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Biomedical subjects

P Olmi

Publications and source records attributed to P Olmi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Computed tomography in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Part I: T-stage conversion with CT-staging.

Two hundred seventeen consecutive patients were treated with radiotherapy alone, with curative intent, from 1970 to 1985 at the Radiotherapy Unit of the University and Hospital of Florence. The distribution according to T and N staging with polytomography was compared to patients (106 out of 217) who had CT scans done at presentation. T1 cases were less frequent (6.6% vs 27%) in the CT-staged series, whereas T3 showed a higher incidence (30.2% vs 12.6%). The advantages of CT over conventional tomography were quantitated in a subset of 97 patients who underwent both staging procedures. Site-by-site, CT displayed a higher percentage of involvement than polytomography: parapharyngeal spread 18% vs 2%, oropharynx 16% vs 8%, choanae and nasal cavities 28% vs 13%, ethmoid and maxillary sinus 29% vs 13%. Information provided by CT caused a T-stage conversion in 23 out of 97 cases (23%): 4 out of 11 T1, 16 out of 44 T2, 3 out of 16 T3.

Humans↗

Computed tomography in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Part II: Impact on survival.

Two hundred and seventeen consecutive patients affected by nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) were treated with radiotherapy alone, with curative intent, from 1970 to 1985 at the Radiotherapy Unit of the University and Hospital of Florence. A group (A) of 111 patients staged with conventional clinical and radiological method was compared to a second group (B) of 106 patients who underwent CT staging before treatment. Group B showed better 5-year NED survival and local control; only the differences in local control were significant (p less than 0.01). As to primary control statistically significant differences were observed in T2 and T4 cases. We feel that CT could have contributed to the improvement, probably through a more reliable display of the primary extent and a more adequately planned radiotherapeutic treatment. With CT staging we could not increase our skills in prognostically separating stages according to UICC criteria (1978); in Group B only T2 patients presented significant differences in primary control when compared to T3 and T4 patients. However, a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors showed that nodal involvement, primarily, and histology, secondarily, were the most important factors; T stage showed a minor influence on prognosis.

Humans↗

Paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity cancer: different radiotherapeutic options, results and late damages.

From 1970 to 1983, 69 patients, affected by malignant epithelial tumors of paranasal cavities and nasal fossae, were treated with radiotherapy at the Radiology Institute of the University and Radiotherapy Hospital Department of Florence. Primary carcinoma of the maxillary sinus occurred in 44 patients, of the nasal cavity in 20, and of the other sinuses in 5. Most of the patients had locally advanced lesions (63 T3-4: 91.5%) according to the adopted TNM system (Lederman-Gadeberg, Sisson-Jesse). Crude survival data showed 35% and 13% of NED patients at 2 and 5 years, respectively. Local progression was the most important cause of death; patients relapsed within 2 years. The actuarial 5-year survival, corrected for causes of death other than disease, was 32% for the overall series, 32% for maxillary sinus, and 41% for the nasal cavity. There was no difference in survival in patients treated with conventional fractionation (CF) vs. multiple daily fractionation (MDF) -30% vs. 33% at 5 years. The late damages of the radiation therapy in 22 patients without local disease, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years, is also analyzed.

Adult↗

Early glottic cancer: surgery or radiation therapy?

From 1970 to 1979 at the University Otorhinolaryngological Clinic, at the Radiology Institute of the University and at the Radiation Therapy Department of the Hospital of Florence, 385 early glottic cancers were treated: 300 by surgery and 85 with radiation therapy as the primary therapy. The policy of treatment in this period was in most cases surgery; those patients who could not be operated were treated with radiation therapy. The local control actuarial rates at 5 years were 85%, 70% and 65% for the T1a, T1b and T2 patients treated by surgery, and 86%, 83% and 57% for those treated with radiation therapy. Considering the surgical salvage, the actuarial results at 5 years were 95%, 86% and 71% for the group treated by surgery, and 86%, 90% and 69% for the one treated with radiotherapy. The crude results at 3 and 5 years with an analysis of failures according to treatment modalities are also reported. In our experience, cordectomy can be the treatment of choice in T1a glottic cancer, whereas radiation therapy offers better results in the T1b forms. Treatment policy is more questionable in the T2 cases.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Carcinoma of the nasopharynx: results of radiation therapy.

Of a series of 186 patients with nasopharyngeal neoplasm 138 cases were treated with curative irradiation between 1959 and 1978. All cases were reviewed and retrospectively classified according to the TNM system. The 5-year crude survival rate was 39.5 per cent. A better prognosis was found for women and for younger age groups. The degree of neck node involvement had more prognostic value than the extent of the primary tumor. The causes of failure were analyzed. In 35 cases distant metastases were observed.

Adolescent↗

Cervical lymph node metastases from an unknown primary tumour.

Forty-nine cases of cervical lymph node metastases from an unknown primary tumour have been reviewed. All the patients were treated by radiation therapy. In 7 cases the primary tumour was detected from 4 to 53 months after the end of treatment. The crude survival rates at 2 and 5 years were 39 and 32 per cent, respectively. The survival rate was correlated to sex, microscopic appearance, stage, and extent of the nodal involvement.

Adult↗

Advanced carcinomas of the oropharynx treated with radiotherapy--a comparison of three different fractionation schemes.

INTRODUCTION: This report reflects a retrospective comparison among historical series of patients with similar site and stage of disease treated by three fractionation schemes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hyperfractionation (HF) scheme delivered 1 Gy three times a day, 5 days a week, to a total dose of 60 to 63 Gy over 26 to 29 days. A group of 48 patients received HF. Accelerated fractionation (AF) consists of 2 Gy three times a day, 5 days a week, to a total of 48 to 52 Gy delivered over 11 to 12 days. A group of 46 patients underwent this therapy. A third group of 48 patients were treated with conventional fractionation (CF). These patients received 2 Gy each day, 5 days a week, to a total dose of 60 to 66 Gy. RESULTS: Ned survival at 5 years was 23.8%, 32.8%, and 29.3% for CF, AF, and HF, respectively. The most important cause of failure was inability to control disease at the primary site; however, isolated distant metastasis were observed in 15.4% of all failures. Treatment delays were more common in the HF and CF groups. The highest incidence of late complications occurred in the AF group. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced lesions of the oropharynx have an ominous prognosis. New fractionation regiments represent a warranted approach as an alternative to or an integration into combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Adult↗

Nonstandard fractionation schedules in radiation therapy of head and neck cancer: a review.

The authors present an updated review of the clinical trials on hyperfractionated and accelerated fractionation schedules in radiotherapy of head and neck cancer. The available results in terms of survival and local control, and acute and late toxicity data are summarized in order to show the current status of this research field. The new breed of fractionation schedules that are on study, designed on the ground of new rationales, are presented as well. Finally, an introductory overview of combination therapy including non standard fractionation radiotherapy associated with chemotherapy is reported.

Chemotherapy, Adjuvant↗

Randomized trials on altered fractionation in head and neck cancer radiotherapy with conventional fractionation as control arm: another lap to go.

The Authors present a review of randomized trials on non conventional fractionation in head and neck cancer radiotherapy with conventional fractionation as control arm. Hyperfractionation was studied in 5 trials, accelerated hyperfractionation in 4 trials and accelerated fractionation in 3 trials. Furthermore, the reviews of eminent Authors dealing with the above mentioned trials are summarized. In spite of improved local control rate reported with hyperfractionation, non conventional radiotherapy schedules are not yet recommended as routine clinical practice, but all the radiation oncologists are Invited to join trials on this subject.

Dose Fractionation, Radiation↗

[Supportive therapy in oncology].

The current trend towards a more intensive cancer treatment is possible thanks to the availability of a really important and effective supportive care. It is our opinion that it would be essential for the junior staff in oncology, for the practitioners, but also for the knowledge of anyone contributing in different ways to give the cancer treatment, to have reference points to give also the best supportive care. With this aim we thought to start a study, in Italy, to investigate, first, which is the supportive care used in the most common acute toxicities during or immediately after cancer therapy. We decided to begin with a survey addressed to hematologists, medical oncologists, radiotherapists; 105 centers were contacted. In order to have a high number of people able to answer to different clinical questions we decided to use Internet to communicate with participating centers without moving people. The final goal of the project is to formulate guidelines in supportive care, but also to promote the use of Internet as much as possible in the medical world with the aim to make easier every kind of communication and exchange of information.

Computer Communication Networks↗

[Supportive care in oncology].

It is extremely important to deliver treatments, both in medical oncology and in radiation oncology, in compliance with the due dose intensity, in order to achieve the best results in terms of clinical response and local control and, often, also in terms of survival. Supportive care is one of the tools for the achievement of this goal, permitting the delivery of aggressive therapies and the improvement of Quality of Life. It is the aim of the Tsonc study to evaluate what the main therapeutic trend is, on the ground of a survey performed in 105 medical oncology, radiation oncology, and haematology centres. For this assessment the WHO/INH and RTOG common toxicity criteria were adopted, even knowing that these score systems had been developed for reporting acute/subacute toxicity and not to choose the therapeutic approach. However, these scales give us the possibility to refer to highly validated systems and provide participants with a common language. Thirty-two items of toxicity were listed, and each item included 2 to 4 degrees of severity so to report supportive care accordingly. The present paper reports the criteria of choice of the scales and symptoms and the schedule of the queries.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Continuous quality improvement in radiotherapy: implementation methodology and comparison of experiences.

The Quality System (QS) was applied in the Italian Health Service in the late nineties with the identification of a methodology whose focus is also on nonspecific subjects which however are involved in health promotion. The quality handbook represents an instrument of QS, where the documentation and procedures which can make the policy and goals of a center accurately and extensively known, are collected. Continuous quality improvement is characterized by the adoption of the assessment culture according to dynamic processes. Since several years, in Italy, documents indicating the requirements, resources and goals radiotherapy centers should aim at, are being prepared together with the identification of means suitable for quality assurance in radiotherapy.

Awards and Prizes↗