Intraarterial chemo + radiation may up cerebral infarctions
(HealthDay)—Intraarterial chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for head and neck cancer is tied to a higher incidence of cerebral infarction, compared to intravenous CRT, according to a study published online March 25 in Head & Neck.
Sayaka Suzuki, M.D., from the University of Tokyo, and colleagues used the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database (2010 to 2013) to identify patients with head and neck cancer receiving platinum-based chemotherapy and concurrent radiotherapy, either intraarterial or intravenous CRT (propensity score-matched 1:4).
The researchers found that the occurrence of cerebral infarction was significantly higher in the intraarterial CRT group than in the intravenous CRT group (11 of 775 versus 12 of 3,100; P = 0.002). There was no significant difference noted in either mucosal toxicity or febrile neutropenia.
"This result is useful when considering the procedure-related risks and the potential benefits of intraarterial CRT," the authors write.
More information:
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Copyright © 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
