title: Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and treatment outcomes of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 20 patients who had been histologically diagnosed as HCC patients and treated by fractionated SRT. Tumor size was 2-6.5 cm (average: 3.8 cm). We prescribed 50 Gy in 5 or 10 fractions at the 85-90% isodose line of the planning target volume for 2 weeks. The follow-up period was 3-55 months (median: 23 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 80%, with 4 patients showing complete response (20%), 14 patients showing partial response (60%) and 4 patients showing stable disease (20%). The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 70.0 and 43.1%, respectively (median: 20 months). The 1-year and 2-year disease-free survival rates were 65.0 and 32.5%, respectively (median: 19 months). The fractionated SRT was well tolerated, because grade 3 or grade 4 toxicity was not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that fractionated SRT is a relatively safe and effective method for treating small primary HCC. Thus, fractionated SRT may be suggested as a local treatment of choice for small HCC when the patients are inoperable or when the patients refuse operation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Ock
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hong Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Ki Mun
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sang Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Nam
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Gyu Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Ihl Bhong
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome