Brigitte Pakisch

Follow-up and quality of survival of 67 consecutive children with CNS tumors.

We report the finding at follow-up in 67 consecutive children with central nervous system tumors treated over a 5-year-period at a single institution. The diagnoses were supratentorial astrocytoma (n = 12), cerebellar astrocytoma (n = 10), ependymoma (n = 9), medulloblastoma (n = 9), brain stem glioma (n = 6), optic pathway glioma (n = 5), and others (n = 16). The survival rates were 83% for supratentorial astrocytomas at a median of 46.5 months, 90% for cerebellar astrocytomas and 55% for ependymomas at 40 months, respectively, 55% for medulloblastomas at 22 months, 33% for brain stem gliomas at 23 months, and 80% for optic pathway gliomas at 49 months. With regard to neurological sequelae, 13 patients were treated for epilepsy, 13 patients had mild to moderate neurological deficits, and 4 patients were severely disabled. Seventeen of 37 tested patients performed below average on formal neuropsychometric testing, one-fourth attended special education courses, and at least one-fourth suffered from behavioral and adjustment problems.

Photonentherapie der subfovealen choroidalen Neovaskularisation bei altersabhängiger Makuladegeneration

AIM To determine the effect of external beam radiotherapy on subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between September 1995 and July 1996, 40 patients (9 males and 31 females; mean age 74 years, range 61 to 83 years) were included in a prospective study. Eight patients had classic, well-defined neovascularisations, 32 patients had occult lesions. Complete ophthalmic investigations included visual acuity contrast sensitivity as well as fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographic examinations prior to treatment and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after radiotherapy. External beam radiotherapy (8-MV photons) was delivered with a total dose of 14.4 Gy in 8 fractions of 1.8 Gy per day (Figures 1 and 2). The field size averaged 5.5 x 4.5 cm. RESULTS No treatment related morbidity during or after treatment was obtained. After 6 months follow-up the visual acuity was improved in 2 (5%) patients and maintained at pretreatment level in 17 (42%) patients. However, 12 months post treatment a stable situation was found in 6 (15%) patients and a decrease in visual acuity in 34 (85%) patients (Table 1). The central visual fields deteriorated significantly from 16.5 decibel (dB) to 12.4 dB. The enlargement of exudates and neovascular membranes increased 5- to 7-fold. At 12 months after treatment, 3 (7.5%) patients stated that they had improved vision subjectively, 12 (30%) patients had no change and 25 (62.5%) patients suffered from subjective decrease in visual acuity. CONCLUSIONS Using a total dose of 14.4 Gy/1.8 Gy no difference concerning visual acuity and exudative changes in comparison to the natural history on age-related macular degeneration was obtained after 12 months. However, the results of multicenter studies are to be awaited.ZusammenfassungZielÜberprüfung der Effektivität der Strahlentherapie als Therapieansatz in der Behandlung subfovealer choroidaler Neovaskularisation bei altersabhängiger Makuladegeneration.Patienten und MethodenZwischen September 1995 und Juli 1996 wurden 40 Patienten (neum Männer, 31 Frauen; mittleres Alter 74 Jahre; 61 bis 83 Jahre) im Rahmen einer prospektiven Studie an unserer Abteilung bestrahlt. Acht Patienten hatten die klassische Form, 32 die okkulte Form der Makuladegeneration. Vor der Behandlung sowie ein, drei, sechs und zwölf Monate nach der Bestrahlung wurden ein kompletter ophthalmologischer status mit Visus- und Gesichtsfeldbestimmung sowie eine Fluoreszein- und Indozyaningrün-Angiographie durchgeführt. Die Bestrahlung erfolgte generell von einem 5,5 × 4,5 cm großen lateralen, nicht gekippten Feld in Half-beam-Block-Technik mit 8-MV-Photonen mit einer Einzeldosis von 1,8 Gy bis zu einer Gesamtdosis von 14,4 Gy.ErgebnisseBestrahlungsspezifische Nebenwirkungen wurden weder während der Bestrahlung noch in der Nachsorgephase beobachtet. Sechs Monate nach Bestrahlung kam es bei zwei Patienten (5%) zu einer Visusverbesserung, bei 17 (42,5%) patienten zu einer Stabilisierung und bei 21 (52,5%) Patienten zu einer Verschlechterung. Nach einem Jahr hatte sich bei sechs (15%) Patienten der Visus stabilisiert, bei 34 (85%) patienten verschlechterte sich die Sehkraft vergleichbar dem Spontanverlauf. Die mittlere Empfindlichkeit des zentralen Gesichtsfeldes verringerte sich von 16.5 auf 12,4 Dezibel (dB). Das Ausmaß der Neovaskularisationen, Exsudationen und Membranbildungen nahm bei beiden Formen um ein Fünf- bis Siebenfaches zu. Subjecktiv hatte sich nach zwölf Monaten das Sehvermögen bei drei (7,5%) Patienten verbessert, bei zwölf (30%) Patienten stabilisiert und bei 25 (62,5%) Patienten verschlechtert.SchlußfolgerungMit einer Gesamtdosis von 14,4 Gy konnte nach zwölf Monaten kein befriedigender Einfluß auf den Spontanverlauf der Erkrankung beobachtet werden. Ehe definitive Rückschlüsse gezogen werden können, sollten die Ergebnisse bereits laufender bzw. abgeschlossener Multicenterstudien abgewartet werden.AbstractAimTo determine the effect of external beam radiotherapy on subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration.Patients and MethodsBetween September 1995 and July 1996, 40 patients (9 males and 31 females; mean age 74 years, range 61 to 83 years) were included in a prospective study. Eight patients had classic, well defined neovascularisations, 32 patients had occult lesions. Complete ophthalmic investigations included visual acuity contrast sensitivity as well as fluorescein and indocyanine green angiographic examinations prior to treatment and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after radiotherapy. External beam radiotherapy (8-MV photons) was delivered with a total dose of 14.4 Gy in 8 fractions of 1.8 Gy per day (Figures 1 and 2). The field size averaged 5.5 ×4.5 cm.ResultsNo treatment related morbidity during or after treatment was obtained. After 6 months follow-up the visual acuity was improved in 2 (5%) patients and maintained at pretreatment level in 17 (42%) patients. However, 12 months post treatment a stable situation was found in 6 (15%) patients and a decrease in visual acuity in 34 (85%) patients (Table 1). The central visual fields deteriorated significantly from 16.5 decibel (dB) to 12.4 dB. The enlargement of exsudats and neovascular membranes increased 5- to 7-fold. At 12 months after treatment, 3 (7.5%) patients stated that they had improved vision subjectively, 12 (30%) patients had no change and 25 (62.5%) patients suffered from subjective decrease in visual acuity.ConclusionsUsing a total dose of 14.4 Gy/1.8 Gy no difference concerning visual acuity and exsudative changes in comparison to the natural history on age-related macular degeneration was obtained after 12 months. However, the results of multicenter studies are to be awaited.

Hyperfractionated radiotherapy and polychemotherapy in brain stem tumors in children

Between October 1989 and Junuary 1991 five children with brain stem tumors were treated with sequential chemo- and radiotherapy. The polychemotherapy consisted of procarbazine, ifosfamide, etoposide, methotrexate, cisplatin and cytosine arabinoside. Locally, hyperfractionated radiotherapy was delivered at a total dose of 63.8 Gy (1.1 Gy twice daily, 10 fractions per week). After a median observation time of 11.8 (range 4–23) months from diagnosis three children are alive and without evidence of tumor progression. Two patients died from tumor progression 11 and 16 months respectively after initiation of therapy.

Iridium-192 high dose rate brachytherapy combined with external beam irradiation in non-resectable oesophageal cancer

Forty-eight patients with non-resectable cancer of the oesophagus and oesophagogastric junction (group A: Stage I/II: n = 32; group B: Stage III/IV: n = 16) underwent intralumenal iridium-192 high dose-rate afterloading brachytherapy (5-7 Gy/session, total dose 5-21 Gy, mean 12.4 Gy) and external beam irradiation (Karnofsky > or = 80%: 50-60 Gy/2 Gy per day; Karnofsky 60%-79%: 30 Gy/3 per day). Prolonged satisfactory palliation (intake of at least semi-solid food) was demonstrated in 96% of patients. The mean survival for group A was 19.1 months and that for group B 6.9 months, with a 12-month survival rate of 66% for group A and 0% for group B (P < 0.001). Local tumour response and complication rate were significantly dose related with a predicted response rate of 70.5% and a complication rate of 50% at extrapolated response dose (ERD) 129.3 GY3 (Gy at alpha/beta = 3).

Reduction of the dose to the lens in prophylactic cranial irradiation: A comparison of three different treatment techniques and two different beam qualities

Three treatment techniques using two beam qualities have been compared on the basis of dose to the lens in prophylactic cranial irradiation. The dose to the lens and the globe was measured with thermoluminescent crystals in an anthropomorphic phantom and calculated by a computer-assisted planning system. A comparison was made of large field and small field techniques using 60Co and 8 MV photons. Modifications to the basic techniques studied included angulation of the gantry, angulation of the couch, and placement of an additional eye block close to the surface. The dose to the lens could be reduced to four percent of the midplane dose by applying the small-field technique combined with the use of 8 MV energy photons, by placing an additional block close to the surface, and by five degree occipitally angling the gantry, as well as rotating the treatment couch to account for the divergence of the beam. The use of 60Co produced an underdosage of the posterior segment of the globe in angled treatment techniques.

Treatment of Vascular Soft Tissue Sarcomas With Razoxane, Vindesine, and Radiation

PURPOSE In previous studies, razoxane and vindesine together with radiotherapy was proved to be effective in soft tissue sarcomas (STS). Because razoxane leads to a redifferentiation of pathological tumor blood vessels, it was of particular interest to study the influence of this drug combination in vascular soft tissue sarcomas. METHODS AND MATERIALS This open multicenter Phase II study was performed by the Austrian Society of Radiooncology. Among 13 evaluable patients (10 angiosarcomas and 3 hemangio-pericytomas), 9 had unresectable measurable disease, 3 showed microscopic residuals, and 1 had a resection with clear margins. They received a basic treatment with razoxane and vindesine supported by radiation therapy. Outcome measures were objective response rates, survival time, and the incidence of distant metastases. RESULTS In nine patients with measurable vascular soft tissue sarcomas (eight angiosarcomas and one hemangiopericytoma), 6 complete remissions, 2 partial remissions, and 1 minor remission were achieved, corresponding to a major response rate of 89%. A maintenance therapy with razoxane and vindesine of 1 year or longer led to a suppression of distant metastases. The median survival time from the start of the treatment is 23+ months (range, 3-120+) for 12 patients with macroscopic and microscopic residual disease. The progression-free survival at 6 months was 75%. The combined treatment was associated with a low general toxicity, but attention must be given to increased normal tissue reactions. CONCLUSIONS This trimodal treatment leads to excellent response rates, and it suppresses distant metastases when given as maintenance therapy.