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Background A methylation-based classification of ependymoma has recently found broad application. However, the diagnostic advantage and implications for treatment decisions remain unclear. Here, we retrospectively evaluate the impact of surgery and radiotherapy on outcome after molecular reclassification of adult intracranial ependymomas. Methods Tumors diagnosed as intracranial ependymomas from 170 adult patients collected from 8 diagnostic institutions were subjected to DNA methylation profiling. Molecular classes, patient characteristics, and treatment were correlated with progression-free survival (PFS). Results The classifier indicated an ependymal tumor in 73.5%, a different tumor entity in 10.6%, and non-classifiable tumors in 15.9% of cases, respectively. The most prevalent molecular classes were posterior fossa ependymoma group B (EPN-PFB, 32.9%), posterior fossa subependymoma (PF-SE, 25.9%), and supratentorial ZFTA fusion-positive ependymoma (EPN-ZFTA, 11.2%). With a median follow-up of 60.0 months, the 5- and 10-year-PFS rates were 64.5% and 41.8% for EPN-PFB, 67.4% and 45.2% for PF-SE, and 60.3% and 60.3% for EPN-ZFTA. In EPN-PFB, but not in other molecular classes, gross total resection (GTR) (P = .009) and postoperative radiotherapy (P = .007) were significantly associated with improved PFS in multivariable analysis. Histological tumor grading (WHO 2 vs. 3) was not a predictor of the prognosis within molecularly defined ependymoma classes. Conclusions DNA methylation profiling improves diagnostic accuracy and risk stratification in adult intracranial ependymoma. The molecular class of PF-SE is unexpectedly prevalent among adult tumors with ependymoma histology and relapsed as frequently as EPN-PFB, despite the supposed benign nature. GTR and radiotherapy may represent key factors in determining the outcome of EPN-PFB patients.

For high-risk classified patients, patients with superobesity and in cases of contraindication to abdominal surgery, traditional bariatric surgery might lead to potential morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a novel and effective bariatric therapy for morbidly obese patients. Our research group initially evaluated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of ESG for high-risk, high body mass index (BMI) patients, and patients contraindicated to abdominal surgeries. Eligible patients characterized as high-risk for bariatric surgery due to high-BMI, severe comorbidities, or impenetrable abdomen were prospectively documented. ESG was performed by using Overstich® (Apollo Endosurgery, Austin, TX, USA). Primary outcomes included technical success, post-procedure adverse events and mortality, and the change of weight and BMI. ESG was successfully performed for all patients (N = 24, mean age was 55.6 (± 9.2) years old, 75% male). Baseline weight and BMI were 157.9 (± 49.1) kg and 49.9 (± 14.4) kg/m2. According to Edmonton Obesity Staging System (EOSS), 8 (33.3%), 14 (58.3%), and 2 (8.3%) patients were respectively classified as EOSS 2, 3, and 4. Mean operation time was 114.7 (± 26.0) min, without intraoperative complication. Weight loss, BMI reduction, %total weight loss (%TWL), and %excess weight loss (%EWL) were 17.5 (± 14.6) kg, 5.6 (± 4.6) kg/m2, 12.2% (± 8.9%), and 29.1% (± 17.9%) at post-ESG 12-month, respectively. One (4.2%) moderate post-procedure adverse event (gastric mucosal bleeding) was observed. ESG can be used as a safe, feasible, and effective option for the therapy of patients with superobesity, high-risk patients, and patients contraindicated to abdominal surgery.

Background The study aims to identify prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in patients who had pneumonectomy, in order to develop a practical dynamic nomogram model. Methods A total of 2,255 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent pneumonectomy were identified from 2010-2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The cohort was divided into a training (2011-2015) and a validation [2010] cohort. A nomogram and a risk classification system were constructed from the independent survival factors in multivariable analysis. The predictive accuracy of the nomogram was measured through internal and external validation. Results Independent prognostic factors associated with OS were gender, age, pathology, tumor size, N stage, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. The C-index of the nomogram for OS was 0.675 (95% CI: 0.655-0.694). Similarly, the AUC of the model was 0.733, 0.709, and 0.701 for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS, respectively. The calibration curves for survival demonstrated good agreement. Significant statistical differences were found in the OS of patients within different risk groups. An online calculation tool was established for clinical use. Conclusions This novel nomogram was able to provide a reliable prognosis for survival in patients with NSCLC undergoing pneumonectomy.

Background/aim Primary gastrointestinal mucosal melanoma (PGIM) is an aggressive and rare disease, commonly with poor prognosis. We aimed to determine the clinical risk and prognosis of this rare entity. Patients and methods Patients (n=962) with PGIM documented in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 1975-2016 were included. Prognostic factors on overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were identified. A nomogram was constructed to predict the OS of PGIM patients. Results Primary site, summary stage, and therapeutic method were all independent predictors of OS and CSS, and age was the only factor significantly associated with OS. Independent prognostic factors of OS were selected to develop a predictive nomogram. The Harrell's C-index of the nomogram was 0.712, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.746, 0.758, 0.810 for the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS, respectively, and calibration plots were in good agreement. Conclusion Several prognostic factors of PGIM were demonstrated and a practical nomogram model was created in this study.

Treatment of cancer patients has become challenging when large parts of hospital services need to be shut down as a consequence of a local COVID-19 outbreak that requires rapid containment measures, in conjunction with the shifting of priorities to vital services. Reports providing conceptual frameworks and first experiences on how to maintain a clinical hematology/oncology service during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic are scarce. Here, we report our first 8 weeks of experience after implementing a procedural plan at a hematology/oncology unit with its associated cancer center at a large academic teaching hospital in Germany. By strictly separating team workflows and implementing vigorous testing for SARS-CoV-2 infections for all patients and staff members irrespective of clinical symptoms, we were successful in maintaining a comprehensive hematology/oncology service to allow for the continuation of treatment for our patients. Notably, this was achieved without introducing or further transmitting SARS-CoV-2 infections within the unit and the entire center. Although challenging, our approach appears safe and feasible and may help others to set up or optimize their procedures for cancer treatment or for other exceedingly vulnerable patient cohorts.

OBJECTIVES Thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) are relatively rare indolent malignancies in the mediastinum. Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an important prognostic indicator for TETs; however, the pattern of LNM involved in TETs has yet to be elucidated. METHODS Patients diagnosed with histologically confirmed thymoma (A–B3), thymic carcinomas and thymic neuroendocrine tumours, between 1988 and 2016 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were applied to identify the predictors for LNM. The predictive nomogram was built from the independent risk factors and measured using the concordance statistic. RESULTS The overall proportion of TETs with LNM was 18.5% (200/1048). The rate of LNM in thymoma, thymic carcinomas and thymic neuroendocrine tumours was 6.8% (42/622), 30.2% (100/331) and 61.1% (58/95), respectively. According to the logistic regression analysis, histology type and T stage were independent factors correlated with LNM. A predictive nomogram model was developed with a concordance statistic of 0.807 (95% confidence interval: 0.773–0.841), which was significantly better than the T stage (P < 0.001) while had limited benefit to the histology type (P = 0.047). The calibration curve for the nomogram comparing the predicted and actual probabilities after bias correction showed good agreement. CONCLUSIONS Nodal involvement was not uncommon in TETs. Main factors related to LNM in TETs were histology type and T stage. The probability of LNM could be well calculated using the predictive model.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to report on the use of high-dose-rate (HDR) endobronchial interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) for isolated endobronchial tumor recurrence in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer, in whom a surgery or external radiation treatment is not possible. Methods and Materials A retrospective review of the patients with endobronchial tumors treated with HDR–endobronchial interventional radiotherapy at our institution (1995–2015) was performed. Treatment results and treatment-related toxicity were recorded. Clinical response was evaluated by bronchoscopy 3 months after treatment. Disease-free survival and overall survival were analyzed. Results One hundred twenty-six patients were identified. The median age was 63 years, and median followup time was 67.2 months. Three-month complete local response was 86.5%. At 5 years, disease-free survival was 41.4% and overall survival was 23.6%. 12.7% of the patients died from massive hemoptysis. Conclusion HDR-endo brochial brachytherapy is an effective treatment option with acceptable toxicity for patients with endobronchial tumor recurrence in whom surgery and external beam radiotherapy are contraindicated.

The Objective Breast Cosmesis Scale (OBCS) is an objective method that documents the aesthetic changes in breast cancer patients. This work evaluates the kOBCS© software (http://www.kobcs.info) which simplifies the estimation of the OBCS values. Five schematic drawings were photographed and imported into the kOBCS©. Thirty photos of breast cancer patients were imported into kOBCS©; 20 users (experts and non-experts) evaluated the photographs on two different settings. Subjective evaluation was performed using the Harvard breast cosmesis scale. There was a highly significant correlation between the OBCS values based on hand measurements and the values estimated by kOBCS© (r = 0.997, P

Background: Endoscopic treatment can represent a technical challenge for several special situations, such as resecting gastric tumors with larger size or in unfavorable sites and performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). This study aims to describe an innovative and multipurpose technique, intragastric single-port surgery (IGS), which can be applied for abovementioned special situations and for assessing its safety, feasibility, and efficacy. Methods: IGS technique was performed through a 2–3 cm skin incision, where the stomach wall is exteriorized and fixed to the skin. The single-port device is inserted and intragastric access is gained for laparoscopic or endoscopic instruments. Three purposes of IGS were performed: (1). gastric intraluminal lesions resection; (2). to perform ERCP after RYGB; and (3). revision of pancreaticogastric anastomosis after pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Results: IGS was performed successfully in 20 patients. Ten patients underwent gastric intraluminal lesion resection, mostly for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (n = 7, 70%); all pathological specimens were with negative margin, mean operation time was 102.3 ± 43.5 minutes, and mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.6 ± 1.5 days. Nine patients underwent ERCP after RYGB, cleaning of the bile duct was successful in all patients (100%), and mean operation time and mean postoperative hospital stay were 140.6 ± 46.3 minutes and 4.4 ± 2.6 days, respectively. One patient underwent pancreaticogastric anastomosis revision. There were no mortalities in our series. Conclusions: IGS is a safe, feasible, and effective technique for gastric intraluminal lesion resection and for performing ERCP after RYGB, while it has the potential for other future applications.

PURPOSE : to report on the use of high-dose-rate (HDR) endobronchial interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy, EBIRT) for palliation of symptoms in patients with lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS : retrospective review of lung cancer patients treated with HDR-EBIRT at our institution (1995–2017). Treatment results and treatment related toxicity were recorded. Clinical response was subjectively evaluated within 3 months after treatment. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed. RESULTS : 347 patients were identified. The median age was 69 years and the median follow-up time was 13.4 months. Most patients received external beam radiation therapy during the primary treatment. Within 3 months, 87.7% of the patients had complete or major response of their presenting symptoms. OS was 55.2% at 1 year, 18.3% at 2 years. Patients who had complete or major response had a longer median survival than other patients (13 versus 7 months, p = 0.03). Chronic bronchitis was found in 26.8%, while 7.8% of the patients died due to uncontrollable hemoptysis. CONCLUSION : HDR-EBIRT is a safe and effective treatment option for the palliative treatment of lung cancer patients. HDR-EBIRT is most suitable as a re-irradiation technique. Further clinical studies are needed to validate its role.

For high-risk classified patients, patients with superobesity and in cases of contraindication to abdominal surgery, traditional bariatric surgery might lead to potential morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a novel and effective bariatric therapy for morbidly obese patients. Our research group initially evaluated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of ESG for high-risk, high body mass index (BMI) patients, and patients contraindicated to abdominal surgeries.Eligible patients characterized as high-risk for bariatric surgery due to high-BMI, severe comorbidities, or impenetrable abdomen were prospectively documented. ESG was performed by using Overstich® (Apollo Endosurgery, Austin, TX, USA). Primary outcomes included technical success, post-procedure adverse events and mortality, and the change of weight and BMI.ESG was successfully performed for all patients (N = 24, mean age was 55.6 (± 9.2) years old, 75% male). Baseline weight and BMI were 157.9 (± 49.1) kg and 49.9 (± 14.4) kg/mESG can be used as a safe, feasible, and effective option for the therapy of patients with superobesity, high-risk patients, and patients contraindicated to abdominal surgery. Graphical Abstract.

We aimed to analyze the effect of lymph node dissection (LND) and accurate lymph node (LN) status on the survival and prognosis of patients with thymic carcinomas (TCs) and thymic neuroendocrine tumors (TNETs) undergoing surgical treatment. The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for patients who underwent surgical resection for TCs and TNETs during 1998-2016. LN status were defined as no LND (LND-), pathologically negative with LND (N0), and LN metastasis positive (N+). We investigated outcomes of LN status together with other clinicopathological features for overall survival (OS). Subgroup analyses were performed between LND-, N0, and N+ cohorts using propensity score matching, to analyze the significance of LND in prognosis. A total of 812 patients were enrolled, including 623 with TCs and 189 with TNETs. The proportion of LN metastasis positive in TNETs was 58.8% which was significantly higher than that in TCs (30%) (P0.001). In multivariable Cox analysis of OS, patients with LND- had a significantly worse prognosis than those with N0 (P = 0.018); there was no difference between N+ and LND- (P = 0.560). After propensity score matching, patients with N0 still had better survival than those with LND- and N+ in subgroup univariable and multivariable analyses of OS; however, the survival of patients with LND- and N+ was not significantly different in multivariable analysis. It was demonstrated that LND in TCs and TNETs can clarify the status of LN metastasis, to more accurately evaluate patients' long-term prognosis.

Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the commonest malignant primary brain tumor and still has one of the worst prognoses among cancers in general. There is a need for non-invasive methods to predict individual prognosis in patients with GBM. Purpose To evaluate quantitative volumetric tissue assessment of enhancing tumor volume on cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an imaging biomarker for predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with GBM. Material and Methods MRI scans of 49 patients with histopathologically confirmed GBM were analyzed retrospectively. Baseline contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI sequences were transferred to a segmentation-based three-dimensional quantification tool, and the enhancing tumor component was analyzed. Based on a cut-off percentage of the enhancing tumor volume (PoETV) of >84.78%, samples were dichotomized, and the OS and intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated. Univariable and multivariable analyses, including variables such as sex, Karnofsky Performance Status score, O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase status, age, and resection status, were performed using the Cox regression model. Results The median OS and PFS were 16.9 and 7 months in the entire cohort, respectively. Patients with a CE tumor volume of >84.78% showed a significantly shortened OS (12.9 months) compared to those with a CE tumor volume of ≤84.78% (17.7 months) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22–6.03; P = 0.01). Multivariable analysis confirmed that PoETV had a significant prognostic role (HR 2.47; 95% CI 1.08–5.65; P = 0.03). Conclusion We observed a correlation between PoETV and OS. This imaging biomarker may help predict the OS of patients with GBM.

To evaluate the effect of changes in bladder volume during high-dose intensity-modulated-radiotherapy (IMRT) of prostate cancer on acute genitourinary (GU) toxicity and prospectively evaluate a simple biofeedback technique for reproducible bladder filling with the aim of reducing acute GU toxicity.One hundred ninety-three patients were trained via a biofeedback mechanism to maintain a partially filled bladder with a reproducible volume of 200-300 cc at planning CT and subsequently at each fraction of radiotherapy. We prospectively analyzed whether and to what extent the patients' ability to maintain a certain bladder filling influenced the degree of acute GU toxicity and whether cut-off values could be differentiated.We demonstrated that the ability to reach a reproducible bladder volume above a threshold volume of 180 cc and maintain that volume via biofeedback throughout treatment predicts for a decrease in acute GU toxicity during curative high-dose IMRT of the prostate. Patients who were not able to reach a partial bladder filling to that cut-off value and were not able to maintain a partially filled bladder throughout treatment had a significantly higher risk of developing ≥grade 2 GU acute toxicity.Our results support the hypothesis that a biofeedback training for the patient is an easy-to-apply, useful, and cost-effective tool for reducing acute GU toxicity in high-dose IMRT of the prostate. Patients who are not able to reach and maintain a certain bladder volume during planning and treatment-two independent risk factors-might need special consideration.HINTERGRUND UND ZIEL: Auswertung des Einflusses des Harnblasenvolumens während hochdosierter intensitätsmodulierter Strahlentherapie (IMRT) bei Prostatakarzinom auf die akute urogenitale Toxizität sowie prospektive Auswertung eines einfachen Biofeedback-Mechanismus zur reproduzierbaren Harnblasenfüllung mit dem Ziel, akute urogenitale Nebenwirkungen zu reduzieren.Insgesamt 193 Patienten wurde mit Hilfe eines einfachen Biofeedback-Mechanismus beigebracht, während der Planungs-CT und jeder folgenden Fraktion ein Harnblasenvolumen von 200–300 ml zu reproduzieren. Es erfolgte eine prospektive Auswertung inwiefern sich die Fähigkeit, ein bestimmtes Harnblasenvolumen zu erreichen und zu halten, auf die Rate an akuten urogenitalen Nebenwirkungen auswirkt und ob Grenzwerte definiert werden können.Wir konnten zeigen, dass während einer hochdosierten IMRT der Prostata die Fähigkeit ein Harnblasenvolumen von mindestens 180 ml zu erreichen und zu jeder Fraktion der Therapie reproduzieren zu können, prädiktiv für eine Reduktion von akuten urogenitalen Nebenwirkungen ist. Patienten, die keine partielle Harnblasenfüllung erreichen und reproduzieren konnten, zeigten eine signifikant erhöhte Rate urogenitaler Nebenwirkungen ≥ Grad 2.Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass akute urogenitale Nebenwirkungen während einer hochdosierten IMRT der Prostata kostengünstig mit einem einfachen Biofeedback-Mechanismus reduziert werden können. Patienten, die es nicht schaffen, ein bestimmtes Blasenvolumen zu erreichen und zu halten, benötigen möglicherweise intensivere Betreuung.

Background: Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (nRCT) followed by surgery has become the gold standard treatment in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. The pathological response is an important predictor in such patients. This work represents a single-center analysis investigating the impact of pathological complete response (pCR) on treatment outcome. Methods: All patients treated with nRCT followed by surgery between January 2005 and December 2015 were reviewed. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the pathological response following nRCT: pCR group and non-pCR group. Results: Fifty-six patients with invasive cancer, 23 patients (41.1%) achieved pCR and 33 patients had non-pCR (58.9%) following nRCT. The average age was 62 years (±9.1), and most patients were males (83.9%). Histological types included squamous cell carcinoma (75%) and adenocarcinoma (25%). The total radiation dose was 45 Gy in 76.8% of the patients and 50.4 Gy in 23.2%. The median overall survival (OS) of the entire group was 3.5±1.2 years, and the 5-year OS rate was 38.2%, while the median disease-free survival (DFS) was 2.1±0.4 years and the 5-year DFS rate was 33.1%. The patients who achieved pCR had significantly higher 5-year OS and 5-year DFS rates: 47.2% and 48% compared to 27.3% and 21% for the non-pCR patients respectively (P=0.04, 0.03). The median time of local recurrence was 3.8±0.4 years in pCR group and 1.8±0.2 years in non-pCR group (P=0.01), while the median time of distant metastases in pCR group was 1.2±0.5 years and 1.1±0.2 years in non-pCR group (P=0.6). Conclusions: Complete pathological response predicts significantly higher rates of OS and DFS in patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer treated with nRCT followed by surgery.

Kopf-Hals-Tumoren sind weltweit auf Platz 6 der haufigsten Krebsarten. Neben den klassischen Noxen Alkohol und Tabak sind fur Oropharynxkarzinome mittlerweile Infektionen mit humanen Papillomviren (HPV) als pathogenetisch auslosende Faktoren identifiziert worden. HPV-assoziierte Oropharynxkarzinome steigen in Europa, Japan und den USA immer weiter an. Die Onkoproteine E6 und E7 stellen dabei die pathogenetisch entscheidenden Faktoren dar. Die Prognose der Patienten mit HPV-assoziierten Oropharynxkarzinomen ist unter allen primar oder sekundar eingesetzten Therapiemodalitaten (Operation, adjuvante oder palliative Chemo- oder Radiotherapie, molekular zielgerichtete Therapie oder Immuncheckpointblockade) gunstiger. Das 2017 aktualisierte Cancer Staging System des American Joint Committee on Cancer fuhrt HPV-assoziierte Oropharynxkarzinome nun als gesonderte Entitat auf. Trotz der gunstigeren Prognose wird in aktuellen Leitlinien eine Deeskalation der Therapie bei Patienten mit HPV- oder p16-positivem Oropharynxkarzinom auserhalb kontrollierter klinischer Studien abgelehnt. Eine HPV-Impfung junger Manner sollte empfohlen werden.

Background Intragastric surgery with a single incision has been performed for several diseases, such as gastric tumors[1] and pancreatic pseudocyst[2], safety, feasibility and potential benefits of which have been reported in previous relevant studies[3]. Methods The video shows a 65-year-old man with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, preoperative abdominal CT scan and endoscopy suggested an endophytic tumor located in gastric corpus, suggesting gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Intragastric single-port surgery (IGS) was indicated. Results Under general anesthesia, patient was placed in supine position. Surgeons stood on the right side of the patient. After a 2.5cm transverse incision was made on left upper abdominal wall, gastric anterior wall was exteriorized and fixed to the skin incision. Single-port device was inserted inside the stomach after anterior gastric wall was opened. Next, laparoscope was introduced into gastric cavity and identified the location of tumor. Full thickness resection of the tumor was performed by using linear stapler, then stapler line was embedded with continuous sutures. Finally, after specimen and single-port device removal, the stomach incision was closed extracorporeally. The operation time was 112 minutes. Final pathology confirmed GIST (4.5cm) with negative margins and patient discharged after 4 days, without postoperative complications. In 1-year follow-up time, without recurrence or death. Conclusion IGS is safe and effective for gastric endophytic GIST resection, which not only preserves all advantages of conventional laparoscopic operation, but also includes other benefits like obviating the need of abdominal cavity exploration, potential reduction of risk of neoplasm seeding, and offering good postoperative cosmetic result.

To compare 4 Gy × 5 (1 week) to 3 Gy × 10 (2 weeks) in relieving pain and distress in patients with metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC).The randomized SCORE-2 trial compared 4 Gy × 5 (n = 101) to 3 Gy × 10 (n = 102) for MESCC. In this additional analysis, these regimens were compared for their effect in relieving pain and distress. Distress was evaluated with the distress-thermometer (0 = no distress, 10 = extreme distress) and pain on a linear scale (0 = no pain, 10 = worst pain). Relief of distress was defined as decrease of ≥2 points; complete and partial pain relief were defined as achieving a score of 0 points and a decrease ≥2 points, respectively, without increase of analgesic use. This prospective secondary analysis of the SCORE-2 trial aimed to show that 4 Gy × 5 was not inferior to 3 Gy × 10 regarding distress and pain relief. Analyses were performed using the unconditional test of noninferiority for binomial differences based on restricted maximum likelihood estimates (noninferiority margin: -20%). Evaluations were performed before, directly after, and 1, 3, and 6 months after radiation therapy. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02189473).At baseline, median distress scores were 8 (2-10) points in the 4 Gy × 5 group and 8 (2-10) points in the 3 Gy × 10 group. At 1 month, distress relief rates were 58.1% (43/74) and 62.7% (47/75) (difference: -4.6%; 95% confidence interval, -20.0% to +11.1%; P = .025). At baseline, median pain scores were 7 (2-10) and 7 (2-10) points, respectively. At 1 month, complete pain relief rates were 23.5% (16/68) versus 20.0% (14/70) (difference, +3.5%; 95% confidence interval, -10.4% to +17.5%; P.001), and overall pain relief rates were 52.9% (36/68) versus 57.1% (40/70) (difference, -4.2%; 95% confidence interval, -20.5% to +12.3%; P = .029). Distress and pain relief rates after 4 Gy × 5 were largely comparable to 3 Gy × 10 at all time points. Associated 95% confidence intervals did not point toward any relevant differences.In patients with MESCC and poor to intermediate survival prognoses, 4 Gy × 5 appeared noninferior to 3 Gy × 10 regarding pain and distress relief.

Purpose: To prevent a fatal transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease, it is recommended to irradiate transfusion blood and blood components with ionizing radiation. Using x-rays from a linear accelerator of the radiotherapy department is an accepted alternative to gamma irradiation devices of the blood bank and to the orthovoltage units that are replacing the gamma irradiators today. However, the use of high energy x-rays may carry a potential risk of induced radioactivity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of two different energy levels, 6 and 18 MV, which are executed in routine clinical settings. The research question was if induced radioactivity occurs at one of these standard energy levels. The authors aimed to give a proposal for a blood irradiation procedure that certainly avoids induced radioactivity. Methods: For this study, the authors developed a blood bag phantom, irradiated it with x-ray energies of 6 and 18 MV, and measured the induced radioactivity in a well counter. Thereafter, the same irradiation and measuring procedure was performed with a unit of packed red blood cells. A feasible clinical procedure was developed using 6 MV and an acrylic box. With the irradiation planning system XiO, the authors generated an irradiation protocol for the linear accelerator Siemens ONCOR Anvant-Garde. Results: Both measurement setups showed that there was induced radioactivity for 18 MV but not for 6 MV. The induced radioactivity for 18 MV was up to 190 times the background. This is significant and of clinical relevance especially since there are newborn and fetal blood recipients for whom every radiation exposure has to be strictly avoided. Conclusions: The irradiation of blood with x-rays from a linear accelerator of the radiotherapy department is safe and feasible, but by the current state of scientific knowledge, the authors recommend to use an x-ray energy of 6 MV or less to avoid induced radioactivity in transfusion blood.

Locally advanced esophageal cancer has been treated by a multimodality regimen encompassing combined radiochemotherapy (RCT). The tumor response to neoadjuvant RCT is a major determinant of further therapeutic strategies, whether surgery or a continuation of RCT, and therefore, also of the patient's overall prognosis. The present study included patients with histologically proven squamous cell esophageal carcinoma. The C-reactive protein (CRP) level was measured prior to and following the completion of neoadjuvant RCT. Only CRP measurements taken within 2 weeks of the start of RCT were analyzed. Further measurements were then taken at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 and 40 weeks following RCT. CRP levels were high prior to treatment; however, eventually decreased and normalized following the therapy. In univariate analysis, pre-therapeutic CRP levels had a significant influence on the response rate (P=0.033), whilst post-therapeutic CRP levels had no significant influence (P=0.383). Pre-therapeutic CRP levels, however, not post-therapeutic CRP levels were significantly correlated with the response rate (P=0.045 and P=0.444, respectively), and no association was observed between CRP levels and survival. This preliminary data indicated that the pre-therapeutic serum CRP level is a possible indicator of treatment response to RCT.

Background: Radical lymph node dissection (LND) plays a major role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study presents the analysis of the results after uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) lymphadenectomy during anatomical lung resections for NSCLC, focusing on pathological nodal upstaging. Any possible risk factor affecting nodal upstaging was also investigated. Methods: The prospectively collected clinical data of 136 patients undergone uniportal VATS anatomical lung resections, from June 2012 to September 2017, were reviewed. In particular, all details inherent the clinical and pathological node stage and any possible risk factor affecting nodal upstaging were analyzed. Results: The patient population consisted of 90 males and 46 females; their mean age was 67.42±10.64 years. The mean number of lymph nodes retrieved during uniportal VATS lymphadenectomy was 20.14±10.73 (7.27±5.90 and 12.60±7.96 in N1 and N2 stations, respectively). The incidence of nodal upstaging was 13.3% (18 cases). In particular there was a N0–1 upstaging in 10 cases (7.4%), a N1–2 upstaging in 3 (2.2%) and a N0–2 in 4 (3%). The ROC analysis showed that the resection of 18 lymph nodes was the best predictor of a general upstaging with an AUC-ROC of 0.595, while the resection of 7 hilar lymph nodes was the best predictor of N1 upstaging (AUC-ROC: 0.554) and 11 mediastinal nodes was the best predictor of N2 upstaging (AUC-ROC: 0.671). The number of positive lymph nodes of stations 5-6 (OR: 2.035, 95% CI: 1.082–3.826, P=0.027) and stations 2–3–4 (OR: 6.198, 95% CI: 1.580–24.321, P=0.009) were confirmed to be the only independent risk factors for N2 upstaging by multivariate analysis. Conclusions: According to our experience, uniportal VATS allows a safe and effective radical lymphadenectomy, with a satisfactory pathological nodal upstaging, comparable to other minimally invasive techniques.

Background: The combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery in lung cancer therapy is well established. The role of uniportal video assisted thoracoscopy (VATS) is still not described in literature. This study presents the preliminary short-term results of uniportal VATS after neoadjuvant therapy in our series. Methods: The prospectively collected data of 154 patients after uniportal VATS anatomical lung resection (18 patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 136 surgeries alone) were retrospectively reviewed. The perioperative results and follow-up of patients after neoadjuvant therapy were analyzed and compared to those after surgery alone. Results: The mean age of population was 67.51±10.63 years. The mean operative time was overlapping in both groups: 248.97±118.17 min in surgery group and 287.17±94.13 min in chemotherapy + surgery group (P=0.190), with no difference in terms of types of anatomical lung resections performed and number of lymph nodes retrieved. The intraoperative mortality was null in both groups. The incidence of all complications was the same in both groups and no correlations was found with any possible risk factor evaluated (age, gender, comorbidities, type of resection, histology, etc.). Among minor complications, the incidence of parenchymal fistula was significantly higher in the 18 patients underwent chemotherapy (22.2% vs. 5.1% respectively, P=0.013). The overall survival of the series was 93% at 1 year follow-up and 88% at 5-year. The 1- and 2-year survival in only surgery group was 94% and 89% respectively vs. 85% and 85% in Chemotherapy + surgery, without any significant difference (P=0.324). Conclusions: According to our experience, uniportal VATS after neoadjuvant therapy is feasible and quite safe. The oncological results and postoperative complications are comparable to those of other techniques. Uniportal VATS can be performed even for complicated cases in experienced centers.

BACKGROUND The Objective Breast Cosmesis Scale (OBCS) was introduced as an objective method to document the breast cosmetic changes using non-standardized photographs without scale-calibration. OBJECTIVE This work test the accuracy and reproducibility of the kOBCS© software tool which invented to simplify the measurement of the OBCS values. METHODS to prove the mathematical accuracy five schematic drawings of breast-shaped figures were digitally photographed and imported into the kOBCS©. Thirty different photos of breast cancer patients were imported into kOBCS©, twenty different users (experts and non-experts) used the program to evaluate the photographs on two different occasions one week apart. Additionally, a subjective evaluation of each photo was performed throughout the evaluation panel using the Harvard breast cosmesis scale and the results were categorized in two groups; favorable versus adverse cosmesis. RESULTS The OBCS values as estimated by the kOBCS© ranged between 1.5 and 13.0 with median value of 4.6. There is a highly significant correlation between the OBCS values based on hand measurements and the OBCS values estimated by the kOBCS©, both values correlate nearly 100% (r= 0.997, p CONCLUSIONS The kOBCS© is a reliable and reproducible easy-to-use software for reporting breast cosmesis following BCT. The kOBCS© offers a wide range of potential use in different clinical studies that report on the breast cosmesis as one of the outcomes.

Background Thymectomy is an essential component in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) and the best treatment for localized thymoma. Minimally invasive thymectomy has advanced to include robotic-assisted techniques. The acceptance of this approach is growing rapidly, while the debate on the adequate technique for thymectomy remains open. Methods We describe the technique of robotic-assisted thymectomy and its modifications. The worldwide registries and the literature are reviewed. The experience from the largest single-center database is analyzed. Results The unilateral three-trocar approach for robotic thymectomy from either left or right side has been standardized. More than 100 centers worldwide perform robotic thymectomy. The annual number of this procedure increased steadily and reached 1,000 in 2012, while the largest single-center experiences comprise almost 500 cases. The end points improvement of MG and recurrence of thymoma are comparable to open procedures. There are special advantages of robotic assistance for complete mediastinal dissection. The perioperative complication rate is below 2%. Conclusion Robotic thymectomy combines minimal incisional discomfort with extensive mediastinal dissection. As its use expands, robotic thymectomy may become the standard for all indications of thymectomy.

Background This study was performed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of definitive chemoradiotherapy consisting of weekly doses of combined paclitaxel and carboplatin concurrent with radiation therapy, followed by 2 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy for advanced esophageal carcinoma. Methods Eligibility criteria included local, advanced, newly diagnosed and postoperative local regional lymph node metastasis; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score ≤ 2; and adequate organ function. Patients received concurrent chemoradiation therapy consisting of radiotherapy (50.4 Gy/28 Fx or 61.2 Gy/34 Fx) and concurrent paclitaxel (50 mg/m2) and carboplatin (area under the curve, AUC = 2) on days 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. The two-cycle consolidation chemotherapy protocol was paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) plus carboplatin (AUC = 5) administered on days 57 and 85, after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Results Between August 2013 and February 2015, 65 patients with oesophageal carcinoma were enrolled in the study; 34 (52.3%) were newly diagnosed and 31 (47.6%) had postoperative local regional lymph node metastasis. The median overall survival time was 21.7 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 16.7–26.6), and the median progression-free survival time was 12.1 months (95% CI 9.0–15.3). A total of 96.9% (63/65) and 67.6% (44/65) patients completed ≥5 cycles and all 7 cycles of chemotherapy, respectively. A total of 93.8% (61/65) patients completed radiation therapy. The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 73.7 and 42.0%, respectively. The 1- and 2-year progression-free survival rates were 50.6 and 31.1%, respectively. Grade 3–4 toxicity during chemoradiotherapy included neutropenia (24.5%), thrombocytopenia (4.6%), fatigue (1.5%), anaemia (1.5%), radiation dermatitis (1.5%), pneumonitis (1.5%), oesophagitis (4.6%) and vomiting (1.5%). Conclusions In patients with locally advanced oesophageal cancer, the combination of weekly doses of paclitaxel and carboplatin was well tolerated and produced comparable results. A three-arm randomised phase III trial (NCT02459457) comparing paclitaxel in combination with cisplatin, carboplatin or 5-fluorouracil with concurrent radiotherapy is on-going at our hospital.

BACKGROUND/AIM This study analyzed the impact of concomitant boost on long-term clinical outcomes in locally advanced rectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 141 patients (median age=61 years) were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Median total dose was 50.4 Gy. Forty-three patients received a concomitant boost. Concurrent chemotherapy consisted of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), given as a 24-h continuous infusion. Mean follow-up was 83.7 months. RESULTS The 3, 5-, and 10-year overall survival (OS) rates were 91.9%, 84.6%, and 52.9%, respectively. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were 91.4%, 88.9%, and 79.3%, respectively. Metastasis-free survival (MFS) rates at 3, 5, and 10 years were 84.6%, 75.4%, and 49.9%, respectively. Overall, 9.9% of all patients achieved pathological complete response. Down-staging of T- or N-stage was achieved in 55.1% and 41.5% of patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that female sex (p=0.011), concomitant boost-radiotherapy (p=0.014), and the presence of fewer than five positive lymph nodes (p

Background A phase II study was performed to investigate the safety and efficacy of weekly doses of combined paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with concurrent radiation therapy, followed by 2 cycles of consolidation chemotherapy to treat patients with advanced oesophageal carcinoma. Methods The eligibility criteria included local, advanced, newly diagnosed and postoperative local regional lymph node metastasis; an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of ≤ 2; and adequate organ function. Patients received chemoradiotherapy consisting of radiotherapy (50.4 Gy/28 Fx or 61.2 Gy/34 Fx) and concurrent paclitaxel (50 mg/m2) and 5-FU (300 mg/m2) for 96 h on days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29. The two-cycle consolidation chemotherapy protocol included paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) plus continuously infused 5-FU (1800 mg/m2) for 72 h administered on days 57 and 85, after concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Results Between February 2012 and August 2013, 53 patients with oesophageal carcinoma were enrolled in the study. Among these patients, 33 (62.2%) were newly diagnosed and 20 (37.7%) had postoperative local regional lymph node metastasis. The median overall survival (OS) time was 17.9 months (95% CIs = 11.9-23.9), and the median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 12.4 months (95% CIs = 8.6-16.1). Approximately 84.9% (45/53) and 50.9% (27/53) of the patients completed ≥ 5 cycles and all 7 cycles of chemotherapy, respectively. Approximately 86.7% (46/53) of patients completed radiation therapy. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 66.0%, 37.7%, and 35.8%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year local control rates were 76.9%, 66.4%, and 66.4%, respectively. Seventeen patients (32%) experienced grade 3 or higher toxicity. Grade 3 to 5 toxicity during chemoradiotherapy included neutropaenia (7.5%), thrombocytopaenia (1.8%), fatigue (7.5%), anaemia (1.8%), dermatitis radiation (1.8%), pneumonitis (5.6%), oesophagitis (9.4%) and vomiting (3.7%). Conclusions The combination of weekly doses of paclitaxel and 5-FU was well tolerated and produced comparable results among patients with locally advanced oesophageal cancer. A randomised phase III trial (NCT01591135) comparing paclitaxel plus 5-FU with cisplatin plus 5-FU is on-going at our hospital.

Etwa vier von 10 Patienten (w/m) leiden im Verlauf ihrer Krebserkrankung an Hirnmetastasierung. Hirnmetastasen (HM) solider Tumoren gehoren innerhalb der onkologischen Anamnesen zu den haufigsten Todesursachen maligner Erkrankungen. Wahrend die Ganzhirnradiotherapie schon seit den 1980ern zum Behandlungsstandard gehort, wurden in den spaten 1990ern neue Interventionsoptionen ausgelotet. Stereotaktische Radiochirurgie wurde hinsichtlich ihrer Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit systematisch untersucht und weiter differenziert. Die Trennung von singularen und Oligometastasen von polymetastasierten Fallen war der Beginn einer differenzialtherapeutischen Herangehensweise. Die Erzeugung robuster wissenschaftlicher Evidenz hat die Datenlage zu und damit das Verstandnis der ZNS-metastasierten Patienten (w/m) grundsatzlich geandert. Damit wurde ein neuer globaler Standard der Behandlung definiert, in der Patienten (w/m) mit vereinzelten ZNS-Metastasen (bis zu vier Lasionen) einer stereotaktischen Radiochirurgie mit oder ohne GHRT unterzogen werden sollten.

Arteriovenose Malformationen (AVM) sind anormale angeborene Lasionen des Gefassystems, die ein Knauel oder Geflecht (Nidus) im Gehirn bilden und durch das Fehlen von Kapillaren charakterisiert sind. Diese auch als Shunts bezeichnete Lasionen konnen ja nach Lokalisation und Grose Einfluss auf die Hirnfunktionen haben. Methode der Wahl ist die chirurgische Herangehensweise, wobei gut selektierte Patienten (w/m) von einer multimodalen Therapie profitieren konnten. Einige Falle werden einer kontrollierten klinischen Observation unterzogen, um dem Risiko einer Hamorrhagie Rechnung zu tragen. Nicht-invasive bildgefuhrte stereotaktische Radiochirurgie zeigte sich als effiziente, kosteneffektive und sichere Methode sowohl bei jungeren als auch alteren Patienten (w/m). Es konnte demonstriert werden, dass die stereotaktische Radiochirurgie Morbiditat und Mortalitat der AVM senken kann, dies gilt insbesondere fur tiefer sitzenden AVM-Lasionen. Sie kann allein, aber auch mit einer endovaskularen Embolisation eingesetzt oder/und mit einer operativen Sanierung sequenziell kombiniert werden.

Fur die Lasionen der Leber ist in differenzialtherapeutischer Hinsicht in den vergangenen Jahren ein relativer Anstieg an Publikationen zu verzeichnen. Unter diesen finden sich ausreichende Hinweise uber die Optionen und Moglichkeiten der hochprazisen Radiotherapie. Solide maligne Tumoren mit Oligometastasen in der Leber scheinen eine andere Biologie aufzuweisen als primar polymetastasierte Malignome. Die limitierte metastatische Kapazitat mancher Malignome bietet, vor allem bei der Leber, eine gute Option des kurativen Therapieversuchs. Die Kombination von hochpraziser Radiotherapie mit molekular selektiv wirkenden Medikamenten bedeutet einen deutlichen Schritt in die Richtung wirklich personalisierter Therapie. Im klinischen Alltag kann sie eine Erweiterung des onkologischen Therapiearsenals darstellen. Die primaren Malignome der Leber haben dagegen eine schlechte Prognose. Die therapeutischen Optionen sind eher limitiert. Die Applikation der hochprazisen Radiotherapietechnologien bedeutet hier einen klaren Fortschritt.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to analyse the feasibility, safety, and long-term efficacy of linear accelerator-based fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for meningiomas of the skull base. We evaluated the long-term clinical outcome of patients and identified prognostic factors after fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. Patients and methods Between 10/1995 and 03/2009, 136 patients with a median age of 57 years with skull base meningioma received fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. A total of 34 patients had a grade I meningioma, in 102 cases no histology was obtained (grade 0). Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy was delivered as primary treatment for 57 patients and postoperatively for 79. The patients received a mean total dose of 56.95 (min/max 32.4/63) Gy. Results Median follow-up was 44.9 months. Overall progression-free survival was 96.9% after 3 years, 93.8% after 5 years, and 91.5% after 10 years. Patients with unknown histology showed progression-free survival rates of 100%, 98.7%, and 93.5% at 3, 5, and 10 years and patients with biopsy-proven grade I meningioma showed rates of 100% after 3 years, 91.7% after 5 years and 85.9% after 10 years. Patients with adjuvant radiotherapy showed significantly worse progression-free survival rates than patients who had been treated with primary radiotherapy ( P = 0.043), progression-free survival rates were independent of tumour size. The most common acute grade I symptoms were headache, fatigue, and local alopecia. The most common chronic grade I symptoms were fatigue and headache. Conclusions This large study showed that fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy is an effective and safe treatment modality with high progression-free survival rates for intracranial meningioma. We identified “prior surgery” as significant poor prognostic factor.

Eine Thymektomie bezeichnet die operative Entfernung der Thymusdruse. Bei einem Thymom besteht eine absolute Operationsindikation. In der Mehrzahl der Falle einer Myasthenia gravis (MG) ist eine relative Indikation zur Thymektomie gegeben, die eine Kooperation mit spezialisierten Neurologen erfordert. Patienten mit einer MG konnen einen Tumor der Thymusdruse aufweisen. In der praoperativen Diagnostik muss bei Thymomverdacht die Resektabilitat bewertet werden. Patienten mit einer MG mussen praoperativ in einen stabilen Zustand gebracht werden. Die Thymektomie erfordert mit der Zielstellung einer radikalen Entfernung des Thymoms und/oder der weitestgehenden Besserung der MG eine komplette Entfernung der Thymusdruse einschlieslich allen haufig ektopen Thymusgewebes im Mediastinum. Die operativen Techniken zur Durchfuhrung einer kompletten Thymektomie sind vielfaltig, wobei neben den konventionellen Techniken mit einer Sternotomie die minimalinvasiven Verfahren zunehmend an Bedeutung gewinnen. Obwohl die Datenlage hoherer Evidenz zur Thymektomie nach wie vor sparlich ist, werden zunehmend Ergebnisse zur Gleichwertigkeit minimalinvasiver Operationstechniken bei Thymektomie wegen MG und bei Thymektomie wegen Thymom verfugbar. Die erfolgreiche chirurgische Durchfuhrung einer Thymektomie ist Bestandteil einer interdisziplinaren Kooperation in der perioperativen Behandlung der MG sowie der postoperativen Langzeitbetreuung bei MG und/oder Thymom.

In this study, the acute toxicity and long-term outcome of a hyperfractionated accelerated chemoradiation regimen with cisplatin/5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinomas of head and neck were evaluated.From 2000-2002, 38 patients with stage III (5.3 %) and stage IV (94.7 %) head and neck cancer were enrolled in a phase II study. Patients received hyperfractionated-accelerated radiotherapy with 72 Gy in 15 fractions of 2 Gy followed by 1.4 Gy twice daily with concurrent, continuous infusion 5-FU of 600 mg/m(2) on days 1-5 and 6 cycles of weekly cisplatin (30 mg/m(2)). Acute toxicities (CTCAEv2.0), locoregional control (LRC), metastases-free (MFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed and exploratively compared with the ARO 95-06 trial.Median follow-up was 11.4 years (95 % CI 8.6-14.2) and mean dose 71.6 Gy. Of the patients, 82 % had 6 (n = 15) or 5 (n = 16) cycles of cisplatin, 5 and 2 patients received 4 and 3 cycles, respectively. Grade 3 anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia were observed in 15.8, 15.8, and 2.6 %, respectively. Grade 3 mucositis in 50 %, grade 3 and 4 dysphagia in 55 and 13 %. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year LRC was 65, 53.6, and 48.2 %, the MFS was 77.5, 66.7, and 57.2 % and the OS 59.6, 29.2, and 15 %, respectively.Chemoradiation with 5-FU and cisplatin seems feasible and superior in terms of LRC and OS to the ARO 95-06C-HART arm at 2 years. However, this did not persist at the 5- and 10-year follow-ups.

Purpose This study investigated image-guided patient positioning during frameless, mask-based, single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery of intracranial lesions and intrafractional translational and rotational variations in patient positions. Patients and methods A non-invasive head and neck thermoplastic mask was used for immobilization. The Exactrac/Novalis Body system (BrainLAB AG, Germany) was used for kV X-ray imaging guided positioning. Intrafraction displacement data, obtained by imaging after each new table position, were evaluated. Results There were 269 radiosurgery treatments performed on 190 patients and a total of 967 setups within different angles. The first measured error after each table rotation (mean 2.6) was evaluated (698 measurements). Intrafraction translational errors were (1 standard deviation [SD]) on average 0.8, 0.8, and 0.7 mm for the left–right, superior–inferior, and anterior–posterior directions, respectively, with a mean 3D-vector of 1.0 mm (SD 0.9 mm) and a range from –5 mm to +5 mm. On average, 12%, 3%, and 1% of the translational deviations exceeded 1, 2, and 3 mm, respectively, in the three directions. Conclusion The range of intrafraction patient motion in frameless image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery is often not fully mapped by pre- and post-treatment imaging. In the current study, intrafraction motion was assessed by performing measurements at several time points during the course of stereotactic radiosurgery. It was determined that 12% of the intrafraction values in the three dimensions are above 1 mm, the usual safety margin applied in stereotactic radiosurgery.

Postoperative radiotherapy (RT) is the standard of care for early stage breast cancer. It reduces the risk for local recurrence and prolongs survival. We assessed whether, the omission of RT because of patient's preference may influence the prognosis and, thus, the quality of cancer care. Detailed information from a prospectively collected database of a breast cancer center was analyzed. Multiple regression analysis and univariate and multivariate analysis for risk factors for recurrence were performed. The entire cohort of primary breast cancer patients in a given time period was analyzed. Data from 1903 patients undergoing treatment at breast cancer center between 2003 and 2008 were used. All patient underwent breast conserving surgery and RT was performed for all patients of the cohort. Local tumor control and disease-free survival were calculated. After a median follow-up of 2.18 years (maximum 6.39 years), 5.5% of patients did not follow guideline-based recommendations for RT. There was a significant correlation between noncompliance and patient's age, adjuvant hormonal therapy (97.0%), and adjuvant chemotherapy (96.8%). Seventy local recurrences occurred that corresponds to a local recurrence rate of 3.9%. The difference in regard to local recurrence-free 5-year survival between the compliant patients and the noncompliant patients is absolute 17.9 (93.3% and 75.4%). Noncompliant patients had suffered a 5.02-fold increased risk of local recurrence than compliant patients. The omission of RT after breast-conserving surgery results in a higher local failure rate and significantly worsens clinical outcome. Age may play an important role because of the comorbidities of aged patients or the assumed low RT tolerance in this group. On a clinical level, this data suggests that improvement is needed to correct this situation, and the question remains as to how best to improve RT compliance.