title: Post-operative intensity-modulated radiotherapy for malignancies of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical outcome and toxicity of post-operative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for malignancies of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with histological proven cancer of the paranasal sinuses (n=21) or nasal cavity (n=4) were post-operatively treated with IMRT at the Leuven department to a total dose of 60 Gy (n=15) or 66 Gy (n=10). Both acute and chronic toxicity were prospectively scored in all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up was 27 months (range: 12-47 months) among surviving patients. The actuarial 2-year local control (LC), overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 81%, 88% and 77%, respectively. One patient developed isolated distant metastasis, while none of the patients developed regional failure. No grade 3 or 4 toxicity was reported, either acute or chronic. No radiation-induced blindness or brain necrosis was reported to date, although longer follow-up has to be awaited for definitive results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-operative IMRT for sinonasal cancer resulted in similar local control and survival rates as conventional or 3D-conformal radiotherapy techniques, and was associated with little acute toxicity. Longer follow-up is necessary to confirm the lack of late complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Leuvens Kankerinstituut, University Hospitals Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, Leuven, Belgium. piet.dirix@uz.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dirix
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuyts
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vanstraelen
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nulens
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hermans
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jorissen
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vander Poorten
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van den Bogaert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome