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, the risk of distant recurrence was significantly higher in black patients and resulted in decreased survival. Reevaluation of current strategies for pretreatment metastatic work-ups and development of more effective systemic therapy will be key to improving the survival disparity in this group.

Black or African American↗

PubMed2003

Definitive radiotherapy alone or combined with a planned neck dissection for squamous cell carcinoma of the pharyngeal wall.

BACKGROUND: In the current study,the authors analyzed the results of definitive radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the pharyngeal wall. METHODS: Between 1964 and 2000, 148 patients were treated with definitive radiotherapy. All patients had a 2-year minimum follow-up. RESULTS: The following 5-year rates of local and ultimate local control were obtained: T1 disease, 93% and 93%; T2 disease, 82% and 87%; T3 disease, 59% and 61%; and T4 disease, 50% and 50%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that twice-daily fractionation (P = 0.0009), American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage I-II disease (P = 0.0051), and oropharyngeal primary site (P = 0.0193) were associated with improved locoregional control. The following 5-year absolute and cause-specific survival rates were obtained: Stage I, 56% and 89%; Stage II, 52% and 88%; Stage III, 24% and 44%; Stage IV, 22% and 34%; and overall, 30% and 49%, respectively. Eight patients (5%) died of complications. CONCLUSIONS: Locoregional control and survival were found to be related to site, extent of disease, and fractionation schedule. Although outcomes have improved in recent years, the morbidity of treatment was significant in the current study and a substantial proportion of patients died secondary to the malignancy.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Radiotherapy alone or after subtotal resection for benign skull base meningiomas.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the current study was to analyze the long-term local control and complications in a series of patients who were treated with radiotherapy for benign skull base meningiomas. METHODS: Between January 1984 and July 2001, 101 patients were treated with radiotherapy alone (n = 66) or after undergoing subtotal resection (n = 35). Sixty-one patients had previously untreated tumors, and 40 patients had tumors that were recurrent after prior surgery. Patients had follow-up from 0.6 years to 19 years (median, 5.1 years). The follow-up of living patients ranged from 1.3 years to 19 years (median, 5.4 years). RESULTS: The long-term local control rates were 95% at 5 years, 92% at 10 years, and 92% at 15 years. Multivariate analysis of local control revealed that none of the parameters evaluated significantly influenced this endpoint. The cause-specific survival rates were 97% at 5 years, 92% at 10 years, and 92% at 15 years; and the absolute survival rates were 86% at 5 years, 71% at 10 years, and 62% at 15 years. Multivariate analysis of cause-specific survival revealed that only gender significantly influenced this endpoint (P = 0.0185). Severe complications were observed in eight patients, and three patients experienced complications that were fatal. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of long-term progression-free survival after radiotherapy exceeded 90% and was comparable to the results of complete resection and radiosurgery. Subtotal resection was useful for decompressing the tumor if improvement in neurologic function was anticipated after surgery. Extensive subtotal resection may result in permanent neurologic deficits and did not improve long-term local control.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Postmastectomy radiotherapy: patterns of recurrence and long-term disease control using electrons.

PURPOSE: To determine the patterns of failure and prognostic factors for locoregional recurrence after postmastectomy radiotherapy (RT), using a specific electron beam technique. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A uniform electron beam was used in 323 patients with invasive breast cancer at the University of Florida Health Science Center. The patterns of disease recurrence, prognostic factors, and overall outcome were studied. RESULTS: At 10 years, the freedom from locoregional recurrence, disease-free survival, and absolute survival rate was 90%, 62%, and 55%, respectively. The 10-year disease-free survival rate for patients with 0, 1-3, and >3 positive lymph nodes was 73%, 75%, and 47%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the three factors significantly associated with locoregional recurrence were T stage, number of involved nodes, and RT fields. Full axillary fields appeared to be beneficial (p = 0.02). Patients with positive surgical margins appeared to benefit from a mastectomy incision boost to >/=65 Gy. Finally, patients with T2N0 disease had a substantial risk of chest wall recurrence without chest wall RT. CONCLUSION: Findings include a low rate of clinically detectable locoregional recurrence. The data suggest benefits for the addition of full axillary RT in node-positive patients and chest wall RT in patients with T2N0 disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Radiation therapy for esthesioneuroblastoma: rationale for elective neck irradiation.

PURPOSE: Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignancy of neural crest origin arising in the upper nasal cavity. We describe the University of Florida experience using radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of this neoplasm, particularly the use of elective nodal irradiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May 1972 and August 1998, 22 patients received RT for esthesioneuroblastoma. Two additional patients were treated with palliative intent and were excluded from analysis. Equal numbers of male and female patients were treated, with a median age of 54 years (range, 3-82). The modified Kadish stage was A in 1 patient, B in 4 patients, C in 15 patients, and D in 2 patients. Treatment modalities included primary RT in 6 patients, preoperative RT in 1 patient, postoperative RT after craniofacial resection in 12 patients, and salvage RT in 3 patients treated for recurrence after surgery. Elective neck RT was performed in 11 of 20 patients; 2 patients had cervical metastases at presentation for RT. RESULTS: Rates of local control, cause-specific survival, and absolute survival at 5 years were 59%, 54%, and 48%, respectively. The cause-specific survival rate at 5 years was lower after primary RT (17%) than after craniofacial resection and postoperative RT (56%). Cervical metastases occurred in 6 of 22 patients (27%). No neck recurrences occurred in 11 patients treated with elective neck RT compared with 4 neck recurrences in 9 patients (44%) not receiving elective neck RT (p =.02). CONCLUSIONS: Combined modality therapy is preferred over RT alone in advanced-stage esthesioneuroblastoma. Our data and review of the current literature suggest a higher cervical failure rate than previously recognized. Elective neck RT seems to correlate with improved nodal control and should be considered in the treatment of esthesioneuroblastoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Parameters that predict local control after definitive radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

PURPOSE: To analyze parameters that may influence the likelihood of local control after definitive radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. METHODS: Between April 1980 and January 2000, 404 patients were treated with definitive RT alone (358 patients) or combined with adjuvant chemotherapy (46 patients) at our institution and were followed up for 0.25 to 20.25 years (median, 3.5 years.) All living patients were followed up for at least 2 years. All patients had the primary tumor volume calculated on pretreatment CT. End points were local control after RT and local control after RT without a severe late complication. Parameters evaluated in multivariate analyses of these end points included primary site, T stage, primary tumor volume, N stage, histologic differentiation, fractionation schedule, adjuvant chemotherapy, and gender. RESULTS: The rates of local control and local control without a severe late complication after RT were significantly influenced by primary tumor volume for patients with cancer of the supraglottic larynx and true vocal cord. In contrast, the rates of local control and local control without severe complications for patients with tumors of the oropharynx and hypopharynx were less influenced by tumor volume. Multivariate analysis of the overall population revealed that the only parameter that was significantly related to the probability of local control after RT was T stage. Multivariate analyses stratified by primary site revealed that tumor volume significantly influenced local control for patients with cancers of the supraglottis (p =.0220) and glottis (p =.0042) but not for those with lesions of the tonsillar fossa/posterior tonsillar pillar (p =.0892), base of tongue (p =.9493), anterior tonsillar pillar/soft palate (p =.5909), and hypopharynx (p =.2282). CONCLUSIONS: The most important parameter that has an impact on local control after RT is T stage. Primary tumor volume also significantly influences the probability of local control in cancers of the supraglottis and glottis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Distant metastases after definitive radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

PURPOSE: To analyze parameters that influence the risk of distant metastases after definitive radiotherapy. METHODS: Between 1983 and 1997, 873 patients were treated with definitive radiotherapy and had follow-up for 2 years or more. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors that might influence the risk of distant metastases. RESULTS: The 5-year distant metastasis-free survival rate was 86%. Univariate analyses revealed that the risk of distant metastases was significantly influenced by gender (p =.0092), primary site (p =.0023), T stage (p <.0001), N stage (p <.0001), overall stage (p <.0001), level of nodal metastases in the neck (p <.0001), histologic differentiation (p =.0096), control above the clavicles (p <.0001), and time to locoregional recurrence (p <.0001). Multivariate analysis of freedom from distant metastases revealed that gender (p =.0390), T stage (p <.0001), N stage (p =.0060), nodal level (p <.0001), and locoregional control (p <.0001) significantly influenced this end point. Multivariate analysis revealed that gender (p =.0049), T stage (p <.0001), N stage (p <.0001), and locoregional control (p <.0001) significantly influenced cause-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of distant metastases after definitive radiotherapy is 14% at 5 years and is significantly influenced by gender, T stage, N stage, nodal level, and locoregional control.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗