• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.297-304
• /
• 2016

Purpose: To investigate the outcomes of postoperative radiotherapy (RT), in patients with extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer by comparing the survival rate between patients undergoing surgery alone or surgery plus postoperative RT, and to identify the prognostic factors affecting survival. Materials and Methods: Between 2000 and 2013, 52 patients with EHBD cancer underwent surgical resection. Of these, 33 patients did not receive postoperative RT (group I), and 19 patients did (group II). R1 resection was significantly more frequent in group II. The median radiation dose was 5,040 cGy. Results: The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate for group I and group II was 38% and 56%, respectively (p = 0.274). The 3-year disease free survival (DFS) rate for group I and group II was 20% and 31%, respectively (p = 0.049), and the 3-year loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRFS) rates were 19% and 58%, respectively (p = 0.002). Multivariate analyses showed that postoperative RT and lymphovascular invasion were independent prognostic factors for DFS and LRFS. Overall, 42 patients (80%) experienced treatment failure. Distant metastasis was the predominant pattern of failure in group II. Conclusion: Postoperative RT after surgical resection appeared to improve the loco-regional control and DFS rate. More effort is needed to reduce distant metastasis, the major pattern of failure, in patients who receive postoperative RT.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.60-65
• /
• 2007

Complex Regional Pain Syndromes (CRPS) type I and type II are neuropathic pain conditions that are being increasingly recognized in children and adolescents. The special distinctive features of pediatric CRPS are the milder course, the better response to treatment and the higher recurrence rate than that of adults and the lower extremity is commonly affected. We report here on a case of pediatric CRPS that was derived from ankle trauma and long term splint application at the left ankle. The final diagnoses were CRPS type I in the right upper limb, CRPS type II in the left lower limb and unclassified neuropathy in the head, neck and precordium. The results of various treatments such as medication, physical therapy and nerve blocks, including lumbar sympathetic ganglion blocks, were not effective, so implantation of a spinal cord stimulator was performed. In order to control the pain in his left lower limb, one electrode tip was located at the 7th thoracic vertebral level and two electrode tips were located at the 7th and 2nd cervical vertebral levels for pain control in right upper limb, head, neck and right precordium. After the permanent insertion of the stimulator, the patient's pain was significantly resolved and his disabilities were restored without recurrence. The patient's pain worsened irregularly, which might have been caused by psychological stress. But the patient has been treated with medicine at our pain clinic and he is being followed up by a psychiatrist. (Korean J Pain 2007; 20: 60-65)

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 1994

Purpose: Despite apparently complete resection of cancer of the rectum, local recurrence rate was high. Radiation therapy has been used either alone or in combination with chemotherapy as an adjunct to surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence. This study was designed to evaluate the prognostic factors, survival rate and local recurrence rate of the rectal cancer who had received postoperative radiation therapy by retrospective analysis. Method: From 1982 to 1990, 63 patients with cancer of the rectum surgically staged as B2 or C disease received postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy after curative resection of tumor for cure. Postoperative radiation therapy was given to the whole pelvis(mean dose: 5040 cGy in 5-6weets) and perineum was included in irradiated field in case of abdominoperineal resection. Results: Three-year actuarial survival rate was 73.2$ \% $ overall, 87.7$ \% $ in stage B2+3 and 62.9$ \% $ in stage C2+3. Three-year disease-free survival rate was 69.5$ \% $ overall, 87.7$ \% $ in stage B2+3 and 56.8$ \% $ in stage C2+3, Three-year disease-free survival rate in anterior resection was 77.8$ \% $ and 44.4$ \% $ in abdominoperineal resection. The local recurrence rate was 15.9$ \% $ and distant failure rate was 20.6$ \% $. Severe late complication was small bowel obstruction in 6 patients and surgery was required in 4 patients(6.3$ \% $). The prognostic factors were stage(p=0.0221) and method of surgery(p= 0.0414) (anterior resection vs abdominoperineal resection). Conclusion: This study provides evidence supporting the use of postoperative radiation therapy for reducing the local recurrence rate in patients who have had curative resection of rectal cancer with involvement of perirectal fat or regional nodes or both(stage B2 and C).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.12
• /
• pp.5081-5086
• /
• 2016

Background: Pathological factors, based mainly on immunohistochemistry (IHC) and histological differentiation, are mostly used to differentiate breast cancer (BC) subtypes. Our present aim was to describe the characteristics and survival of a relapsing BC patient cohort based on clinico-pathologic subtypes determined for the primary tumors. Methods: We used a clinico- pathological definition of BC subtypes based on histological grade (HG), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR),and epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) expression assessed by IHC. We determined variables associated with loco-regional recurrence (LRR), second primaries (SP), systemic recurrence (SR) and post-recurrence survival (PRS). Results: Out of 1,702 patients, 240 (14%) had an event defined as recurrence. Those with recurrent disease were significantly younger than those without,and were initially diagnosed at more advanced stages, with larger tumors, greater lymph nodal involvement and higher HG. With a median follow up of 61 months (1-250), 4.6% of patients without recurrence and 56.6% of patients with an event defined as recurrence had died. The median PRS for the LRR group was 77 months; 75 months for those who developed a SP and 22 months for patients with an SR (p <0.0001). In SR cases, the median PRS was shorter for ER- tumors than for ER+ tumors (15 vs. 26 months, respectively; p = 0.0019, HR 0.44; CI: 0.25-0.44). Conclusions: Subtype, defined through classic histopathologic parameters determined for primary tumors, was found to eb related to type of recurrence and also to prognosis after relapse.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.60 no.12
• /
• pp.390-394
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) is less common in pediatric patients than in adult patients. Thus, data for pediatric AVNRT patients are insufficient. Hence, we aimed to analyze the patient characteristics, treatment, and any recurrences in pediatric AVNRT patients. Methods: We reviewed the records of 50 pediatric AVNRT patients who had undergone radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) between January 1998 and December 2016 at a single regional center. The patients were aged ${\leq}18years$. Results: Among 190 pediatric patients who underwent RFCA for tachyarrhythmia, 50 (26.3%; mean age, $13.4{\pm}2.6years$) were diagnosed as having AVNRT by electrophysiological study. Twenty-five patients (25 of 50, 50%) were male. Twenty patients (20 of 50, 40%) used beta-blockers before RFCA. All patients had no structural heart disease except 1 patient with valvular aortic stenosis and coarctation of the aorta. RFCA was performed using the anatomic approach under fluoroscopic guidance. The most common successfully ablated region was the midseptal region (25 of 50, 50%). Slow pathway (SP) ablation and SP modulation were performed in 43 and 6 patients, respectively. Complication occurred in 1 patient with complete atrioventricular block. During follow-up, 6 patients had recurrence of supraventricular tachycardia, as confirmed by electrocardiography. Among them, 5 underwent successful ablation at the first procedure. In 1 patient, induction failed during the first procedure. Conclusion: RFCA is safe and effective in pediatric AVNRT patients. However, further research is needed for establishing the endpoints of ablation in pediatric AVNRT patients and for identifying risk factors by evaluating data on AVNRT recurrence after RFCA.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.21-25
• /
• 2020

Kimura's disease is a rare disease of unknown etiology, commonly presenting with slow-growing head and neck subcutaneous nodules. It primarily involves the head and neck region, presenting as deep subcutaneous masses and is often accompanied by regional lymphadenopathy and salivary gland involvement. Clinically it is often confused with a parotid tumor or lymph node metastasis. It is difficult to diagnose before surgery, and fine needle aspiration cytology has only limited value. Even though this disease has not shown any malignant transformation, it is often difficult to cope with because of its high recurrence rate. Surgery, steroids, and radiotherapy have been used widely as the first-line recommendation, but none of them is standard procedure until now because of high recurrence rates. The recurrence of the disease reported up to 62%. We recently experienced a case of Kimura's disease, not accompanying peripheral eosinophilia, on the parotid gland treated by surgical resection in an 82-year-old woman with polycythemia vera. Here, we report this case with a review of the literature.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.87-90
• /
• 2002

Malignant melanoma of the nasal cavity occurs rarely. Malignant melanoma, originated from the upper respiratory tract including nasal cavity, has clinical feature of local recurrence and easily metastasizes to regional or distant lymph nodes, lung, and liver. Malignant melanoma originated from nasal cavity frequently shows tumor cell invasion, ulceration, or infection. Owing to these characteristics, complete surgical excision of the malignant melanoma in nasal cavity is not easy. And also the prognosis of this tumor is not so good because of a high recurrence rate. Recently the authors have recently experienced a case of malignant melanoma originated from the inferior turbinate, which was treated with lateral rhinectomy, total maxillectomy. The defect developed after surgical extirpation was reconstructed with rotational forehead flap.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.143-148
• /
• 1993

From September 1985 through September 1989,56 patients with stage IIIB carcinoma of the cervix were treated with radiation therapy with curative aim. The overall survival at 5 year was $38{\%}$. The survival rate was better for patients treated with combined external radiotherapy and high dose rate intracavitary radiotherapy than with external radiotherapy alone. No significant survival difference was observed between the unilateral and bilateral parametrial extension of the tumor Seventeen patients experienced recurrence within the irradiated field with a loco-regional recurrence rate of $30{\%}$. Ten patients had complications ($18{\%}$). The complications were mild in three, moderate in four, and severe in three patients. A study was made on the relationship between the fraction numbers of intracavitary radiotherapy, vaginal packing and the complication rate, respectively. In this analysis author observed that the significant treatment factor influencing the survival of cervical cancer was the use of intracavitary radiation, and meticulous vaginal packing could decrease the late complication rate of radiotherapy of cervical cancer.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.205-209
• /
• 2018

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon neuroendocrine cutaneous tumor with poor prognosis. It has the high rate of recurrence, mortality, regional nodal involvement, and distant metastases. It is difficult to diagnose MCC because of its non-specific clinical findings. It usually occurs on sun-exposed areas of the skin, mostly at head and neck. There is a difference in the incidence and prognosis according to site in the head and neck. However, there is no consented site-specific diagnosis, treatment or follow-up protocol for MCC at the head and neck. We herein report a case of MCC arising in the right earlobe of an otherwise healthy young man who has been diagnosed early, thereby successfully treated. With our closed follow-up, there was no tumor recurrence or complication at 33 months after diagnosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.12
• /
• pp.4759-4763
• /
• 2014

Radiation therapy in ovarian cancers has been considered an outdated concept for many years, mainly due to its toxicity and failure to show benefit in terms of survival. Chemotherapy has been extensively used after surgery for these cancers and it has almost replaced radiation therapy as an adjuvant treatment. Nevertheless, failures in ovarian cancers continue to occur even with the use of newer and effective chemotherapy regimens. About 70% patients demonstrate recurrence in the abdomen or pelvis after first line chemotherapy in ovarian cancers. With advances in technology and sophistication of radiation techniques, along with the molecular and biological knowledge of distinct histological subtypes, there is a need to redefine the role of radiation therapy. This review article focuses on the literature on use of radiation in ovarian cancers and its rationale and indications in the present day. For this, a literature pub med/medline search was performed from January 1975 to March 2014 to redefine the role of radiotherapy in ovarian cancers.