The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

September 2019

Radiotherapy in the treatment of primary or recurrent unresectable desmoid tumors of the neck

Author Information

Niu X(1)(2), Jiang R(1)(2), Hu C(1)(2).

(1)Dept of Radiation Oncology, Fudan Univ Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. (2)Dept of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan Univ, Shanghai, China.

Publication

Cancer Invest

Summary

Our aim was to examine the outcome of radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of primary or recurrent unresectable desmoid tumors of the neck. A retrospective analysis was performed on 30 patients between 1/2008 and 12/2017, with 3 primary and 27 recurrent unresectable desmoid tumors of the neck. All cases were reviewed by pathologists. The median follow-up time was 50.5?months (range 2-126?months). Radiotherapy doses varied from 50 to 66?Gy (median 60?Gy, 23/30 patients) with all fraction size of 2?Gy. The objective response rate (ORR: CR or PR) to definitive RT was 56.7% (17/30 patients). On Chi-square statistic, ORR was significantly influenced by tumor size (?5?cm versus >5?cm) (p?=?.046). The most common acute side effects of the radiation-related complication were grade 1-2 skin toxicities. Radiotherapy is a valuable option in the management of primary or recurrent unresectable DTs of the neck with good local control. Multi-institutional and prospective studies are warranted to further validate our findings.

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