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Biomedical subjects

Russell W Hinerman

Publications and source records attributed to Russell W Hinerman.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Management of neurotropic low-grade B-cell lymphoma: report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Low-grade lymphomas do not commonly involve the central or peripheral nervous system. METHODS: Case report and review of the literature of two cases of B-cell lymphoma of the extranodal marginal zone type involving the head and neck region with evidence of extensive neurotropism are detailed in this report. RESULTS: One patient was initially seen with a mass in the temporalis muscle and the other with a masticator space mass. The clinical course was indolent in both cases, although associated imaging studies suggested a more aggressive tumor. Both patients were treated with moderate-dose radiotherapy only. At the time of writing, one patient has no evidence of disease 6.5 years after treatment and the other at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: This suggests that some marginal zone lymphomas exhibit a low-grade clinical course despite an aggressive radiographic pattern of perineural and neurotropic spread. This type of lymphoma might be effectively treated with moderate-dose radiotherapy.

Aged↗

Neck level-specific nodal metastases in oropharyngeal cancer: is there a role for selective neck dissection after definitive radiation therapy?

PURPOSE: To determine the extent of the required neck dissection for patients with persistent lymphadenopathy after definitive radiation therapy for oropharyngeal cancer. If feasible, a conservative approach using selective neck dissection would likely minimize the extent of neck fibrosis and other adverse sequelae. METHODS: Analysis of pretreatment and posttreatment radiologic scans and pathology reports of 76 patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma (35 tonsil; 41 base of tongue), who had radiologic evidence of persistent nodal disease for level-specific involvement. Patients were treated with twice-daily fractionations of external-beam radiation therapy (median dose, 76.8 Gy to the primary tumor) and planned neck dissection (levels I-V) for bulky nodes (N2-3) or salvage neck dissection for N1 disease. RESULTS: The distribution of clinical nodal disease by neck level on the basis of pretreatment and posttreatment radiologic scans indicated levels II and III to be most commonly involved. The false-negative rate for the restaging radiologic scans for each neck level was as follows: level I, 0%; level II, 8%; level III, 6%; level IV, 5%; and level V, 1.5%. Of the eight hemi-necks found to contain positive pathologic nodes in a neck level judged to be negative on the basis of restaging scans, five of the patients subsequently had disease recurrence in the primary site. Patients who had evidence of residual neck disease had a significantly lower rate of locoregional control (77% vs 100%, p =.0005). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of neck dissection for patients with nodal disease associated with oropharyngeal cancer treated with radiation therapy should include levels II-IV. It is reasonable to spare levels I and V in patients without radiologic and clinical evidence of positive nodes in levels I and V.

Adult↗

Carcinoma of the skin with perineural invasion.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome and patterns of relapse in patients treated for skin carcinoma of the head and neck with either microscopic or clinical perineural invasion. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Radiotherapy alone or combined with surgery was used to treat 135 patients with microscopic or clinical evidence of perineural invasion of skin carcinoma. All patients had at least 2 years of follow-up. RESULTS: The 5-year local control rates without salvage therapy were 87% with microscopic perineural invasion and 55% with clinical perineural invasion. Overall, 88% of the local failures occurred in patients with positive margins. Almost half of the recurrences in patients with microscopic perineural invasion were limited to the first-echelon regional nodes. However, only 1 of 11 patients with basal cell carcinoma with microscopic perineural invasion had a nodal failure. Ninety percent of recurrences in patients with clinical perineural invasion occurred at the primary site. Cranial nerve deficits rarely improved after successful treatment of the primary disease. Radiographic abnormalities remained stable 30% of the time when patients had clinical evidence of progressive disease. CONCLUSIONS: Radiotherapy in patients with skin cancer with clinical perineural invasion should include treatment of the first-echelon regional lymphatics. The risk of regional node involvement is also relatively high for patients with squamous cell carcinoma with microscopic perineural invasion. In patients with clinical perineural invasion, the poor local control rates with conventional radiotherapy suggest a need for dose escalation with or without concomitant chemotherapy.

Adult↗

Altered fractionation and/or adjuvant chemotherapy in definitive irradiation of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

OBJECTIVE: To review the roles of altered fractionation and adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. STUDY DESIGN: Review of the pertinent literature. METHODS: The literature pertaining to altered fractionation and/or adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck was reviewed to define the optimal combination of radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: The efficacy of altered fractionation compared with conventional fractionation depends on the fractionation schedule employed. Some hyperfractionated and accelerated fractionation schedules have resulted in improved locoregional control but no significant improvement in overall survival. In contrast to induction and maintenance chemotherapy, concomitant chemotherapy appears to result in improved locoregional control and survival. CONCLUSIONS: Altered fractionation and/or concomitant chemotherapy results in improved locoregional control and, in some instances, survival for patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Depending on primary site, the applicability of these aggressive treatment regimens is limited by an enhanced probability of severe complications as tumor volume increases. The optimal combination of these modalities is unclear and will be defined by future prospective trials.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx: surgery, radiation therapy, or both.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oropharynx remains controversial. No randomized trial has addressed adequately the question of whether surgery (S), radiation therapy (RT), or combined treatment is most effective. METHODS: Treatment results from North American academic institutions that used S with or without adjuvant RT (S +/- RT) or used RT alone or followed by neck dissection (RT +/- ND) for patients with SCC of the tonsillar region or the base of tongue were compiled through a MEDLINE search (from 1970 to August, 2000) and from the references cited in each report. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they contained direct, actuarial (life-table), or Kaplan-Meier calculations for the following end points: local control, local-regional control, 5-year absolute survival, 5-year cause specific survival, or severe or fatal treatment complications. Weighted average results, which took into account series size, were calculated for each end point for the purposes of treatment comparison. Results and conclusions were based on data from 51 reported series, representing the treatment of approximately 6400 patients from the United States and Canada. RESULTS: The results for patients with SCC of the base of tongue who underwent S +/- RT versus RT +/- ND, respectively, were as follows: local control, 79% versus 76% (P = 0.087); local-regional control, 60% versus 69% (P = 0.009); 5-year survival, 49% versus 52% (P = 0.2); 5-year cause specific survival, 62% versus 63% (P = 0.4); severe complications, 32% versus 3.8% (P < 0.001); and fatal complications, 3.5% versus 0.4% (P < 0.001). The results for patients with SCC in the tonsillar region who underwent S +/- RT versus RT +/- ND, respectively, were as follows: local control, 70% versus 68% (P = 0.2); local-regional control, 65% versus 69% (P = 0.1); 5-year survival, 47% versus 43% (P = 0.2); 5-year cause specific survival, 57% versus 59% (P = 0.3); severe complications, 23% versus 6% (P < 0.001); and fatal complications, 3.2% versus 0.8% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The information in this article provides a useful benchmark for evidence-based counseling of patients with SCC of the oropharynx. The rates of local control, local-regional control, 5-year survival, and 5-year cause specific survival were similar for patients who underwent S +/- RT or RT +/- ND, whereas the rates of severe or fatal complications were significantly greater for the S +/- RT group. Furthermore, available data on the functional consequences of treatment suggest the superiority of RT +/- ND. The authors conclude that RT +/- ND is preferable for the majority of patients with SCC of the oropharynx.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy and postoperative radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy and postoperative irradiation for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 1983 and December 1998, 173 patients underwent a total laryngectomy and postoperative irradiation and had follow-up from 3 to 188 months (median, 38 months). Three patients were lost to follow-up at 63, 39, and 4 months after treatment. All other living patients had follow-up for 2 years or longer. Twelve (7%) patients had incomplete data pertaining to voice rehabilitation. RESULTS: Data pertaining to voice rehabilitation were available at 2 to 3 years and longer and 5 years and longer after treatment for 118 and 69 patients, respectively. The methods of voice rehabilitation at 2 to 3 years and longer and 5 years and longer were as follows: tracheoesophageal, 27% and 19%; artificial larynx, 50% and 57%; esophageal, 1% and 3%; nonvocal, 17% and 14%; and no data, 5% and 7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The most common form of voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy and postoperative radiation therapy is the artificial larynx. Although the tracheoesophageal puncture is a technique frequently promoted by clinicians as a superior method, a relatively small subset of patients are successfully rehabilitated long-term. However, of those who undergo a tracheoesophageal puncture, approximately half will use this method of voice rehabilitation long term.

Adult↗

Radiosurgery for paraganglioma of the temporal bone.

PURPOSE: To report the outcome of patients with paraganglioma of the temporal bone treated with stereotactic radiosurgery at the University of Florida. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between January 1997 and June 1999, five patients with paraganglioma of the temporal bone were treated with Linac-based stereotactic radiosurgery at the University of Florida. The ages of the three female and two male patients were between 40 and 88 years (median, 49 years). Four patients were treated at initial presentation, and one had recurrent disease. Treatment volumes ranged from 4.9 cm3 to 18.4 cm3, with a mean of 10.84 cm3. The dose applied to the margin of the tumor varied from 12.5 to 15 Gy (median, 15 Gy). The treatment dose was specified to the 80% isodose shell in two cases and to the 70% isodose shell in three cases. The median follow-up time was 27 months, ranging from 14 to 50 months. RESULTS: One of four previously untreated patients had a relapse at the primary tumor site. Treatment failure occurred at the field margin 6 months after radiosurgery; the patient was subsequently treated with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and at the time of analysis had no evidence of disease, 21 months after initiation of salvage therapy. The patient treated at the time of recurrence after conventional radiotherapy had a local recurrence 40 months after radiosurgery. At the time of this recurrence, the patient had biopsy-proven metastatic disease in two cervical lymph nodes, and no salvage therapy was performed. All patients were alive at the time of the analysis, one with disease present. Presenting symptoms improved in two patients and stabilized in one. The two patients who had local recurrence develop had worsening of their symptoms. One patient had a cranial nerve V palsy develop 6 months after treatment, which resolved after a few months. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, the results with stereotactic radiosurgery are discouraging compared with our results with conventional fractionated radiotherapy in patients with paraganglioma of the temporal bone.

Adult↗

Carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx: treatment results with radiotherapy alone or with planned neck dissection.

PURPOSE: To present the results of radiotherapy with or without neck dissection for squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx treated at the University of Florida and to compare these data with those obtained after conservation surgery. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Continuous-course radiotherapy alone or combined with a planned neck dissection was used to treat 274 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx between 1964 and 1998. All patients had follow-up for a minimum of 2 years, and 250 (91%) had follow-up for 5 years or more. RESULTS: At 5 years, the actuarial probability of local control after radiotherapy according to T stage was as follows: T1, 100%; T2, 86%; T3, 62%; and T4, 62%. The probability of cause-specific survival at 5 years by AJCC stage was as follows: stage I, 100%; II, 93%; III, 81% IVA, 50%; and IVB, 13%. The risk of severe late complications was 4%. Of 57 patients undergoing planned postradiotherapy neck dissection, 7% experienced a severe complication. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our data and the literature, early or moderately advanced supraglottic carcinomas may be treated successfully with either supraglottic laryngectomy or radiotherapy. Supraglottic laryngectomy probably produces a higher initial local control rate but, based on anatomic and coexisting medical constraints, is suitable for a smaller subset of patients and has a higher risk of complications compared with radiotherapy.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Radiotherapy for carcinoma in situ of the true vocal cords.

PURPOSE: To report long-term rates of tumor control after radiotherapy (RT) for carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the true vocal cords (TVC). A comprehensive literature review was performed, and outcomes with other modalities of treatment for CIS of the TVC were compared. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Thirty patients with CIS of the TVC were treated between July 1967 and May 1998 with curative intent using megavoltage RT. Most patients (28 of 30) were treated with cobalt-60 through small (usually 5 x 5 cm) fields. Median RT dose was 56.25 Gy (range, 56.25-75 Gy; mean dose, 59.15 Gy) at 2.25 Gy per fraction. One patient was treated for a synchronous head and neck primary malignancy with large fields to a total dose of 75 Gy at 1.8 Gy per fraction. Approximately two thirds of the patients (19 of 30) were referred for RT because of recurrence after at least one stripping procedure. RESULTS: With a mean follow-up of 7.1 years (range, 2-17 years), the 5-year rates of local control, local control with larynx preservation, and ultimate local control (including salvage surgery) were the following: 88%, 88%, and 100%, respectively. Invasive squamous cell carcinoma developed in three (10%) of the patients. Time to failure was 14 months, 34 months, and 48 months, respectively. All three patients were surgically salvaged with a total laryngectomy. Cause-specific survival at 5 years was 100%. There were no late complications. CONCLUSIONS: RT to approximately 60 Gy at 2.25 Gy per fraction using small (5 x 5 cm) fields produces excellent results with CIS of the TVC.

Aged↗

Malignant tumors of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of radiation therapy in patients with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1964 and July 1998, 78 patients with malignant tumors of the nasal cavity (48 patients), ethmoid sinus (24 patients), sphenoid sinus (5 patients), or frontal sinus (1 patient) were treated with curative intent by radiation therapy alone or in the adjuvant setting. There were 25 squamous cell carcinomas, 14 undifferentiated carcinomas, 31 minor salivary gland tumors (adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma), 8 esthesioneuroblastomas, and 1 transitional cell carcinoma. Forty-seven patients were treated with irradiation alone, 25 with surgery and postoperative irradiation, 2 with preoperative irradiation and surgery, and 4 with chemotherapy in combination with irradiation with or without surgery. RESULTS: The 5-year actuarial local control rate for stage I (limited to the site of origin; 22 patients) was 86%; for stage II (extension to adjacent sites (eg, adjacent sinuses, orbit, pterygomaxillary fossa, nasopharynx; 21 patients) was 65%; and for stage III (destruction of skull base or pterygoid plates, or intracranial extension; 35 patients) was 34%. The 5-year actuarial local control rate for patients receiving postoperative irradiation was 79% and for patients receiving irradiation alone was 49% (p =.05). The 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year ultimate local control rates for all 78 patients were 60%, 56%, 48%, and 48%, respectively. The 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year cause-specific survival rates for all 78 patients were 56%, 45%, 39%, and 39%, respectively. The 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-year absolute survival rates for all 78 patients were 50%, 31%, 21%, and 16%, respectively. Of the 67 (86%) patients who were initially seen with node-negative disease, 39 (58%) received no elective neck treatment, and 28 (42%) received elective neck irradiation. Of the 39 patients who received no elective neck treatment, 33 (85%) did not experience recurrence in the neck compared with 25 (89%) of 28 patients who received elective neck irradiation. Most patients who received elective neck irradiation (57%) had stage III disease. Twenty-one (27%) of 78 patients had unilateral blindness develop secondary to radiation retinopathy or optic neuropathy; the complication was anticipated in most of these patients, because the ipsilateral eye was irradiated to a high dose. Four patients (5%) unexpectedly had bilateral blindness develop because of optic neuropathy. All four of these patients received irradiation alone. CONCLUSION: Surgery and postoperative radiation therapy may result in improved local control, absolute survival, and complications when compared with radiation therapy alone. Elective neck irradiation is probably unnecessary for patients with early-stage disease.

Adolescent↗

Planned neck dissection after definitive radiotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: To define the role of planned neck dissection after definitive radiotherapy for patients with node-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. METHODS: Review of the pertinent literature. RESULTS: Radiotherapy alone produces a relatively high likelihood of regional control for patients with early-stage neck disease. Patients with more advanced neck disease have a higher probability of regional control if a planned neck dissection follows radiotherapy. However, for patients who have a complete response to radiotherapy, the likelihood of an isolated recurrence in the neck is low. Radiographic evaluation of the response to radiotherapy may better define the subset of patients who are likely to benefit from a neck dissection. CONCLUSIONS: Neck dissection after definitive radiotherapy improves regional control for patients with advanced neck disease. Patients who have a complete clinical and radiographic regional response to radiotherapy have a low probability of an isolated recurrence in the neck. It is advisable to proceed with a neck dissection for patients who have an equivocal response to radiotherapy, because the likelihood of salvage of an isolated recurrence in the neck is remote.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Early laryngeal cancer.

For early-stage laryngeal cancer, both surgery and radiotherapy are effective treatment modalities, offering a high rate of local control and cure for this select group of patients. The probability of obtaining local control for early glottic cancer is similar when comparing the results of radiation therapy, cordectomy, and hemilaryngectomy. Radiation therapy has been the treatment of choice for all previously untreated T1 and T2 vocal cord cancers at our institution. We currently treat most patients with irradiation and consider transoral laser excision for the small subset of patients with well-defined T1 tumors that are limited to the mid-third of the cord. In this area, excision will not significantly diminish voice quality. Stage I and stage II supraglottic cancers may be treated with either radiation therapy alone or with a supraglottic laryngectomy with bilateral selective neck dissections (levels II-IV). In experienced hands, transoral laser excision also is an acceptable alternative for selected lesions. Overall, approximately 80% of patients at our institution are treated initially by irradiation.

Health Behavior↗

Hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

For more than 20 years, the policy at the University of Florida has been to treat patients with favorable stage T1-T2 pyriform sinus carcinoma by using radiation therapy alone, or with a planned neck dissection if advanced nodal disease is present. This approach usually leaves the patient with nearly normal swallowing and speech, and provides bilateral coverage of the regional neck and retropharyngeal lymphatics. More advanced lesions often are not controlled with radiation alone and are usually considered for partial or total laryngopharyngectomy if the patient is medically operable. Radiation is usually administered postoperatively in this setting, unless the neck disease is thought to be unresectable, in which case preoperative radiation is given. Recent data have shown that adjuvant chemotherapy administered concomitantly with radiotherapy results in improved cure rates for patients with advanced disease compared with irradiation alone. Time-honored established guidelines are still used, although the edges have become blurred. Therefore, patients with larger primary tumors now may be considered for organ preservation treatment with irradiation and chemotherapy, reserving surgery for salvage situations. The subset of patients with advanced T4 pyriform sinus cancers (in whom cure with chemoradiation would likely result in tracheostomy and/or gastrostomy dependence) may be better served with elective surgery and postoperative irradiation. The definition of this subset of patients is unclear but probably includes patients with significant cartilage destruction and those who require pretreatment tracheostomy. The policy at the University of Florida is to treat essentially all pharyngeal wall cancers with external-beam irradiation alone.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Postoperative radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

PURPOSE: To discuss the role of postoperative radiation therapy (RT) for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. RESULTS: Patients with adverse pathologic features have a high likelihood of local-regional recurrence and a decreased probability of survival after surgery alone. Postoperative RT reduces the risk of local-regional failure and probably improves survival. Patients who are at high risk for recurrence after surgery benefit from more aggressive dose-fractionation schedules that may include altered fractionation to decrease the overall time from surgery to the completion of RT. Adjuvant chemotherapy also appears to improve the probability of cure in high risk patients. CONCLUSION: Patients who have a high likelihood of local-regional recurrence after surgery have improved disease control and survival after postoperative RT.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗