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I J Spiro

Publications and source records attributed to I J Spiro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Long-term results of intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy for primary and recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma.

PURPOSE: This study assesses the long-term outcome of patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma treated by preoperative external beam radiotherapy, resection, and intraoperative electron beam radiation (IOERT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1980 to 1996, 37 patients were treated with curative intent for primary or recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma. All patients underwent external beam radiotherapy with a median dose of 45 Gy. This was followed by laparotomy, resection, and IOERT, if feasible. Twenty patients received 10-20 Gy of IOERT with 9-15 MeV electrons. These patients were compared to a group of 17 patients receiving preoperative irradiation without IOERT. RESULTS: The 5-yr actuarial overall survival (OS), disease-free survival, local control (LC), and freedom from distant disease of all 37 patients was 50%, 38%, 59%, and 54%, respectively. After preoperative irradiation, 29 patients (78%) underwent gross total resection. For 16 patients undergoing gross total resection and IOERT, OS and LC were 74% and 83%, respectively. In contrast, these results were less satisfactory for 13 patients undergoing gross total resection without IOERT. For these patients, OS and LC were 30% and 61%, respectively. Four patients experienced treatment-related morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients, IOERT results in excellent local control and disease-free survival with acceptable morbidity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor versus intra-abdominal fibromatosis of the bowel wall: a clinically important differential diagnosis.

Intra-abdominal fibromatosis (IAF) is an uncommon benign neoplasm that usually occurs in the mesentery or retroperitoneum and may, on occasion, mimic a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Differentiating between these two entities is important clinically because IAF is a benign tumor whereas GISTs frequently have malignant potential. In this study, the authors identified 13 cases of IAF with prominent involvement of the bowel wall as well as 35 GISTs of the small intestine, colon, or mesentery and analyzed their clinical, gross, histologic, immunophenotypic, and ultrastructural characteristics to identify important distinguishing features. Patients with IAF were younger (mean, 34 yrs) than patients with GIST (mean, 54 yrs). Both types of tumors tended to be large, but GISTs were soft and lobulated with hemorrhage, necrosis, or cystification whereas IAFs were firm, tan, and homogeneous. Histologic features characteristic of GIST included the presence of spindle or epithelioid cells with variable architecture, mitotic activity (range, <1-95 mitoses/50 high-power fields [hpf]; mean, 15 mitoses/50 hpf), nuclear atypia, and myxoid or hyalinized stroma. Necrosis and hemorrhage were seen in 16 and 25 tumors, respectively. In contrast, IAFs were composed of broad, sweeping fascicles of monotonous spindle cells with mitotic activity (range, <3-11 mitoses/50 hpf; mean, 4 mitoses/50 hpf), bland nuclear features, and finely collagenous stroma. Necrosis, hemorrhage, and myxoid degeneration were not seen. Immunohistochemical studies performed on a limited number of GISTs and IAFs demonstrated that cells expressed vimentin (100% GIST and IAF), CD117 (88% GIST and 75% IAF), CD34 (42% GIST and 0% IAF), smooth muscle actin (63% GIST and 75% IAF), muscle actin (75% GIST and 75% IAF), desmin (8% GIST and 50% IAF), and S-100 protein (16% GIST and 0% IAF). Ultrastructural analysis of 21 GISTs revealed incomplete smooth muscle differentiation in some tumors whereas IAFs were shown to have complete myofibroblastic/fibroblastic differentiation. Information regarding clinical outcome was available on 29 patients and revealed that three patients with histologically benign GISTs were alive with no evidence of disease at 5 months to 6 years (mean, 3.5 yrs) and one patient with a histologically benign tumor died of disease after 7 years. Of patients with histologically malignant GIST, one died of surgical complications, 10 were alive without disease at I to 13 years (mean, 5.4 yrs), four were alive with disease at 4 months to 15 years (mean, 3.8 yrs), three had disseminated disease at operation, and seven were dead of disease at 10 months to 3 years (mean, 2.2 yrs). Follow up of eight patients with IAF demonstrated that five were alive without disease at 4 months to 15 years (mean, 5.3 yrs) and three had recurrences at 1 (two patients) and 2 years (one patient). In summary, IAFs can have many features (large size, infiltration of adjacent structures, mitotic activity) that can cause diagnostic confusion with GISTs and, importantly, the degree of mitotic activity present in IAFs may overlap that seen in malignant GISTs. These entities can be distinguished primarily by their light microscopic and ultrastructural features but there is a notable overlap in their immunohistochemical profiles. The distinction between these neoplasms is important because there are important clinical implications for the patient.

Abdominal Neoplasms↗
PubMed1999

Tolerance of autologous and allogeneic bone grafts to therapeutic radiation in humans.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of perioperative irradiation on bone graft healing and functional integrity. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty-five bone grafts (10 autologous and 45 allogeneic) performed between 1978 and 1995 were evaluated retrospectively. Sixteen received preoperative radiation, 11 received postoperative, and 13 were treated with a combination of pre- and postoperative radiation. Fifteen nonirradiated grafts were randomly selected to serve as controls. Twenty-three of the grafts were placed in patients who received chemotherapy in the perioperative period. Functional graft survival and radiographic healing quality were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall rates of graft survival at 1 year were 89% for autografts and 79% for allografts. Graft survival rates were 86% and 68% at 1 and 5 years for the irradiated group, and 67% and 58% for the control group. No significant difference was seen in the Kaplan-Meier graft survival curves of the two groups. There was a nonsignificant trend toward improved radiographic healing quality in the control group. No significant differences in outcome based on treatment chronology were found with survival rates of 88% for preoperative treatment and 100% for postoperative treatment. No relation between outcome and bone dose (preoperative + postoperative dose), graft dose (postoperative dose), or mean dose/day was found. There was a trend (p = 0.0525) toward worse outcome seen in the Kaplan-Meier curves of patients who received chemotherapy. This difference, however, was not seen in the 1-year survival rates or healing quality. Tobacco use tended toward predicting failure, with 63% graft survival compared to 85% in nonsmokers (p = 0.09). Healing quality was significantly lower in the smoking group. CONCLUSION: The low failure rate of grafts in irradiated sites, overall and compared to controls from this study and relevant literature, as well as the lack of dose and time effects, does not support significant deviation from the indicated treatment regimen for patients who have received or are expected to receive a graft. The trend toward decreased quality of radiographic bone healing, and data published in relevant literature indicating improved healing when radiation is withheld until 3-4 weeks postoperatively suggest this delay should be attempted when not expected to otherwise compromise patient outcome. A nonsignificant trend only for the effect of chemotherapy on bone grafts was seen, thus we do not recommend changes in its use as appropriate for disease management other than a preference against use during the immediate perioperative period.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Infiltrative subcutaneous malignant fibrous histiocytoma: a comparative study with deep malignant fibrous histiocytoma and an observation of biologic behavior.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is one of the most common soft tissue sarcomas of adulthood. Although it is usually intramuscular and pseudocapsulated, we have recently observed MFHs with extremely infiltrative growth margins, which are predominantly located in the subcutis. These lesions are often associated with incomplete primary surgical excision, the subsequent need for additional surgery or adjuvant therapy, and an increased risk for local recurrence. To further analyze the growth pattern and clinical implication of the subcutaneous infiltrative MFHs, we reviewed a series of 24 subcutis and 21 intramuscular MFHs of the extremities. Morphologically, we defined "infiltrative" as tumor extension along normal tissue planes for a minimum measurable distance of 2 mm from the edge of the main mass. Radiographic findings were correlated with pathologic findings. Of the 24 subcutis MFHs, 83% showed an infiltrative growth pattern, involving 5% to 90% (mean, 51%) of the evaluable margin. Fifty percent of patients with subcutaneous MFH had both an infiltrative growth pattern and positive surgical resection margin on initial resection. Only 25% noninfiltrative subcutaneous MFHs had a positive initial surgical resection margin. Of the 21 intramuscular MFHs, only 5 (24%) had an infiltrative growth pattern that involved 5% to 90% (mean, 40%) of the evaluable margin. One of the five tumors had 90% margin infiltration with multiple positive surgical resection margins. Of 16 noninfiltrative intramuscular MFHs, 3 (19%) had positive resection margins. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computed tomography (CT) scan correctly identified the growth pattern in 87% of subcutaneous and 88% of intramuscular MFHs. Patient follow-up evaluation showed that four (17%) patients with subcutaneous MFHs had resection-proven recurrences, 6 to 57 months after diagnosis. All four of these tumors had infiltrative growth patterns and positive margins on the original surgical resection. There were no local recurrences of the intramuscular MFHs. Two patients of 20 in the infiltrative subcutaneous MFH group and two patients of four in the well-circumscribed subcutaneous MFH group had biopsy-proven metastases, which developed within 5 years after diagnosis. Six patients had metastases in the intramuscular MFH group. A group of MFHs, predominantly subcutaneous, have an extremely infiltrative growth pattern. This growth pattern, documented by radiographic methods and/or light microscopic examination of biopsy specimens, should indicate that a wider margin on initial resection is necessary to entirely excise the lesion. The presence or absence of an infiltrative growth pattern is not predictive of the tumor's metastatic potential.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Megavoltage radiation therapy for axial and inoperable giant-cell tumor of bone.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of giant-cell tumor of bone generally involves wide en bloc resection of the lesion and the surrounding bone or curettage with or without bone-grafting or the use of cement. Radiation therapy has been used for patients who cannot be operated on for medical reasons or who have a tumor that is technically difficult to resect or that cannot be resected because of its location. We performed the present study to evaluate the efficacy of megavoltage radiation in terms of lack of tumor progression and treatment-related morbidity. METHODS: Twenty patients who had giant-cell tumor of bone were managed with a single course of megavoltage radiation (forty to seventy gray administered at 1.8 to 2.0 gray per fraction with an average total duration of treatment of five to seven weeks) between March 1973 and March 1992. We used megavoltage photons, 160-megaelectron-volt proton beams, or a combination of the two. RESULTS: After a median duration of follow-up of 9.3 years, the tumor had not progressed in seventeen of the twenty patients. Thus, the actuarial ten-year rate for lack of progression was 85 percent. Local regrowth was evident in one patient who had received radiation alone and in two of the thirteen patients who had been managed with partial resection and radiation. Operative treatment was successful in the three patients in whom the radiation treatment had failed. No radiation-induced tumors were observed in our series. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that giant-cell tumor of bone was effectively treated with megavoltage radiation in our series of twenty patients in whom operative resection would have been difficult or was not feasible. The rate of tumors that did not progress with this regimen of radiation is similar to that reported by investigators from several other centers. Furthermore, these results closely rival those obtained with modern curettage procedures. Malignant sarcomatous transformation was not observed in our series. A longer duration of follow-up of a larger group of patients is necessary to provide a better estimate of the risk of malignant transformation.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1998

Individualizing management of aggressive fibromatoses.

PURPOSE: To examine prognostic indicators in aggressive fibromatoses that may be used to optimize case-specific management strategy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: One hundred and seven fibromatoses presenting between 1971 and 1992 were analyzed. The following treatment modalities were utilized: (a) surgery alone for 51 tumors; (b) radiation alone for 15 tumors; and (c) radiation and surgery (combined modality) for 41 tumors. Outcome analysis was based on 5-year actuarial local control rates. RESULTS: Control rates among surgery, radiation therapy, and combined modality groups were 69%, 93%, and 72%. Multivariate analysis identified age < 18 years, recurrent disease, positive surgical margins, and treatment with surgery alone as predictors for failure. Patients treated with surgery alone had control rates of 50% (3 of 6) for gross residual, 56% for microscopically positive margins, and 77% for negative margins. Radiation and surgery resulted in rates of 59% for gross residual, 78% for microscopically positive margins, and 100% (6 of 6) for negative margins. For recurrent vs. primary tumors, control was achieved in 48% vs. 77%, 90% vs. 100% (5 of 5), and 67% vs. 79% in the Surgery, Radiation, and Combined modality Groups, respectively. Patients presenting with multiple disease sites tended to have aggressive disease. A radiation dose-control relation to > 60 Gy was seen in patients with unresected or gross residual disease. Of the patients, 23 with disease involving the plantar region had a control rate of 62%, with significantly worse outcomes in children. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with those found in the relevant literature. They support primary resection with negative margins when feasible. Radiation is a highly effective alternative in situations where surgery would result in major functional or cosmetic defects. When negative surgical margins are not achieved in recurrent tumors, radiation is recommended. Perioperative radiation should be considered in other high-risk groups (recurrent disease, positive margins, and plantar tumors in young patients). Doses of 60-65 Gy for gross disease and 50-60 Gy for microscopic residual are recommended. Observation may be considered for primary tumors with disease remaining in situ when they are located such that progression would not cause significant morbidity. Although plantar lesions in children may represent a group at high risk for recurrence or aggressive behavior, the greater potential for radiation-induced morbidity in this group must also temper its use. Given the inconsistent nature and treatment response of this tumor, it is fundamental that treatment recommendations should be made based on the risk:benefit analysis for the individual patient, dependent on tumor characteristics and location, as well as patient characteristics and preferences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Results of accelerated radiotherapy for supraglottic carcinoma: a Massachusetts General Hospital and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary experience.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx is a relatively common malignancy treated with either surgery, radiotherapy, or a combined approach. METHODS: The radiotherapy records of 190 patients with carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) from 1981 to 1992 were reviewed. Of these patients, 164 were available for evaluation for local control and 169 for disease-specific survival. The patients were treated with accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy to 67.2-72 Gy/1.6 Gy per fraction twice a day in 6 weeks. The median follow-up was 56 months. Five-year actuarial local and regional control, relapse-free and overall survival, and voice-preservation rates were analyzed. RESULTS: For T1, T2, T3, and T4 tumors, local control rates were 96%, 86%, 76%, and 43%, respectively (p < .01), and the corresponding relapse-free survival rates were 78%, 82%, 64%, and 40% (p < .01). For the patients with N0, N1, and N2-3 disease, local control rates at the primary site were 86%, 74%, and 46%, respectively (p < .01), and the corresponding relapse-free survival rates were 79%, 53%, and 39% (p < .01). Including surgical salvage, the ultimate local control rates were 96%, 93%, 88%, and 51%, respectively (p < .01). Voice preservation rate for the entire group was 79% and for T1, T2, T3, and T4 tumors, rates were 96%, 80%, 72%, and 43%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience with accelerated hyperfractionated radiotherapy for supraglottic carcinoma showed excellent locoregional control, relapse-free survival, and laryngeal preservation. The radiation toxicity was acceptable. The T and N stages were significant predictors of outcome, and the T4 tumors and node-positive neck disease portended a poor prognosis and therefore should be considered for protocols that include adjuvant therapies.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1997

[Soft tissue sarcoma of the head and neck area in adults. Outcome of combined surgery and irradiation and radiotherapy alone].

PURPOSE: To analyse the experience treating soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. Detailed results have been published previously [17]. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Between 1972 and 1993, 57 patients were treated curatively with radiation alone (n = 13) or combined surgery and pre- and/or postoperative irradiation (n = 44). Gross complete resection was achieved in 82% of patients and margins were negative in 5 patients. Doses ranged from 36.0 to 79.2 Gy (median 64.8 Gy), usually conventionally fractionated. In 16 patients protons were used. Median follow-up time was 4.3 years (range 1.1 to 16.8 years). RESULTS: After 5 years, patients with angiosarcomas (n = 11) and patients with other tumor types (n = 46) had locoregional control rates of 24% and 69%, distant failure rates of 58% and 17%, and overall survival rates of (for overall survival) and T stage (for locoregional control) (p < 0.05). Particularly, gross completely resected T1 tumors had a locoregional control rate of 91%. Patients with locoregional recurrence were at an increased risk to die (p = 0.004 in multivariate analysis). Patients with and without direct tumor extension to neurovascular structures, bones, organs, or skin had distant failure rates of 27% and 0%, respectively (p = 0.031). In multivariate analysis, direct extension was additionally a negative prognosticator of overall survival (p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: 1. Angiosarcomas of the head and neck have a considerably poorer prognosis than other soft tissue sarcomas of this region. 2. Head and neck sarcomas have a higher local recurrence rate than for example soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities. Optimisation of local treatment through combination of surgery and high-dose irradiation, however, can achieve improved results, especially for prognostically favourable subgroups. 3. In addition to tumor grade and size, direct tumor extension may be a useful additional staging parameter.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Prognostic factors for local control of sarcomas of the soft tissues managed by radiation and surgery.

During the past decade, local control of primary sarcomas of the extremities by radiation and conservative surgery has supplanted more radical compartmental resections or amputations. Reviews of others and our published data show that the probability of achieving local control is highly dependent on achieving negative surgical margins. Other factors, such as pathological grade and size, histopathology, and concomitant chemotherapy may also affect local control, to a much lesser extent, although these are strongly correlated with the likelihood of distant metastatic disease. Appreciation of the importance of these different prognostic factors has been fundamental to the development of the current rationale for sarcoma management.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1996

Soft tissue sarcomas: radiation as a therapeutic option.

There is continuing assessment to find the most effective management strategy for primary soft tissue sarcomas. The goal of treatment for any patient with malignant neoplasm is to provide a tumour-free survival without clinically appreciable treatment-related morbidity. For most adult patients, this currently is attempted by a combination of relatively conservative surgery and moderate dose of radiation. The concept being that radiation at dose levels of 50 to 60 Gy is adequate to inactivate the tumour cells which lie beyond the margins of a conservative resection, i.e., it replaces the resection of large volumes of normal tissue. Laboratory measurements of radiation sensitivity of cell lines derived from sarcomas of soft tissue tumours have shown that they are not radiation-resistant relative to the cell lines derived form epithelial tumours. Hence, there is no surprise the this combined modality approach has been demonstrated to be effective. The frequency of local control (85% to 90%) is at least as high as that combined by ablative surgery, but with much lesser decrement in functional and cosmetic status. Additionally, radiation at dose levels of about 75 Gy is effective in achieving worthwhile local control rates when administered against small sarcomas of the soft tissues, e.g. volumes of < or = 60 ml. Thus, for selected tumours, radiation alone does offer a reasonable option when surgery is not feasible for technical reasons or the patient is not operable for medical reasons. Available data do not indicate a clear advantage for adjuvant chemotherapy for this group of tumours. Trials are in progress to assess the efficacy of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. We are conducting a phase II trial of MAID chemotherapy and radiation preoperatively; the results to date are superior to matched concurrently treated patients. For local therapy, high and approximately comparable local control rates are being reported for several approaches: radical compartmental resection for selected patients, surgery and postoperative radiation therapy, surgery and preoperative radiation treatment, resection and intraoperative placement of catheters for brachytherapy and intra-arterial adriamycin, radiation and resection. Our preferred approach for T 2, grades II-III sarcomas of the soft tissues is radiation prior to surgery. There are, however, no data on the functional and cosmetic status after treatment of patients whose sarcomas are of a specified site and volume for treatment by these diverse methods. This is a critically important question in the assessment of proper clinical role of each of these approaches.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Adult soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck treated by radiation and surgery or radiation alone: patterns of failure and prognostic factors.

PURPOSE: To analyze our experience treating soft tissue sarcomas of the head and neck in adults, and to identify patterns of failure and prognostic factors. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 57 patients with Stage M0 disease treated by radiation with or without surgery between 1972 and 1993 were reviewed. Median follow-up time was 4.3 years (range, 1.1-16.8 years). A group of potential prognostic factors was evaluated, including age at diagnosis, sex, initial tumor presentation (primary vs. recurrent), grade, T-stage, direct tumor extension, tumor depth, duration of treatment, and radiation dose. RESULTS: The subset of angiosarcomas (11 out of 57 patients) had a considerably adverse effect on treatment outcome for the total group of sarcomas, with actuarial 5-year overall survival (OS), locoregional control (LRC), and freedom from distant metastasis (FDM) rates being 31%, 24%, and 42%, respectively. In contrast, for the remaining 46 patients with other histopathological tumor types, OS, LRC, and FDM rates were significantly higher (74%, 69%, and 83%, respectively). For this group of patients, significant prognostic factors identified by uni- and multivariate analysis included tumor grade as a predictor of OS and T-stage as a predictor of LRC (p < or = 0.050). Those patients who experienced a locoregional recurrence were at a significantly increased risk of dying (p = 0.004 in a multivariate model). All 17 patients without direct tumor extension to neurovascular structures, bone, contiguous organs, or skin remained free from distant failure. In contrast, 27% of 29 patients with direct extension had developed distant metastases at 5 years. In multivariate analysis, the absence of direct extension was a positive predictor of FDM (p = 0.007) and of OS (p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: 1) Angiosarcomas of the head and neck have a considerably poorer prognosis than other soft tissue sarcomas of this site. 2) In addition to tumor grade and size, direct tumor extension may be a useful additional staging parameter. 3) High rates of locoregional failure in the head and neck area, a potential cause of morbidity and death, indicate a need for improved treatment strategies.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Combined surgery and radiation therapy for limb preservation in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity: the Massachusetts General Hospital experience.

The results presented here indicate that excellent local control rates can be achieved using radiation in combination with limb-sparing surgery. At least three challenges remain and need to be addressed in future prospective trials. One is the need to reduce wound complications. In this regard, the influence of chemotherapy on the healing of the irradiated wound needs to be better defined as well as the role of recombinant growth factors and cytokines in tissue repair. Second is the need to better assess functional and psychological outcome in patients who are long-term survivors as well as in patients who succumb to distant disease. Despite the limited information on this end-point, it appears that strategies that reduce wound morbidity ultimately have a beneficial outcome with regard to functional and psychological status. Third, our greatest challenge is to improve the rates of distant disease control. Despite excellent local control rates following limb-sparing procedures, greater than 50% of patients will ultimately die of their disease. New systemic therapies must be developed to control systemic dissemination. The ultimate goal of combined surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy will be to preserve limb function in patients who are cured of their disease.

Brachytherapy↗
PubMed1994

[Hypervariable regions (HVR) as genetic markers in tumor diagnosis. Methodological principles and their use in pathologic diagnosis].

Variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) are highly polymorphic DNA sequences which can be used as genetic markers in different fields of medicine. In this report, we describe the methodology of VNTR in diagnostic molecular pathology, using a rapid, DNA-based approach involving polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and electrophoresis of highly polymorphic DNA satellite sequences. As concrete examples of the application of this approach, we present two case reports: 1. A B-cell lymphoma of the porta hepatis developed in a 54-year-old man 4.5 months after orthotopic liver transplantation for liver failure due to chronic hepatitis C infection. Using DNA polymorphisms as genetic markers, we showed that the tumor was of donor origin. This finding may be important for the patient's subsequent management. 2. An immature teratoma of the left ovary was found during delivery by cesarean section in a 27-year-old woman. The female newborn survived for 9 weeks and then died from central dysregulation because of an intracranial immature teratoma. Because the synchronous tumors were of similar histology, clonal origin in maternal tissues and metastatic spread were initially suspected. Analysis of highly polymorphic DNA markers clearly indicated that the teratoma carried by the child was of independent genetic origin from the mother's tumor.

Brain↗
PubMed1993

Carcinoma of the parotid gland. Analysis of treatment results and patterns of failure after combined surgery and radiation therapy.

BACKGROUND: The authors retrospectively studied 62 patients with malignant parotid tumors, treated by combined surgery and radiation therapy between 1975 and 1989. No patients were lost to follow-up, and all living patients were interviewed. The median follow-up time was 66 months. RESULTS: Among the 62 patients, there were five isolated local failures. Distant failure was observed in 11 patients. Neck failure was uncommon except in patients with advanced neck disease on presentation. The actuarial 5-year and 10-year local control rates were 95% and 84%, respectively. The corresponding actuarial disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 77% and 65%, respectively. Patients with larger tumors, recurrent disease, or involvement of the facial nerve tended to have lower DFS rates. No statistically significant differences were observed for patients treated with once-daily versus twice-daily radiation therapy fractionation schemes. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment was well tolerated, and severe treatment sequelae were uncommon. In summary, surgery in combination with radiation therapy is highly efficacious in controlling malignant tumors of the parotid gland.

Actuarial Analysis↗