Lasif Serdar

Prospective Randomized Comparison of the Effectiveness of Radiation Therapy and Local Steroid Injection for the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to conduct a randomized trial of radiation therapy for plantar fasciitis and to compare radiation therapy with local steroid injections. METHODS AND MATERIALS Between March 2013 and April 2014, 128 patients with plantar fasciitis were randomized to receive radiation therapy (total dose of 6.0 Gy applied in 6 fractions of 1.0 Gy three times a week) or local corticosteroid injections a 1 ml injection of 40 mg methylprednisolone and 0.5 ml 1% lidocaine under the guidance of palpation. The results were measured using a visual analog scale, a modified von Pannewitz scale, and a 5-level function score. The fundamental phase of the study was 3 months, with a follow-up period of up to 6 months. RESULTS The median follow-up period for all patients was 12.5 months (range, 6.5-18.6 months). For the radiation therapy patients, the median follow-up period was 13 months (range, 6.5-18.5 months), whereas in the palpation-guided (PG) steroid injection arm, it was 12.1 months (range, 6.5-18.6 months). After 3 months, results in the radiation therapy arm were significantly superior to those in the PG steroid injection arm (visual analog scale, P<.001; modified von Pannewitz scale, P<.001; 5-level function score, P<.001). Requirements for a second treatment did not significantly differ between the 2 groups, but the time interval for the second treatment was significantly shorter in the PG steroid injection group (P=.045). CONCLUSION This study confirms the superior analgesic effect of radiation therapy compared to mean PG steroid injection on plantar fasciitis for at least 6 months after treatment.

Evaluation of prognostic factors and survival results in pancreatic carcinomas in Turkey.

BACKGROUND The goal of this retrospective study was to evaluate patient characteristics, treatment modalities and prognostic factors in Turkish patients with pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between January 1997 and December 2012, 64 patients who presented to the Department of Radiation Oncology, Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Medicine with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer were evaluated. The E/K ratio of the cases was 2.4/1 and the median age was 59.6 (32-80) years, respectively. Some 11 cases (18%) were stage 1, 21 (34.4%) were stage 2, 10 (16.4%) were stage 3, and 19 (31.1%) were metastatic. RESULTS The mean follow-up time was 15.7 months (0.7-117.5) and loco-regional recurrence was noted in 11 (40.7%) who underwent surgery while metastases were observed in 41 patients (66.1%). The median overall survival (OS) was 11.2 months and the 1, 3 and 5-year OS rates were 41.7%, 9.9% and 7.9% respectively. The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 5.2 month and the1, 2 and 5 year DFS were 22.6%, 7.6% and 3.8% respectively. On univariate analysis, prognostic factors affecting OS included status of the operation (p<0.001), tumor stage (p=0.008), ECOG performance status (p=0.005) and CEA level (p=0.017).On multivariate analysis, prognostic factors affecting survival included status of the operation (p=0.033) and age (p= 0.023). CONCLUSIONS In the current study, age and operation status were independent prognostic factors for overall survival with pancreatic patients. Thus, the patients early diagnosis and treatment ars essential. However, prospective studies with more patients are needed for confirmation.

Long-term Outcomes in Treatment of Invasive Bladder Cancer With Concomitant Boost and Accelerated Hyperfractionated Radiation Therapy

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical efficacy and toxicity of concomitant boost and accelerated hyperfractionated radiation therapy (CBAHRT) in patients with invasive bladder cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS Between October 1997 and September 2012, 334 patients with diagnoses of invasive bladder cancer were selected. These patients received CBAHRT as a bladder-conserving approach. The treatment consisted of a dose of 45 Gy/1.8 Gy to the whole pelvis with a daily concomitant boost of 1.5 Gy to the tumor. Total dose was 67.5 Gy in 5 weeks. A total of 32 patients (10.3%) had a diagnosis of stage T1, 202 (64.3%) were at stage T2, 46 (14.6%) were at stage T3a, 22 (7%) were at stage T3b, and 12 (3.8%) were at stage T4a. RESULTS The follow-up period was 33.1 months (range, 4.3-223.3 months). Grade 3 late intestinal toxicity was observed in 9 patients (2.9%), whereas grade 3 late urinary toxicity was observed in 8 patients (2.5%). The median overall survival (OS) was 26.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.4-31.2). The 5-, 10, and 15-year OS rates were 32.1% (standard error [SE], ± 0.027), 17.9% (SE, ± 0.025) and 12.5% (SE, ± 0.028), respectively. The median cause-specific survival (CSS) was 42.1 months (95% CI: 28.7-55.5). The 5-, 10-, and 15-year CSS rates were 43.2% (SE, ± 0.03), 30.3% (SE, ± 0.03), and 28% (SE, ± 0.04), respectively. The median relapse-free survival (RFS) was 111.8 months (95% CI: 99.6-124). The 5-, 10-, and 15-year RFS rates were 61.9% (SE, ± 0.03), 57.6% (SE, ± 0.04), and 48.2% (SE, ± 0.07), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The CBAHRT technique demonstrated acceptable toxicity and local control rates in patients with invasive bladder cancer, and this therapy facilitated bladder conservation. In selected patients, the CBAHRT technique is a practical alternative treatment option with acceptable 5-, 10-, and 15-year results in patients undergoing cystectomy as well as concurrent chemoradiation therapy.

Adjuvant radiotherapy in stage 1 seminoma: Evaluation of prognostic factors and results of survival

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors affecting overall survival (OS), cause-specific survival (CSS), progression-free survival (PFS), and survival among patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for stage-1 seminoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between August 1997 and May 2013, 68 patients diagnosed with stage-1 seminoma were retrospectively evaluated. The median age was 39 (24-74) years. All patients received adjuvant RT after inguinal orchiectomy. Fifty-eight (85.3%) patients received paraaortic RT; 10 (14.7%) received dog-leg field RT. The median RT dose was 23.4 (23.4-30.6) Gy. RESULTS The median follow-up period was 77.5 (6.7-198.5) months. During the follow-up period, two patients developed distant metastasis, and none developed local recurrence. Two patients died from seminoma, and three died for other reasons. The 5, 10, and 15-year OS rates were 94.7%, 89.6%, and 89.6%, respectively. The 5, 10, and 15-year CSS rates were 98.5%, 96%, and 96%, respectively. The 5, 10, and 15-year PFS rate was 96.1%. The univariate analysis showed that only histological subtype was significant for OS. The 10-year survival rate was 100% among patients with seminoma histology, 90.8% among patients with a classic seminoma histology, and 50% among patients with an anaplastic seminoma histology (P < 0.001). A multivariate analysis showed that the anaplastic seminoma was a negative prognostic indicator for OS (P = 0.042). CONCLUSION Adjuvant RT resulted in excellent long-term survival and local control in patients with stage-1 seminoma after orchiectomy. During a short follow-up, secondary malignancy (SM) and late cardiovascular morbidity were not observed. Despite those results, concern of SM and late cardiovascular morbidity remains.

Long-term results of a concomitant boost radiotherapy technique for elderly patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the long-term clinical efficacy and toxicity of concomitant boost radiotherapy (CBRT) in elderly patients with invasive bladder cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS Elderly patients (n=188; mean 75-year-old, range 70-91 years; 88.3% male/11.7% female) with T1-T4a bladder carcinoma were irradiated with CBRT. A total of 24 (12.8%) patients were diagnosed at stage T1, 117 (62.2%) were at stage T2, 28 (14.9%) at were stage T3a, 14 (7.4%) were stage T3b, and 5 (2.7%) were stage T4a. A dose of 45Gy in 1.8Gy fractions was administered to the whole pelvis 5 days/week over 5 weeks. A concomitant boost limited to the bladder tumor area plus margin or whole bladder of 22.5Gy in 1.5Gy fractions was administered from weeks 3×5. Thus, irradiation totalled 67.5Gy over 5 weeks. The interfraction interval was ≥6h/treatment day. We assessed prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), cause-specific survival (CSS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). RESULTS Median follow-up was 46.2 months (range 4.7-155.7 months). Median overall survival was 27 months (95% CI:21-33 months). In this study, 146 (77.7%) patients had complete response, 39 (20.7%) had residual disease and 4 (1.6%) had progressive disease. The mean 3-, 5- and 10-year OS rates were respectively 41.2% (S.E.±0.036), 29% (S.E.±0.034), and 13.8% (S.E.±0.031). Significant prognostic factors for OS and CSS, by multivariate analysis, were tumor T-stage and urothelial obstruction. CONCLUSION This CBRT protocol provided excellent results with a high complete response rate and good tolerance. This approach may therefore be particularly appropriate for elderly patients with invasive bladder cancer.

Radiotherapy Induces Development of Fragmented QRS in Patients with Breast Cancer

Background: Myocardial fibrosis is a well-known side effect of radiotherapy. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) has been shown to be a marker of myocardial fibrosis. We postulated that radiotherapy induces development of fQRS in breast cancer patients. Patients and Methods: Breast cancer patients receiving locoregional radiotherapy were enrolled. Patients who had fQRS on electrocardiography (ECG) before radiotherapy were excluded. All patients were revaluated for the development of fQRS at 1-year follow-up. An age-matched healthy group served as controls. Results: A total of 52 breast cancer patients receiving locoregional radiotherapy were included (median age 49 years, interquartile range (IQR) 13). Of these, 19 (37%) had developed fQRS at 1-year follow-up. Compared with the control group, prevalence of fQRS was significantly higher in the irradiated group (37 vs. 12%; p < 0.002). Median total cardiac radiation dose was significantly higher in patients who had developed fQRS (5 Gy, IQR 5.2 vs. 1.7 Gy, IQR 4.4; p = 0.003). Cardiac radiation dose, entered either as a continuous variable (odds ratio (OR) 1.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 104-1.74) or as a dichotomized variable (≥ 2.2 Gy, OR 6.48, 95% CI 1.47-28.61), was independently associated with the development of fQRS at 1-year follow-up. Conclusion: Radiotherapy for breast cancer induces development of fQRS on ECG. Cardiac radiation dose is independently associated with the development of fQRS.

Survival and prognostic factors in limited stage small cell lung cancer: A retrospective study from northeast Turkey.

AIM OF THE STUDY The purposes of this retrospective study were to identify survival rates for limited stage small cell lung cancer (LD-SCLC) and analyze treatment outcomes and influencing factors on survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted data from patients diagnosed with LD.SCLC between January 1998 and December 2012 at our institution. Dermographic information, treatment modalities, pretreatment clinical asessment, were recorded. Most of the patients. (88.4%) were treated with curative intent. The survival probabilties were asessed by Kaplan.Meier analysis. Cox regression was used to assess prognostic factors on overall survival and disease.free survival. RESULTS A total of 129 patients were examined as a LD-SCLC. The median age was 60 (range; 31-86). Median follow-up time was 9.4 (SE ± 20.5) months and the median overall survival was 13.9 months [95% cumulative incidence (CI): 10.1-17.6]. On multivariate analysis, concurrent chemotherapy [HZ: 2.7 (95% CI: (1.0-7.2)] (P = 0.037) and doses of radiation therapy (<50, ≥50) [HZ: 1.4 (95% CI: (1.0-2.2)] (P = 0.046) were statistically significant on overall survival. With regard to multivariate anlaysis age (<60, ≥60) [HZ: 2.2 (95% CI: (0.6-3.7)] (P = 0.011), doses of radiation therapy (<50, ≥50) [HZ: 2.7 (95% CI: (1.0-7.2)] (P = 0.046), precense of surgery [HZ: 15.3 (95% CI: (1.5-152)] (P = 0.020), prophilactic cranial radiation therapy (PCI) [HZ: 2.3 (95% CI: (1.1-4.5)] (P = 0.014), and presence of concurrent chemoradiotherapy [HZ: 3.0 (95% CI: (1.3-6.8)] (P = 0.008) were important variable affecting disease-free survival. CONCLUSION For LD-SCLC patients concurrent chemoradiation therapy and 50. Gy and over doses radiation therapy provided improvement on overall and disease.free survival.