ABSTRACT Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor rarely found in the head and neck, representing about 1% of all malignancies. The main treatment for NPC is radiation therapy, which is often given in combination with chemotherapy. However, such treatment may lead to long‐term complications, including second primary tumors (SPTs) and osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Both complications have similar radiological characteristics, which can lead to erroneous diagnoses. This paper describes a case of a second primary tumor in a patient after 20 years of radiotherapy in the area where a previous extraction was performed, mimicking an osteoradionecrosis process.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform dosimetric analysis of radiotherapy (RT) plans with or without elective nodal irradiation (ENI) and estimate whether the increase in mean doses (MDs) in the heart and lungs with ENI may lead to late side effects that may surpass the benefits of treatment. METHODS: The dosimetric analysis of 30 treatment plans was done with or without ENI. The planning and dose-volume histograms were analyzed, and the impact on the mortality of cardiovascular and lung cancer was estimated based on the correlation of the dosimetric data with data from population studies. RESULTS: RT with ENI increased the doses in the lungs and heterogeneity in the plans compared to breast-exclusive RT. When the increase in MDs is correlated with the increase of late side-effect risks, the most important effect of ENI is the increased risk of lung cancer, especially in patients who smoke (average increase in absolute risk=1.38%). The increase in the absolute risk of cardiovascular diseases was below 0.1% in the all the situations analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: ENI increases the heterogeneity and the doses at the lungs. When recommending ENI, the risks and benefits must be taken into account, considering the oncology factors and the plan of each patient. Special attention must be given to patients who smoke as ENI may lead to a significant increase in MD in the lung and the increased risk of radiation-induced lung cancer may surpass the benefits from this treatment.

Resumo O procedimento cirúrgico padrão para tratamento dos tumores retais do terço distal é a ressecção abdominoperineal. A braquiterapia de alta taxa de dose é um tratamento promissor em tumores distais previamente irradiados, pela dose alta e extremamente concentrada de radiação administrada ao tumor e redução de dose aos tecidos normais se comparada à radioterapia externa.

Abstract For tumors of the lower third of the rectum, the only safe surgical procedure is abdominal-perineal resection. High-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy is a promising treatment for local recurrence of previously irradiated lower rectal cancer, due to the extremely high concentrated dose delivered to the tumor and the sparing of normal tissue, when compared with a course of external beam radiation therapy.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar, retrospectivamente, o resultado do tratamento conservador do melanoma de coróide, por meio de braquiterapia, usando placas episclerais de iodo-125 (modelo 6711, Amershan). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 49 pacientes portadores de melanoma de coróide tratados no Hospital do Câncer, São Paulo, SP, de março de 2001 a janeiro de 2003. Os seguintes parâmetros foram analisados e correlacionados ao controle local e sobrevida: sexo, idade, dimensões da lesão, tempo de tratamento e doses no ápice e base das lesões. RESULTADOS: Com diâmetro máximo da base do tumor de 17 mm e altura máxima de 12 mm, observamos que as doses na base do tumor variaram de 213 a 463 Gy (mediana de 347 Gy) e no ápice, de 51 a 250 Gy (mediana de 91 Gy). As taxas de preservação ocular, sobrevida livre de doença e conservação ocular, atuariais em dois anos, foram de 96%, 93,5% e 96,3%, respectivamente. Através de análise univariada, o único fator prognóstico para controle local nesta análise foi a altura do tumor menor que 6 mm (p = 0,0348). CONCLUSÃO: A braquiterapia levou a uma taxa bastante satisfatória de controle local, confirmando que a altura do tumor é um dos fatores prognósticos importantes desse parâmetro.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate the results of conservative therapy using episcleral iodine-125 (model 6711, Amershan) plaque for brachytherapy of choroidal melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 49 patients with choroidal melanoma treated at "Hospital do Câncer", São Paulo, Brazil, from March 2001 to January 2003. The following clinical parameters were analyzed and correlated with local control and survival rate: gender, age, lesion dimension, treatment duration, as well as doses in apex and base of the tumors. RESULTS: The maximum diameter and height of the base of the tumors treated were 17 mm and 12 mm, respectively. Doses at those points ranged from 213 to 463 Gy (median: 347 Gy) and 51 to 250 Gy (median: 91 Gy), respectively. The actuarial rates of ocular preservation, disease free survival and ocular preservation in 2-years were 96%, 93.5% and 96.3%, respectively. A tumor height < 6 mm was the only predictive factor for local control (p = 0.0348) in the univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Brachytherapy achieved a very satisfactory rate of tumor local control, confirming that tumor height is one of the most important predictive factors for local control.

OBJETIVO: Análise comparativa da resposta bioquímica em pacientes submetidos à teleterapia exclusiva ou associada à braquiterapia de alta taxa de dose para tumores localizados da próstata. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: De novembro de 1997 a janeiro de 2000, 74 pacientes foram submetidos à teleterapia com 45 Gy e reforço com braquiterapia de alta taxa de dose com irídio-192 e dose de 16 Gy em quatro inserções (BT). Estes foram comparados a 29 pacientes submetidos à teleterapia com 45 Gy e reforço com arcoterapia e dose mediana de 24 Gy (RT) entre outubro de 1996 e fevereiro de 2000. Nos dois grupos houve associação ocasional de hormonioterapia neoadjuvante. Sobrevida atuarial livre de doença em três anos (SB3) e fatores prognósticos pré-tratamento da resposta bioquímica, como o antígeno prostático-específico inicial (PSAi), escore de Gleason da biópsia de próstata (EG) e estádio clínico (EC), foram analisados. RESULTADOS: O seguimento mediano foi de 25 meses para o grupo RT e 37 meses para o BT. Na análise atuarial, a SB3 foi de 51% e 73% (p = 0,032) para RT e BT, respectivamente. Na análise estratificada pelo PSAi, a SB3 para RT e BT foi de 85,7% e 79,1% (p = 0,76) para PSAi < 10 ng/mL e de 38% e 68% (p = 0,023) para PSAi > 10 ng/mL, respectivamente. Quando estratificado pelo EG, a SB3 para RT e BT foi de 37% e 80% (p = 0,001) para EG < 6 e 78% e 55% para EG > 6 (p = 0,58); estratificando-se pelo EC, a SB3 para RT e BT foi de 36% e 74% (p = 0,018) para EC < T2a e 73% e 69% para EC > T2a (p = 0,692), respectivamente. O risco relativo bruto de recidiva bioquímica foi de 2,3 (95% IC: 1,0-5,1) para os pacientes tratados com RT, em relação à BT; quando ajustado pelo PSAi e EG, o risco relativo de recidiva bioquímica foi de 2,4 (95% IC: 1,0-5,7). CONCLUSÃO: A modalidade de tratamento foi fator prognóstico independente de recidiva bioquímica, com maior controle bioquímico associado à BT. Nossos resultados preliminares sugerem que o maior benefício com BT foi obtido nos pacientes com PSAi > 10 ng/mL, EC < T2a e EG < 6.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the biochemical response in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer treated with external beam radiation therapy alone or in combination with conformal brachytherapy boost. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From November 1997 to January 2000, 74 patients received 45 Gy of pelvic external irradiation and four were treated with high dose rate iridium-192 conformal boost implants of 4 Gy each (BT). These were compared with 29 other patients treated with 45 Gy of pelvic external irradiation followed by a 24 Gy of bilateral ARC boost (RT) from October 1996 to February 2000. Some patients received neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy. Three-year actuarial biochemical control rates (BC3) and pretreatment biochemical response predictors such as prostate-specific antigen pretreatment (PSAi), Gleason score (GS) and clinical stage (CS), were evaluated. RESULTS: Median follow-up was of 25 months for the RT group and 37 months for the BT group. BC3 was 51% versus 73% (p = 0.032) for RT and BT, respectively. Comparisons of biochemical control by treatment group stratified by PSAi showed that BC3 for RT versus BT was 85.7% versus 79.1% (p = 0.76) for PSAi < 10 ng/mL and 38% versus 68% (p = 0.023) for PSAi > 10 ng/mL, respectively. For patients with GS < 6, BC3 was 37% versus 80% (p = 0.001) for RT versus BT and, for patients with GS > 6, BC3 was 78% versus 55% (p = 0.58) for RT versus BT, respectively. For patients with CS < T2a, BC3 was 36% versus 74% (p = 0.018) for RT versus BT and, for patients with CS > T2a, BC3 was 73% versus 69% (p = 0.692) for RT versus BT, respectively. The relative risk of biochemical relapse was 2.3 (95% IC: 1.0-5.1) for patients in RT group compared to the BT group. When adjusted for PSAi and GS, the relative risk of biochemical relapse was 2.4 (95% IC: 1.0-5.7). CONCLUSION: The treatment modality was an independent prognostic factor for biochemical relapse, with a significant improvement in the biochemical control with BT. These early results suggest that this treatment was most beneficial in patients with PSAi > 10 ng/mL, CS < T2a and GS < 6.

OBJETIVOS: Para avaliar o resultado de tratamento pacientes portadores de melanoma de coróide tratados com braquiterapia (placas episclerais de Co-60) no Hospital do Câncer, São Paulo, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 108 pacientes tratados consecutivamente de janeiro de 1995 a junho de 1999, com idade mediana de 55,5 anos, diâmetro da base do tumor e altura máximos 9,75 mm e 5 mm, respectivamente. As doses na base do tumor, incluindo 1 mm de esclera variaram de 157 a 487 Gy (mediana 284,5 Gy) e para o ápice de 37 até 220 Gy (mediana 106 Gy). RESULTADOS: A taxa de preservação ocular foi 78,5%, com sobrevida atuarial global em cinco anos, e a taxa de conservação ocular atuarial foram 92,2% e 78%, respectivamente. Os principais efeitos colaterais relacionados ao tratamento foram retinopatia em 39/102 (38,2%) pacientes e degeneração macular, levando a déficit visual central em 31/102 (30,3%) pacientes. CONCLUSÃO: Nossa experiência com placas episclerais de Co-60 alcançou taxa satisfatória de controle de tumor local, apesar dos grandes diâmetros das bases dos tumores.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome of patients with choroidal melanoma treated with conservative therapy with brachytherapy (episcleral Co-60 plaque therapy) at the "Hospital do Cancer" São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: We evaluated 102 patients consecutively treated from January, 1999 to June, 1999. Median age, maximum tumor base diameter and apex size were 55.5 years, 9.75 mm and 5 mm, respectively. Doses at the base of the tumor, including 1 mm of sclera, ranged from 157 to 487 Gy (median 284.5 Gy) and to the apex from 37 to 220 Gy (median 106 Gy). RESULTS: The crude eye preservation rate with conservative therapy alone was 78.5%. Five-year overall actuarial survival rate was 92.2% and eye conservation rate was 78%. Side effects were mostly an uncomplicated retinopathy in 39/102 patients (38.2%); macular degeneration or scarring led to poor central vision in 31/102 patients (30.3%) of cases. CONCLUSION: Our experience with cobalt-60 plaque brachytherapy achieved a satisfactory rate of local tumor control, despite the oversized base diameters of treated tumors.

Os autores apresentam um caso de extenso angiossarcoma do couro cabeludo submetido a radioterapia exclusiva, pela associação de roentgenterapia de ortovoltagem e braquiterapia de alta taxa de dose utilizando um molde. Descrevem os aspectos clínicos, técnicos e a evolução terapêutica. Destacam as particularidades e a utilidade da braquiterapia de alta taxa de dose, nesta situação em particular, e fazem uma análise comparativa das dificuldades e limitações caso a braquiterapia de baixa taxa de dose fosse empregada. Concluem ser a braquiterapia de alta taxa de dose uma opção útil, prática e segura para as lesões neoplásicas superficiais do escalpe, podendo ser considerada uma alternativa ao tratamento com elétrons.

The authors report a case of a patient with an extensive angiosarcoma of the scalp that was submitted only to radiotherapy with a combination of orthovoltage roentgentherapy and high-dose rate brachytherapy, using a mould. The clinical and technical features as well as the therapeutic outcome are presented, and the usefulness and peculiarities of high-dose rate brachytherapy for this particular indication is discussed. A comparative analysis of the difficulties and limitations of employing low-dose rate brachytherapy is also presented. The authors concluded that high-dose rate brachytherapy might be an useful, practical and safe option to treat neoplastic lesions of the scalp, and an alternative treatment to electrontherapy.