A Case of Neurotrophic Keratopathy Concomitant to Brain Metastasis

We report a case of a 63-year-old Caucasian female referred to the cornea service of Clinica Oculistica with a neurotrophic corneal ulcer, decreased corneal sensitivity, absent corneal reflex, and decreased lacrimation. The medical record review was relevant for mastectomy and adjuvant therapy for breast cancer complicated by pontocerebellar angle metastasis. Eye patching and application of antibiotic and vitamin ointments were prescribed at first, without a significant improvement. Thus, treatment with autologous serum was started. In about two weeks, the cornea recovered and visual acuity improved with a residual corneal scarring. Finally, we should mention that, in our case, the main cause of the neurotrophic corneal ulcer could be identified in the previous trigeminal damage at the pontocerebellar angle and trigeminal ganglion. Sensory nerves play an important regulatory role via neuro-mediators on corneal wound healing, as denervation may interfere with cellular metabolism and inhibit mitosis, leading to an epithelial defect even with no direct damage

Less is more : new one-step intracameral chemotherapy technique

© The Authors.Romanian Society of Ophthalmology.Purpose: To describe the feasibility of a new one-step approach to aspirate the aqueous and apply melphalan in a single-go without repeated entries into the anterior chamber. Methods: This retrospective non-comparative study was conducted at a referral center and included 12 patients. The one-step approach is described in a step-wise manner. No complications were observed among the patients. Results: One single injection of intracameral melphalan proved to be a successful treatment in nine cases. Two patients required a second injection, which was administered two weeks after the first one following the same technique. Conclusions: This proved to be a reasonable technique for the smooth application of melphalan in the anterior chamber studded with retinoblastoma seeds. Our outcomes revealed that it is an effective, quick, and cost-effective technique. Longer-term data collection is underway, though initial findings are encouraging.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Simultaneous Integrated Boost in Once-weekly Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer in the Elderly: Preliminary Evidence

Aim: To evaluate once-weekly hypofractionated radiotherapy in elderly patients affected by early breast cancer, reporting acute and late toxicity profiles, and treatment feasibility. Patients and Methods: Fifty patients were treated with a hypofractionated regimen: 28.5\ub12.5 Gy in five fractions at one fraction weekly. Simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) to the tumor bed in high-risk cases. Inclusion criteria: patients over 70 years old, pT1-2, N0-1a. Acute and late toxicities were assessed based on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Results: The median follow-up was 20 months and the median patient age was 79 years. SIB was added for 22 patients (44%). Grade 3-4 acute cutaneous toxicities were not observed; grade 2 toxicity occurred only in four patients (8%). Late subcutaneous tissue toxicity consisted of grade 2 fibrosis in two patients (4%), grade 1 in five (10%) and grade 0 in 41(85%). Conclusion: Limiting fraction numbers with a safer profile may improve the management of breast cancer for the elderly

Comparison of local recurrence among early breast cancer patients treated with electron intraoperative radiotherapy vs hypofractionated photon radiotherapy an observational study

Purpose: To evaluate local recurrence (LR) in women with early breast cancer (BC) who underwent intraoperative radiation therapy with electrons particles (IORT-E) or adjuvant hypofractionated external radiotherapy (HYPOFX). Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 470 patients with early BC treated at our center from September 2009 to December 2012. 235 women were treated with breast-conserving surgery and immediate IORT-E (21 Gy/1 fraction) while 235 patients underwent wide excision followed by hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation. Radiotherapy modality was chosen according to an individualized decision based on tumor features, stage, technical feasibility, age, and acceptance to be enrolled in the IORT-E group. Results: After a median follow-up of 6 years, we observed 8 (3.4%) and 1 (0.42%) LR in the IORT-E and in the HYPOFX group (p = 0.02), respectively. The two groups differed in the prevalence of clinical characteristics (p < 0.05): age, tumor size, surgical margins, receptors, ki67, and histology. 4 and 1 woman in the IORT-E and HYPOFX group died of BC, respectively (p = 0.167). OS and DFS hazard ratio [HR] were 2.14 (95% IC, 1.10-4.15) and 2.09 (95% IC, 1.17-3.73), respectively. Conclusion: Our comparison showed that IORT-E and HYPOFX are two effective radiotherapy modalities after conservative surgery in early BC. However, at 6 years a significant higher rate of LR occurred in patients submitted to IORT-E with respect to HYPOFX. This finding may be correlated to some subsets of patients who, depending on the biological characteristics of the BC, may be less suitable to IORT-E

AIRO Breast Cancer Group Best Clinical Practice 2022 Update

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women and represents the leading cause of cancer death. Radiation therapy plays a key-role in the treatment of all breast cancer stages. Therefore, the adoption of evidence-based treatments is warranted, to ensure equity of access and standardization of care in clinical practice.Method: This national document on the highest evidence-based available data was developed and endorsed by the Italian Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) Breast Cancer Group.We analyzed literature data regarding breast radiation therapy, using the SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) methodology (www.sign.ac.uk). Updated findings from the literature were examined, including the highest levels of evidence (meta-analyses, randomized trials, and international guidelines) with a significant impact on clinical practice. The document deals with the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of primary breast cancer, local relapse, and metastatic disease, with focus on diagnosis, staging, local and systemic therapies, and follow up. Information is given on indications, techniques, total doses, and fractionations.Results: An extensive literature review from 2013 to 2021 was performed. The work was organized according to a general index of different topics and most chapters included individual questions and, when possible, synoptic and summary tables. Indications for radiation therapy in breast cancer were examined and integrated with other oncological treatments. A total of 50 questions were analyzed and answered.Four large areas of interest were investigated: (1) general strategy (multidisciplinary approach, contraindications, preliminary assessments, staging and management of patients with electronic devices); (2) systemic therapy (primary, adjuvant, in metastatic setting); (3) clinical aspects (invasive, non-invasive and micro-invasive carcinoma; particular situations such as young and elderly patients, breast cancer in males and cancer during pregnancy; follow up with possible acute and late toxicities; loco-regional relapse and metastatic disease); (4) technical aspects (radiation after conservative surgery or mastectomy, indications for boost, lymph node radiotherapy and partial breast irradiation).Appendixes about tumor bed boost and breast and lymph nodes contouring were implemented, including a dedicated web application. The scientific work was reviewed and validated by an expert group of breast cancer key-opinion leaders.Conclusions: Optimal breast cancer management requires a multidisciplinary approach sharing therapeutic strategies with the other involved specialists and the patient, within a coordinated and dedicated clinical path. In recent years, the high-level quality radiation therapy has shown a significant impact on local control and survival of breast cancer patients. Therefore, it is necessary to offer and guarantee accurate treatments according to the best standards of evidence-based medicine

Development of a comprehensive platform for treatment optimization in breast radiotherapy: respiratory gating, heart sparing, early detection of cardiac damage.

In the present work, I explored innovative radiotherapy (RT) techniques for treatment optimization in breast cancer patients to spare the heart from radiation exposure and obtain a better and safer treatment strategy. I have implemented a moderate deep inspiration breast hold (DIBH) radiation technique and prospectively collected data on this treatment to assess the efficacy and advantage of this procedure in left breast cancer treatment. This study applied a model-based approach to data by calculating the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) to determine the probability of damage induced on normal tissues for given radiation doses to OAR in terms of cardiac mortality probability. The second and third parts of the thesis analyzed an alternative heart-sparing technique and a new cardiac damage detection approach. Thus, I described two ongoing trials in which I am our site PI and co-investigator, the first is about cardiac sparing technique for even more selected patients, and the second is about early detection of cardiotoxicity. In the last part, I introduced a future perspective, with my project-approved proposal on a neoadjuvant RT, a new potential cardiac sparing approach, and an unmet need in our clinical practice

Salvage Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in a Progressive Radiation-Induced Angiosarcoma: A Case Report

none3We report a case of a long-term local control and survival achieved in a patient affected by radiation-induced angiosarcoma (RIA).A 57-year-old woman had a history of breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy for primary breast cancer. Eight years after the mastectomy, multiple nodal progression was diagnosed as RIA and subsequentially treated by salvage lymph node dissection followed by adjuvant intensified radiotherapy to control the residual disease. Two and a half years later, the patient is alive and cancer-free.This experience shows that radiotherapy may have the potential to be a feasible and effective treatment to control RIA progression, and it may also play a role in the management of RIA as adjuvant.noneBonzano, E; Guenzi, M; Corvo, RBonzano, E; Guenzi, M; Corvo,