Ebru Atasever Akkaş

Evaluation of Quality of Life in Turkish Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

BACKGROUND In this study, our aim was to investigate the effect of factors, such as radiotherapy, the dose of radiotherapy, the region of radiotherapy, the age of the patient, performance, co-morbidity, the stage of the disease and the therapy modalities on the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-two patients who were treated by either chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy, at the Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, between February 2007 and September 2010, for head and neck cancer were included. The quality of life European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Questionnaire module to be used in Quality of Life assessments in Head and Neck Cancer (EORTC QLQ-HandN35) questionnaire was conducted in all patients before starting the radiotherapy, in the middle, at the end, at 1 month and at 6 months after the treatment. RESULTS According to the questionnaires at the end and at the 6th month after the radiotherapy, it was found that the age of the patient, co-morbidity, ECOG performance state, localization, type of treatment, the stage of the disease, the dose and the region of radiotherapy affect some of the symptom scales for quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Quality of life was affected negatively during and after the radiotherapy. However, in the 6th month after the therapy, a significant improvement was observed in most symptoms.

Whole Brain Radiotherapy Combined with Stereotactic Radiosurgery versus Stereotactic Radiosurgery Alone for Brain Metastases

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) combined with streotactic radiosurgery versus stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone for patients with brain metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a retrospective study that evaluated the results of 46 patients treated for brain metastases at Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Radiation Oncology Department, between January 2012 and January 2015. Twenty-four patients were treated with WBRT+SRS while 22 patients were treated with only SRS. RESULTS Time to local recurrence was 9.7 months in the WBRT+SRS arm and 8.3 months in SRS arm, the difference not being statistically significant (p= 0.7). Local recurrence rate was higher in the SRS alone arm but again without significance (p=0,06). CONCLUSIONS In selected patient group with limited number (one to four) of brain metastases SRS alone can be considered as a treatment option and WBRT may be omitted in the initial treatment.

Lack of Impact of Age on Acute Side Effects and Tolerance of Curative Radiation Therapy

AIM The aim of this study was to determine the impact of age on the occurrence, severity, and timing of acute side effects related to radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analysed the data of 423 patients. RESULTS Of the patients, 295 (70%) were under the age of 65 (group 1) and 128 (30%) were over the age of 65 (group 2). The frequencies of radiotherapy-induced side effects were 89% in group 1 and 87% in group 2 (p=0.286). The mean times to occurrence were 2.5±0.1 weeks in group 1 and 2.2±0.1 weeks in group 2 (p=0.013). Treatment was ended in 2% of patients in group 1 and 6% of those in group 2 (p=0.062). Treatment interruption was identified in 18% of patients in group 1 and 23% in group 2 (p=0.142). Changes in performance status were greater in older patients (p=0.013). There were no significant differences according to the frequency or severity of side effects, except skin and genitourinary complications, between the groups. CONCLUSIONS Early normal tissue reactions were not higher in older versus younger patients, though there was a tendency towards an earlier appearance.

A minimal invasive approach in pleural effusions: cystofix cathater

Aim: Recently, catheters with small diameter are getting popularity in the treatment of pleural effusions. In this study, patients with cystofix catheter mounted for pleural effusion drainage were evaluated in terms of age, gender, underlying pathology, efficacy of treatment and complications. Material and Methods: Data of the 59 patients treated with cystofix catheter due to pleural effusion were evaluated retrospectively. 14 F catheter was applied under local anesthesia from the 7th or the 8th intercostal space dorsal axillary line to patients with massive pleural effusion. Results: The average age was 65.9 ± 13.9 and 37 (62.7%) of patients were male. 11 (18.6%) of the cases were having malign and 48 (81.4%) were having benign etiologies. Etiologic reasons were congestive right heart failure in 30 (50.8%) cases, parapneumonic effusion in 14 (23.7%) cases and primary bronchial carcinoma in 6 (10.2%) cases. Conclusion: The results obtained from this study suggested that cystofix catheter can be used as an alternative minimal invasive technique in benign and malign effusion drainage, because of its small diameter, being easily available and applicable, avoiding clogging and being appropriate for pleurodesis.