Dilek Uzal

Reduced incidence of the somnolence syndrome after prophylactic cranial irradiation in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

A prospective double blind randomized trial comparing two different dose schedules of continuous steroid coverage during prophylactic cranial radiotherapy (CRT) in leukemic children was conducted to find out the optimum dose to be prescribed to reduce the incidence of Somnolence Syndrome (SS). Between April 1994 and February 1996, 32 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia received CRT of 18 Gy in 10 fractions. Patients were randomized to receive oral dexamethasone of 2 or 4 mg/m2 during radiotherapy. The diagnosis of SS was made clinically based on symptoms of somnolence. All patients were followed for a minimum of 8 months. The overall incidence of SS was 40%. The development of SS was steroid dose dependent. In low dose steroid arm the incidence of SS was 64.3% (9/14), compared to 17.6% (3/17) in high dose arm with statistically significant difference (P = 0.008). The median time to development of SS was 4 weeks. The most common symptom of SS was drowsiness followed by anorexia, headache, nausea, vomiting, decreased activity, irritability, fever and ataxia, respectively. The duration of symptoms ranged from 2 to 14 days. The development of SS was not related to the presence of acute reactions, age at the time of CRT and sex. In all cases the symptoms subsided completely and spontaneously. Our results suggest that steroid coverage at a dose of 4 mg/m2 during CRT reduces the incidence of SS. However, a multicentric prospective randomized trial is needed to determine the role and the optimal dose of steroid.

Histological evaluation of colonic anastomotic healing in the rat following preoperative 5-fluorouracil, fractionated irradiation, and combined treatment.

Abstract There is a growing interest in neoadjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy as a treatment modality for colorectal cancer which could affect mechanical and biochemical parameters of anastomotic healing. This study investigated the effect of such protocols on colonic anastomotic healing by evaluating the histopathological parameters. One hundred and sixty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: a control group (I, n=20), a saline group (II, n=30) which received 1 ml NaC1 intraperitoneally, a sham-irradiated group (III, n=20), a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) group (IV, n=30), which received 5-FU (20 mg/kg) intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days, an irradiated group (V, n=40) which received fractionated irradiation to the whole pelvis to a totaldose of 22 Gy, 5.5 Gy per fraction on 4 consecutive days, and a concomitant 5-FU + irradiation group (VI, n=20) which received 5-FU as in group IV and irradiated as in group V. All groups underwent left colonic resection with primary anastomosis, and the last fraction of irradiation and the last injection were given 4 and 3 days before the operation, respectively. Within each group one half of the animals were killed on the third postoperative day and the other half on the seventh postoperative. day. After the resection of the anastomotic segments, histopathological examination was evaluated. Apposition of the wound edges of the mucosa and the muscularis were not affected by the therapy. The level of granulocytes was high, inflammatory exudate and necrosis persisted, granulation tissue formation was delayed, and the levels of macrophages and fibroblasts were low. We conclude that colonic anastomotic healing can be affected by the administration of preoperative chemotherapy, irradiation, and chemoirradiation.

Effects of preoperative fractionated irradiation on left colonic anastomoses in the rat

PURPOSE: Radiotherapy is frequently used as a (neo)adjuvant to surgery in colorectal cancer patients, and because such therapy could influence the integrity of the anastomosis, we decided to investigate the effect of preoperative irradiation on colonic anastomosis. METHODS: Seventy-two male Wistar rats, weighing 200 to 348 g, were divided into three groups: a control group (I) underwent left colon resection and primary anastomosis (n=20); a sham irradiated group (II, n=20); a study group (III) that received fractionated irradiation to the whole pelvis (anterior-posterior pelvic field), for a total dose of 22 Gy, 5.5 Gy per fraction, on four consecutive days with linear accelerator (n=32). Four days after irradiation, both Groups II and III underwent the same operation as performed in Group I. Within each group, one-half of the animals were anesthetized on the third postoperative day and one-half on the seventh postoperative day. Abdominal wound-healing, anastomotic complications, and anastomotic bursting pressure measurements were recorded. Following these measurements, the anastomotic segment was resected for hydroxyproline content and myeloperoxidase activity. RESULTS: Irradiated animals had more pronounced weight loss during therapy. There were no differences with abdominal wound-healing, intraperitoneal adhesions, and anastomotic complications between groups. At days 3 and 7, mean bursting pressures of the anastomosis were determined at 36.5 and 208 mmHg in Group I, 34.5 and 228 mmHg in Group II, and 25 and 150 mmHg in Group III, respectively (P<0.01 Group IIIvs. both Groups I and II on days 3 and 7). The burst occurred at the anastomosis in all animals tested on the third postoperative day and one in Group I (10 percent), none in Group II, and six in Group III (37.5 percent) on the seventh postoperative day. In addition, hydroxyproline content and myeloperoxidase activity was significantly lower in Group III. CONCLUSION: Although preoperative fractionated irradiation significantly decreased the anastomotic bursting pressure and more burst occurred in the anastomotic line on postoperative day 7, the clinical outcome was similar among the groups.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMAS DEVELOPING IN A CASE OF MEDULLOBLASTOMA ASSOCIATED WITH GORLIN'S SYNDROME

We report a case of a 20-year-old male with Gorlins syndrome (nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome), developing multiple basal cell carcinomas within irradiation fields 10 years after the treatment of medulloblastoma.

Choroid metastasis of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Choroid metastasis of primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma is an infrequent event. Here, we report a case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma with metastases to the choroid successfully treated by external beam radiotherapy.

Impact of radiotherapy on normal brain tissue: Semi-automated quantification of decrease in perfusion

PurposeWe attempted to ascertain the impact of Co-60 conventional external radiotherapy (cRT) on the perfusion of normal brain tissue in relation to the radiation doses delivered to the tumors in patients with primary brain tumors.Materials and MethodsAfter surgery 18 patients (pts) were due to undergo cRT with a total dose of 5400–6400 cGy. All the patients had a Tc-99m-HMPAO SPECT study prior to cRT (basal), 15th and 30th days of cRT as well as 1 (in 6 pts), 3 (in 9 pts), and 6 (in 3 pts) months after cRT. For quantitative evaluation, the entire set of transverse slices were divided into 4 regions as frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal regions by means of a computer software program. Semi-automated quantification was performed on a total of 1392 regions in 87 studies to determine left to right ratios. An interregional difference of at least 10% was considered abnormal.ResultsAfter elimination of tumor sites, 80 normal brain regions showed decreased perfusion after cRT. The percent decrease in perfusion was (mean 22.5±9.9) significantly higher in areas irradiated with doses >3000 cGy (p<0.05).ConclusioncRT has adverse effects on the perfusion of normal brain tissue for doses >500 cGy. Our findings justify treating patients with small and limited lesions with stereotactic radiotherapy in order to minimize the adverse effects of cRT on normal tissues.

Kaposi's sarcoma: the efficacy of a single fraction of 800 cGy.

BACKGROUND Although Kaposis sarcoma is the most common neoplasm in association with AIDS, classic Kaposis sarcoma is rare. The best treatment modality is still unclear. METHODS Between December 1993 and December 1995, 42 fields in 12 patients with Kaposis sarcoma were treated at our department. Only 3 patients had a history of renal transplantation and immunosuppressive treatment. A single dose of 800 cGy with 4-6 MeV electron beams was delivered to all patients. RESULTS Complete response rates at the 1st, 6th and 12th months after treatment were 45.2, 62 and 89.7%, respectively. Side effects included various degrees of hyperpigmentation and mild edema and fibrosis in 1 patient. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that a single application of 800 cGy is as effective as a more protracted course of radiotherapy with a comparable complication rate.