• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.99-102
• /
• 2014

We present a case of unresectable cancer of the base of tongue treated with hypofractionated 3D conformal radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy. Based on the excellent tumour response in this radiotherapy regimen and international experience in short course treatments we shortly reviewed, we propose that this therapeutic approach could be considered in a curative setting for patients unsuitable for the a standard long course radiochemotherapy schedule.

• 대한두경부종양학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2002.11a
• /
• pp.253-253
• /
• 2002

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.530-538
• /
• 2017

Background A pharyngocutaneous fistula is a common and difficult-to-manage complication after head and neck reconstruction. It can lead to serious complications such as flap failure, carotid artery rupture, and pharyngeal stricture, and may require additional surgery. Previous radiotherapy, a low serum albumin level, and a higher T stage have been proposed as contributing factors. We aimed to clarify the risk factors for pharyngocutaneous fistula in patients who underwent flap reconstruction and to describe our experiences in treating pharyngocutaneous fistula. Methods Squamous cell carcinoma cases that underwent flap reconstruction after cancer resection from 1995 to 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. We investigated several significant clinical risk factors. The treatment modality was selected according to the size of the fistula and the state of the surrounding tissue, with options including conservative management, direct closure, flap surgery, and pharyngostoma formation. Results A total of 127 cases (18 with fistulae) were analyzed. A higher T stage (P=0.048) and tube-type reconstruction (P=0.007) increased fistula incidence; other factors did not show statistical significance (P>0.05). Two cases were treated with conservative management, 1 case with direct closure, 4 cases with immediate reconstruction using a pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap, and 11 cases with direct closure (4 cases) or additional flap surgery (7 cases) after pharyngostoma formation. Conclusions Pharyngocutaneous fistula requires global management from prevention to treatment. In cases of advanced-stage cancer and tube-type reconstruction, a more cautious approach should be employed. Once it occurs, an accurate diagnosis of the fistula and a thorough assessment of the surrounding tissue are necessary, and aggressive treatment should be implemented in order to ensure satisfactory long-term results.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.9-15
• /
• 1996

Purpose: The traditional approach with surgery and/or radiotherapy(RT) for advanced head and neck cancer Provides anticipated cure rates of $10-65\%$ depending on stages and sites. Recently, combined modality with chemotherapy have been extensively investigated in attempts to improve survival and local control. We retrospectively analysed our experience of 31 patients with advanced head and neck cancer. Materials and Methods : November 1983 to October 1994. 31 Patients with Stage III and IV squamous cell head and neck cancer were treated with RT. Sixteen patients were treated with RT alone, and IS patients were treated with combined RT plus chemotherapy. All patients were treated with 4-MV LINAC and radiation dose ranged from 5000 cGy to 7760 cGy (median 7010 cGy). In combined group, 7 patients were treated with cisplatin plus 5-FU 2 patients were treated with methotrexate plus leucovorin plus 5-FU plus cisplatin or carboplatin, and 6 patients were treated with cisplatin as a radiosensitizer. Results : Median follow up period was 16 months (range 4-134 months). The major responses (CR+PR) were noted in 10 patient ($66.6\%$) of the RT alone group and 14 patient ($93.3\%$) of the chemoradiation group. There was no statistical difference in CR rate between the two groups The overall survival rates at 5 years were $23.4\%$ in the radiation alone group, $23.5\%$ in the chemoradiation group Disease-free survival rates at 3 years were $44.5\%$ in the radiation alone group, $40\%$ in the chemoradiation group. There was no statistical differences in overall survival rates and disease-free survival rates between the two groups. Local recurrences occurred in $71.5\%$ of the radiation alone group, $72.7\%$ of the chemoradiation group and distant metastasis occurred in $14.4\%$ of radiation alone group, $9.1\%$ of the chemoradiation group. The frequencies of complications were comparable in both groups except hematologic toxicity Conclusion : Total response rates in the combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy was relatively higher than radiotherapy alone. But our result failed to show any survival benefit of the combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The accrual of large number of patients and long term follow-un may be necessary to confirm the present result of combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.84 no.6
• /
• pp.1403-1407
• /
• 2023

Lymph node metastasis from bladder cancer mainly involves the external/internal iliac and obturator nodes as the primary lymphatic drainage sites of the bladder, and common iliac sites as the secondary drainage. Lymph node involvement above the diaphragm is rare. Metastasis to the head and neck region is associated with poor prognosis and low survival rate. Herein, we report a case of cervical cutaneous and lymph node metastases in a patient with bladder cancer. This is a rare case of advanced urothelial carcinoma presenting as an aggressive inflammatory process with extensive lymph node involvement, without bony or visceral metastasis.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.55-63
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study was performed to objectively evaluate the rate of tumor response to hypofractionated radiotherapy for advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, who were treated by hypofractionated radiotherapy with 3 Gy per fraction for palliative purpose between 1998 and 2008, were reviewed retrospectively. Every tumor-volume was measured and evaluated from CT (computed tomography) images obtained before and 2~3 months after radiotherapy. The radiation toxicity was assessed during and after radiotherapy. A statistical analysis was performed to investigate overall survival, progressionfree survival, and the prognostic factors for survival and response. Results: The median age of the study patients was 70 years. In addition, 85% of the patients were in stage 4 cancer and 66.7% had an ECOG performance status of 1~2. The mean tumor-volume was 128.4 cc. Radiotherapy was administered with a total dose of 24~45 Gy (median: 36 Gy) over 10~25 days. Twenty-nine patients were treated with 30 Gy or more. The observed complete response rate was 12.9% and the partial response rate was 61.3%. Median survival time was 8.9 months and the 1-year progression-free survival rate was 12.9%. The treatment response rate was confirmed as a prognostic factor in the rate of survival. The primary site, stage, tumor-volume, radiotherapy field and overall radiation-dose showed a significant relationship with survival and treatment response. No grade 4 toxicity was observed during and after radiotherapy. Conclusion: There was an objective tumor-regression in about 74% of patients treated by hypofractionated radiotherapy. Further evaluation is needed to select the appropriate fraction-size and patient who may require the additional radiotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.11-17
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Definitive radiotherapy remains a primary treatment option for early stage glottic cancer. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has emerged as the standard treatment technique for advanced head and neck cancers, whereas three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) has remained standard for early glottic cancers. We used the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to identify predictors of IMRT use and effect on outcome in these patients. Materials and Methods: We queried the NCDB from 2004-2015 for squamous cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx staged Tis-T2N0 treated with radiation alone. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of IMRT. Cox regression was used to identify factors predictive of overall survival. Propensity matching was conducted to account for indication bias. Results: We identified 15,627 patients, of which 11% received IMRT. IMRT use rose from 2% in 2004 to 16% in 2015. Predictors of IMRT include: increased comorbidity, T2 stage, urban location, chemotherapy, treatment at an academic center, and later treatment year. Predictors of improved survival were female gender, higher income, lower stage, no chemotherapy, academic facility, and more remote year. There was no difference in survival between 3D-CRT and IMRT across all stages. Conclusions: The rate of IMRT use for early stage glottic laryngeal cancer has increased over time. There was no difference in outcome in patients receiving IMRT versus 3D-CRT across the cohort.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.18
• /
• pp.8247-8252
• /
• 2016

Background: The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) degrades a variety of proteins which attach to specific signals. The ubiquitination pathway facilitates degradation of damaged proteins and regulates growth and stress responses. This pathway is altered in various cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukemia, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and breast cancer. Recently it has been reported that expression of newly characterized human genes, UBE2Q1 and UBE2Q2, putative members of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family (E2), has been also changed in colorectal cancer. Epigenetics is one of the fastest-growing areas of science and nowadays has become a central issue in biological studies of diseases. According to the lack of information about the role of epigenetic changes on gene expression profiling of UBE2Q1 and UBE2Q2, and the presence of CpG islands in the promoter of these two human genes, we decided to evaluate the promoter methylation status of these genes as a first step. Materials and Methods: The promoter methylation status of UBE2Q1 and UBE2Q2 was studied by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) in tumor samples of 60 colorectal cancer patients compared to adjacent normal tissues and 20 non-malignant controls. The frequency of the methylation for each gene was analyzed by chi-square method. Results: MSP results revealed that UBE2Q2 gene promoter were more unmethylated, while a higher level of methylated allele was observed for UBE2Q1 in tumor tissues compared to the adjacent normal tissues and the non malignant controls. Conclusions: UBE2Q1 and UBE2Q2 genes show different methylation profiles in CRC cases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.21-27
• /
• 2008

Total laryngectomy is the most useful procedure tor advanced laryngopharyngeal cancer, but it remains the major problem such as loss of voice. Voice restoration is essential for every patients who undergo a total laryngectomy. Ideal voice rehabilitation methods can resolve three factors. First, every laryngectomee can produce voice sufficient for communication, second every patient should be allowed to use both hands freely during phonation, and last, the voice restoration methods should be easy and safe without complication during and after treatment. Among various voice rehabilitation procedures during or after total laryngectomy, it can be divided electronic and pneumatic methods. In pneumatic methods, there are also divided both pulmonary air and non-pulmonary air methods. The non-pulmonary air methods include esophageal speech, buccal speech, and pharyngeal speech. Pulmonary air methods are divided into surgical and non-surgical such as pneumatic speech aid. In the surgical methods, there are neoglottic operation, tracheopharyngeal shunt, and tracheopharyngeal shunt operations. Recently, tracheoesophageal shunt with or without prosthesis are being recognized the most effective method. Blom-Singer low pressure prosthesis, Panje button, and Provox are well known types of prosthesis in the tracheoesophageal shunt operation. Amatsu method is a kind of famous tracheoesophageal shunt method without using prosthesis. Authors tried to review the published articles for evaluation of effectiveness and problems of tracheoesophageal shunt operation with or without prosthesis. In conclusion, indwelling type of prosthesis and pharyngeal myotomy and plexus neurectomy are recommended for higher success rate during tracheoesophageal puncture procedure. More over, Amatsu method is also one of the recommended voice rehabilitation procedure during total laryngectomy. In this situation, pharyngeal myotomy and plexus neurectomy may be helpful for better fluent communication.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 1998

Objectives, Materials & Methods: To prevent deterioration of postoperative voice due to iatrogenic transection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during the thyroid surgery, intraoperative medialization of the membranous vocal cord by type I thyroplasty together with direct epineurial neurorraphy was done on 2 cases of benign thyroid lesion. To improve the quality of voice together with complete removal of advanced thyroid carcinoma, intraoperative vocal cord medialization on the lesion side together with total thyroidectomy was done by type I thyroplasty in 2 cases and combined procedure by arytenoid adduction and type I thyroplasty in another 2 cases. Results: The resultant voice of the iatrogenic injury cases was relatively tolerable. The voice of the combined procedure was better than that of type I thyroplasty cases for the intraoperative rehabilitation cases. Not only for the preoperative evaluation of the severity of the nerve lesion but also the prognosis will be expected by use of laryngeal EMG in the cases of thyroid cacer with vocal cord palsy. Conclusion: Intraoperative simultaneous rehabilitation for the vocal cord palsy during thyroid surgery is beneficial for the patients.