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Open Access 01-12-2007 | Research

PET/CT Staging Followed by Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) Improves Treatment Outcome of Locally Advanced Pharyngeal Carcinoma: a matched-pair comparison

Authors: Sacha Rothschild, Gabriela Studer, Burkhardt Seifert, Pia Huguenin, Christoph Glanzmann, J Bernard Davis, Urs M Lütolf, Thomas F Hany, I Frank Ciernik

Published in: Radiation Oncology | Issue 1/2007

Abstract

Background

Impact of non-pharmacological innovations on cancer cure rates is difficult to assess. It remains unclear, whether outcome improves with 2- [18-F]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and integrated computer tomography (PET/CT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for curative treatment of advanced pharyngeal carcinoma.

Patients and methods

Forty five patients with stage IVA oro- or hypopharyngeal carcinoma were staged with an integrated PET/CT and treated with definitive chemoradiation with IMRT from 2002 until 2005. To estimate the impact of PET/CT with IMRT on outcome, a case-control analysis on all patients with PET/CT and IMRT was done after matching with eighty six patients treated between 1991 and 2001 without PET/CT and 3D-conformal radiotherapy with respect to gender, age, stage, grade, and tumor location with a ratio of 1:2. Median follow-up was eighteen months (range, 6–49 months) for the PET/CT-IMRT group and twenty eight months (range, 1–168 months) for the controls.

Results

PET/CT and treatment with IMRT improved cure rates compared to patients without PET/CT and IMRT. Overall survival of patients with PET/CT and IMRT was 97% and 91% at 1 and 2 years respectively, compared to 74% and 54% for patients without PET/CT or IMRT (p = 0.002). The event-free survival rate of PET/CT-IMRT group was 90% and 80% at 1 and 2 years respectively, compared to 72% and 56% in the control group (p = 0.005).

Conclusion

PET/CT in combination with IMRT and chemotherapy for pharyngeal carcinoma improve oncological therapy of pharyngeal carcinomas. Long-term follow-up is needed to confirm these findings.

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Title: PET/CT Staging Followed by Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) Improves Treatment Outcome of Locally Advanced Pharyngeal Carcinoma: a matched-pair comparison
Authors: Sacha Rothschild
Gabriela Studer
Burkhardt Seifert
Pia Huguenin
Christoph Glanzmann
J Bernard Davis
Urs M Lütolf
Thomas F Hany
I Frank Ciernik
Publication date: 01-12-2007
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Radiation Oncology / Issue 1/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1748-717X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-717X-2-22

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

PET/CT Staging Followed by Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) Improves Treatment Outcome of Locally Advanced Pharyngeal Carcinoma: a matched-pair comparison

Abstract

Background

Patients and methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Patients and methods

Results

Conclusion

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