• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.151-157
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• 2012

General treatment for cholangiocarcinoma is complete surgical resection. However recurrence is common in those patients. In most of cases the purpose of the treatment for patients with recurrent is palliative. Therefore we adopt intraluminal catheter to treat a recurrent patient with high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy. This study aims to evaluate the treatment procedure and set-up reproducibility of intraluminal brachytherapy in the recurrent patient. Study patient was diagnosed at rcT1N0M0 and undergone intraluminal brachytherapy after Arrow Sheath insertion. 3 Gy was delivered in every fraction with a total dose of 30 Gy. We planned dose normalization at distal, proximal and central axis point of narrowed bile duct far from 1 cm. To evaluate set-up reproducibility, we measured distance between distal, proximal treatment target volume point and anterior surface of the thoracic vertebral body respectively for five times before every treatment with dummy seed insertion. Mean distance between distal, proximal treatment target volume point and anterior surface of 10th and 11th thoracic vertebral bodies is 0.5 cm, 6.1 cm and standard deviation is 0.06, 0.08 respectively. In addition, set-up reproducibility was maintained significantly. The patient has been alive with no evidence of disease recurrence for more than a year and has not yet reported severe complications. In conclusion, high-dose-rate intraluminal brachytherapy for unresectable recurrence of cholangiocarcinoma maintains high set-up reproducibility without severe side effects.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.152-155
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• 2005

Purpose: The lower extremity edema (LEE) is a common distressful symptom in advanced cancer patients and is hard to manage. We analyze the characteristics of LEE in patients with advanced cancer to provide the basic information of causes and adequate management. Methods: Physical examination, assessment of the location and severity of edema, blood chemistry (albumin, creatinine), Doppler Sono for patients with suspecting deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and abdomen CT scan for patient with suspecting lymph edema were performed. Severity of edema was classified according to NCI lymph edema scaling and improvement was defined as lowering at least 1 grade of edema after management. Results: Among 154 patient who had been admitted to Hospice Ward from Mar 2003 to Jan 2004, 33 had LEE, and 6 had both upper extremity edema and LEE except generalized edema. Their underlying cancers were stomach (7), lung (6), biliary tract (5), liver (5), colorectal (5), pancreas (2), and others (9). There were 12 patient with grade I, 20 patients with grade II, and 7 patients with grade III edema. The causes were hypoalbuminemia (11), lymph edema (10), DVT (7), obstruction of inferior vena cava (IVC) or portal vein (6), and dependent edema (5). The common managements were including leg elevation and diuretics. Elastic stocking was applied for patients with DVT and leg massage and pneumatic compression was used for lymph edema. The 2/3 patients were improved after management. Conclusion: The incidence of LEE in terminal cancer pts was high (25.3%) and their causes were variable including lymph edema, DVT, hypoalbuminemia and dependent edema. Active noninvasive management according to causes could result in good palliation.