C C Wang1, J T Efird. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to present local control rates of carcinoma of the larynx in relation to the total treatment course after radical radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 1350 patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital for the past three decades were available for analysis. Treatment courses were divided into two groups: 45 days and > 45 days. The local control rates were compared and evaluated for statistical differences. RESULTS: The data indicated that prolonged treatment course adversely affects local tumor control of both advanced glottic and supraglottic lesions, but to a lesser degree for the early tumors. CONCLUSION: The study indicated that for optimal local control, radiation treatment should be completed as soon as possible, preferably within 6.5 weeks, either by once- or twice-daily accelerated programs. The local control of early T1 glottic cancer has been exceedingly satisfactory by conventional once-daily radiation therapy. Further improvement by shortening of treatment time for such early lesions will be difficult to assess without a prospective randomized trial.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to present local control rates of carcinoma of the larynx in relation to the total treatment course after radical radiation therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 1350 patients with laryngeal carcinoma treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital for the past three decades were available for analysis. Treatment courses were divided into two groups: 45 days and > 45 days. The local control rates were compared and evaluated for statistical differences. RESULTS: The data indicated that prolonged treatment course adversely affects local tumor control of both advanced glottic and supraglottic lesions, but to a lesser degree for the early tumors. CONCLUSION: The study indicated that for optimal local control, radiation treatment should be completed as soon as possible, preferably within 6.5 weeks, either by once- or twice-daily accelerated programs. The local control of early T1 glottic cancer has been exceedingly satisfactory by conventional once-daily radiation therapy. Further improvement by shortening of treatment time for such early lesions will be difficult to assess without a prospective randomized trial.
Authors: Bengt Johansson; Leif Karlsson; Johan Reizenstein; Mathias von Beckerath; Lennart Hardell; Jan Persliden Journal: J Contemp Brachytherapy Date: 2011-03-31