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Biomedical subjects

R R Million

Publications and source records attributed to R R Million.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The impact of pelvic recurrence and elective pelvic irradiation on survival and treatment morbidity in early-stage Hodgkin's disease.

A retrospective analysis of patients with supradiaphragmatic Stage I-II Hodgkin's disease was performed to assess the impact of pelvic recurrence and elective pelvic irradiation on survival and treatment morbidity. One hundred twenty patients were treated with radiotherapy (RT) alone; 38 received total nodal (including pelvic) irradiation (TNI), 63 received modified total nodal (excluding pelvic) irradiation (MTNI), and 19 received involved-field or mantle irradiation only (less than MTNI). Thirty-three patients received combined-modality therapy. In laparotomy-staged (PS) patients treated with RT alone, the overall treatment failure rate was 13% after TNI, 24% after MTNI, and 43% after less than MTNI. The pelvic failure rate in PS patients was 0% after TNI, 9% after MTNI, and 29% after less than MTNI. Cause-specific deaths in patients treated with RT alone occurred in 10% following less than MTNI, 13% following MTNI, and 10% following TNI. Cause-specific deaths due to pelvic failure in patients treated with RT alone occurred in 5% following IF and 6% following MTNI, and also occurred in 7% of patients receiving combined-modality therapy. The potential disadvantages of elective pelvic irradiation in early-stage Hodgkin's disease include compromise of future tolerance of chemotherapy in the event of treatment failure, and infertility. Gonadal function was assessed in 67 patients less than 35 years old at the time of treatment. Compromise of gonadal function was correlated with the lack of special testicular shielding during pelvic irradiation and chemotherapy in the male, and with no oophoropexy before pelvic irradiation in the female. Twelve of 26 patients with recurrence after either less than MTNI or MTNI, with or without chemotherapy, were alive and without evidence of disease at greater than 2 years after completing salvage therapy, compared with 7 of 11 patients with recurrence after TNI.

Adolescent↗

Local control and function after twice-a-day radiotherapy for Ewing's sarcoma of bone.

Between February 1982 and December 1987, 39 patients with Ewing's sarcoma of bone have been treated at the University of Florida with a twice-a-day radiotherapy regimen to their primary lesion, 35 with radiation alone and 4 with a combination of radiation and surgery. Although three separate systemic regimens were used (standard risk, 1982-1987 [SR-1]; high-risk, 1982-1984 [HR-2]; and high-risk, 1985-1987 [HR-3]), the radiotherapy regimen remained constant through the years of the study. Those patients whose soft-tissue mass completely regressed after induction chemotherapy received 5040 cGy (as did patients with no soft-tissue mass at diagnosis), those who had 50% or greater resolution of the soft-tissue mass received 5520 cGy, and those who had less than 50% regression of the soft-tissue mass or progressive disease during induction chemotherapy received 6000 cGy. All patients were treated with 120 cGy twice a day and a 6-hr separation between fractions. Thirteen patients also received 800 cGy of total body radiotherapy (TBI) 1 to 3 months after local radiotherapy as part of their systemic treatment. In the 33 patients treated with radiotherapy alone who were eligible for local control analysis, there have been three local failures to date, all within the first 21 months after diagnosis. The 5-year local control rate was 88% for SR-1, 80% for HR-2, and 92% for HR-3. Local control was not related to total dose, but by design, the patients with the largest lesions and the poorest response to chemotherapy had the highest doses. In the 20 patients presenting with extremity primary lesions, there have been no pathologic fractures. In patients evaluated for limb function, the late effects have been minimal. The twice-a-day regimen used appears to produce good local control rates with improved long-term function as compared with once-a-day regimens.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Primary subglottic cancer: results of radical radiation therapy.

Between October 1964 and December 1985, six patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the subglottis were treated with radical radiation therapy at the University of Florida. The disease was staged as Tis (one patient), T2N0 (two patients), and T4N0 (three patients). Local control was achieved with irradiation in four patients (66%) who were observed for 3.5, 4, 4, and 5 years after radiation therapy. Two patients whose tumors recurred at the primary site underwent salvage laryngectomy, which was successful in one patient.

Aged↗

Long-term follow-up of radiotherapy for pituitary adenoma: the absence of late recurrence after greater than or equal to 4500 cGy.

Recent literature has suggested that late recurrence of pituitary adenoma after radiotherapy is common. We hypothesized that late failures might be a result of inadequate dose (less than 4500 cGy). To investigate, we analyzed 105 patients treated at our institution between 1965 and 1986 (analysis, 2/89). The minimum observation time was greater than or equal to 5 years in 58% and greater than or equal to 10 years in 30% of the patients. All patients received megavoltage radiotherapy (range, 4200-5500 cGy; mean, 4821 cGy) at a mean dose per fraction of 172 cGy; 100 patients received greater than or equal to 4500 cGy tumor dose. Twenty-nine patients received radiotherapy alone, and 76 had postoperative radiotherapy after frontal craniotomy (20 patients) or transsphenoidal hypophysectomy (56 patients). At presentation, 71% of patients had extrasellar disease, 57% had visual field deficits, and 50% had endocrinopathy. Of patients treated postoperatively, 74% had gross residual disease. Four local failures occurred at 13, 16, 57, and 64 months after postoperative radiotherapy, all within the irradiated volume (tumor doses of 4700, 4715, 5000, and 5100 cGy). All four patients had presented with moderate to extensive extrasellar disease with visual field defects. Two of the four remain free of second recurrence at 7 and 13 years after salvage transsphenoidal hypophysectomy. The local control rate with radiotherapy (product-limit method) at 10 years was 100% in the radiotherapy-alone group and 92% in the postoperative radiotherapy group (95% for all patients). To prevent bias, seven patients who received bromocriptine, none of whom demonstrated a recurrence, were censored from the local control analysis at the initiation of the drug. No patient in this study suffered recurrence greater than 64 months after radiotherapy, with 31 patients (none with bromocriptine) observed 10 to 21 years. We conclude that treatment of pituitary adenoma with greater than or equal to 4500 cGy in 25 fractions can result in a high (greater than or equal to 90%) probability of stable long-term control.

Adenoma↗

Pancoast tumor: radiation therapy alone versus preoperative radiation therapy and surgery.

This is a retrospective analysis of 73 patients with non-oat cell carcinoma of the lung presenting as a Pancoast tumor. All patients were treated with curative intent between October 1964 and September 1987 (minimum follow-up 2 years). The treatment plan consisted of preoperative radiation therapy (usually 3000 cGy in 2 weeks or 4500 cGy in 5 weeks) in 41 patients and radiation therapy alone (usually 6500-7000 cGy in 6.5-8.0 weeks) in 32 patients. In general, radiation therapy alone was reserved for poor-prognosis patients (extensive disease or medical inoperability). Although 41 patients were initially scheduled to receive preoperative radiation therapy and surgery, the surgery was not performed in 12 cases (29%) because of patient refusal (4 patients), poor response to radiation therapy (4 patients), distant metastasis (2 patients), or debilitation (2 patients). Separate calculations were carried out for the patients who completed the surgery as planned (preoperative radiation therapy and surgery) and the entire group originally scheduled for combined-modality therapy. There was no significant difference in the absolute or cause-specific survival rates between treatment groups, but severe complications were significantly more common in patients receiving combined therapy.

Adult↗

Stage IB or IIA-B carcinoma of the intact uterine cervix greater than or equal to 6 cm in diameter: is adjuvant extrafascial hysterectomy beneficial?

This is an analysis of 150 patients with Stage IB or IIA-B carcinoma of the intact uterine cervix greater than or equal to 6 cm in diameter treated with irradiation alone (75 patients) or irradiation followed by surgery (75 patients) at the University of Florida between October 1964 and June 1983. Minimum follow-up in this series was 5 years. There was no significant difference in the distribution of prognostic factors between the two treatment groups. The 5-year local control rate was 74% with irradiation alone and 76% with irradiation and surgery. The 5-year survival rates for irradiation alone versus irradiation plus surgery were as follows: cause specific, 62% and 55%, and absolute, 54% and 52%. The proportion of patients who developed treatment complications necessitating hospitalization or a second operation was 4/75 (5%) after irradiation alone and 12/75 (16%) after irradiation and surgery. The authors conclude that the routine use of adjuvant extrafascial hysterectomy is not warranted in this patient population.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Late follow-up of a short-term intensive regimen for Ewing's sarcoma.

Twenty-two patients received a short-term intensive regimen for Ewing's sarcoma between November 1977 and December 1981. The regimen consisted of vincristine (1.5 mg/m2) on day 1, and doxorubicin HCl (75 mg/m2) plus cyclophosphamide (1,000 mg/m2) on day 2. Six cycles were given at 28-day intervals. Local irradiation was started shortly after cycle 2. Eight patients with lesions of expendable bones also underwent surgery as part of the treatment to the primary site, 4 at the end of chemotherapy and 4 at diagnosis. The 5-year event-free survival rate was 45% for all patients and 48% for those with localized disease at diagnosis. Two patients died of treatment-related toxicity. The most common form of failure was distant metastases, indicating that finding a better systemic treatment remains the problem in eradicating Ewing's sarcoma.

Adolescent↗

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated with external-beam radiation therapy: 5-year minimum follow-up.

This is a retrospective analysis of 225 patients with localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate who were treated with continuous-course external-beam radiation therapy at the University of Florida between October 1964 and August 1982. All patients were treated 5 or more years prior to the date of analysis, and 30% were eligible for 10-year follow-up. Hormonal treatment was used only in the management of recurrent disease. Ten-year results by stage were as follows: local control--A, 96%; B1, 92%; B2, 51%; C1, 57%; C2, 76%. Relapse-free survival--A, 96%; B1, 58%; B2, 38%; C1, 43%; C2, 61%. Absolute survival--A, 69%; B1, 29%; B2, 47%; C1, 35%; C2, 50%. Freedom from distant metastasis--A, 100%; B1, 55%; B2, 71%; C1, 65%; C2, 77%. Tumor grade was an important prognostic variable in most of the subgroups analyzed. The 5-year rate of distant metastasis was significantly greater in patients with stage C disease when the biopsy was made by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) rather than by needle biopsy. In stage B patients, the biopsy method was not prognostically important. For the 48 patients who developed recurrent tumor in the prostate gland, with or without concurrent metastasis, the 5-year absolute survival rate calculated from the date of recurrence was 26%, compared with 10% for the 34 patients who developed distant metastasis alone. Severe complications developed in 5 out of 225 patients (2%) and included three severe rectal injuries, one bladder neck contracture, and one femoral head necrosis. Moderate complications developed in 48 out of 225 patients (21%), with rectosigmoiditis (8%) and hematuria (5%) being the most common problems. For both moderate and severe complications, there was a clear trend toward an increasing complication rate with increasing dose. The method of diagnosis appeared to be a factor in the development of urinary incontinence following irradiation: needle biopsy, 0/106 (0%); TURP, 3/112 (3%); subtotal prostatectomy, 1/7 (needle biopsy versus TURP or prostatectomy, p = 0.076). The frequency of peripheral edema following irradiation was influenced by a history of surgical disruption of the pelvic lymphatics: staging lymphadenectomy, 2/16 (13%), versus no lymphadenectomy, 0/209 (p = 0.005). A comparison with other series is presented.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Preoperative irradiation for soft tissue sarcomas of the trunk and extremities in adults.

Between May 1978 and January 1987, 58 adult patients with previously untreated sarcomas of the trunk and extremities were treated with preoperative irradiation and surgery at the University of Florida. All patients had a minimum of 2 years of follow-up; 24 had a minimum of 5 years of follow-up. The preoperative dose was usually 5040 cGy, with 120-125 cGy per fraction delivered twice daily. Operations were performed 2 to 6 weeks after radiation therapy. Eight patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. The tumors were high grade in 52 (90%), measured greater than 10 cm in 45 (78%), and were extracompartmental in 49 (84%). The surgical margins were wide in 17, marginal in 31, and intralesional in 10 patients. A functional extremity was preserved in 47 of 54 patients who would have required an amputation had they been treated by operation alone. Five of 58 patients (9%) developed local failure; in three, the failure occurred outside of the irradiated volume. Survival rates (product-limit method) at 5 years according to grade and size of lesion were as follows: low grade, 100%; high grade, 10 cm or less in largest diameter, 68%; high grade, 11-20 cm, 39%. Data are insufficient for a 5-year analysis of high-grade lesions greater than 20 cm; to date, there are no 5-year survivors in these patients. Moderate and severe wound complications occurred in 16%. There were four pathological fractures in 52 long bones at risk.

Abdomen↗

The incidence of myelitis after irradiation of the cervical spinal cord.

To further define the tolerance of the cervical spinal cord, the dose of radiation to the cervical spinal cord was calculated for all 2901 patients with malignancies of the upper respiratory tract treated at the University of Florida between October 1964 and December 1987. To further define the population evaluated, certain criteria were used: (a) a minimum of 3000 cGy to at least 2 cm of cervical spinal cord and (b) a minimum of 1 year of follow-up, unless a neurological complication occurred before 1 year. A total of 1112 patients were evaluable, of which 2 (0.18%) developed radiation myelitis. One received 4658 cGy to the cervical cord at 172.5 cGy per day, and the other patient received 4907 cGy to the cord at 169.2 cGy per day. The risk of myelitis at each dose level was 0/124 at 3000-3999 cGy, 0/442 at 4000-4499 cGy, 2/471 at 4500-4999 cGy, and 0/75 at a cord dose of 5000 cGy or greater.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗

Reproducibility of mantle irradiation with daily imaging films.

Daily mantle imaging films were reviewed to evaluate the accuracy of daily treatments for 28 de novo patients with Hodgkin's disease treated with curative intent between September 1978 and September 1983. Each film was compared with the original simulation film by three independent observers. Each observer graded each film for accuracy in the superior mediastinal, axillary, and inferior mediastinal areas and for overall conformity to the treatment plan. Grades ranged from 1 to 3: grade 1 denoted accuracy within +/- 0.5 cm of the treatment plan, grade 2 denoted minor deviations greater than 0.5 cm but with no tumor or prophylactic treatment areas shielded, and grade 3 denoted an unacceptable setup. The results in 28 patients (1,186 films) showed that 84% of the films were within 0.5 cm of original plan, 15% had minor deviations, and 1% were considered unacceptable. Three patients in the study developed recurrence of Hodgkin's disease in the chest. In one of these patients, 4 of 40 films were unacceptable, but recurrence was in lung parenchyma in an area not designated for treatment. Errors in treatment setup in this small sample were not a factor in the likelihood of disease recurrence in the chest. Daily imaging films have helped decrease the number of minor deviations and unacceptable setups, compared with previous experiences.

Diagnostic Imaging↗

Is interstitial implantation essential for successful radiotherapeutic treatment of base of tongue carcinoma?

The role of interstitial implantation in the radiotherapeutic treatment of base of tongue carcinoma remains controversial. At the University of Florida, essentially all patients with base of tongue cancer have been managed initially by radiation therapy (with or without neck dissection) with operation reserved for radiation therapy failure. Eighty-four patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue were treated with continuous-course external-beam irradiation without interstitial implantation between October 1964 and July 1986. Treatment was administered once-a-day in 59 patients and twice-a-day in 25 patients. The median follow-up was 99 months (range, 25-284 months). No patient was lost to follow-up. Local failure occurred in 1/9 patients (11%) with T1 lesions, 3/30 (10%) with T2, 6/31 (19%) with T3, and 9/14 (64%) with T4. If one excludes from the local control analysis those patients who died of intercurrent or metastatic disease within 2 years with their primary tumor continuously controlled, then the rates of local control are as follows: T1, 3/4; T2, 22/25 (88%); T3, 20/26 (77%); T4, 5/14 (36%). An improved local control rate for T4 tumors was noted with twice-a-day fractionation. Eighty-eight percent of N0-N1 necks and 79% of N2-N3 necks were treated successfully by irradiation with or without planned neck dissection. Five-year rates of continuous disease control above the clavicles were as follows: Stage I-II, 100%; Stage III, 72%; Stage IVA, 78%; Stage IVB, 44%. Five-year absolute and relapse-free survival rates for the entire group were 43% and 58%, respectively. The incidence of bone exposure was 6%, and that of soft-tissue necrosis was 19%. In all but one case, the complication was mild to moderate in severity and healed with conservative management. These results compare favorably with those recently published in the literature supporting moderate-dose external-beam irradiation combined with interstitial implantation. We conclude that interstitial implantation is not essential for the successful radiotherapeutic treatment of base of tongue carcinoma.

Adult↗