ROLE OF RADIATION THERAPY IN ONCOLOGY EMERGENCY IN A PRIVATE ONCOLOGY SETTING

Abstract

Back ground: Oncologic emergency is on the rise, it is a
major cause of poor quality of life, morbidity and mortality
and immediate intervention is needed to preserve the
patient's corporal integrity and quality of life. We aim to
examine the type of cancer that present as an emergency
in a private radiotherapy center and review the roles of
Radiation therapy in oncologic emergency.
Methodology: A total of 3,736 patients with primary
tumour were seen in the period of ten years January,
2006 – December, 2016 of which 105 patients presented
with one or more of the following emergencies; Spinal
cord compression (SCC), Brain metastasis, Hemorrhage
from the tumor site, Urinary retention due to spinal cord
compression, Superior vena cava obstruction(SVCO),
Bone metastasis with severe pain and nerve invasion.
Patient data such as age, sex, primary cancer site,
Radiation dose, Fractionation and duration of treatment
were recorded and analyzed using SPSS software
version 19.
Results: The prevalence of oncologic emergency cases
was 105 (2.81%). The average ageof participants was55
± 16 years (Age range 8 – 88). Frequencies of primary
tumour diagnosed were Breast 39 (37.1%), Prostate 28
(26.7%), Cervical 14 (13.3%), Lung 5 (4.8%), Bladder 3
(2.9%), Cervix 14 (13.3%), Renal 3 (2.9%), Skin 4 (3.8%)
and Nasal 2 (1.9%). Endometrial, Brain, Larynx,
Osteosarcoma, Liver, Spine were one each with 1%
each. The most frequent indications for emergency
Radiotherapy were spinal cord compression(SCC) 54
(48.6%), Bleeding 20 (18%), Brain metastasis 14
(12.6%), Bone metastasis and superior vena cava
obstruction 7 each (6.3%). Urinary retention due to SCC 4
(3.6%). Metastasis to the eye 3 (2.7%). Nerve invasion
and treatment refractionwere 0.9%each. Three
participants present at Stage II (2.9%), 4, Stage III
(3.8%) and Stage IV 98 (93.3%).
About ninety five percent, 94.5% of the patients were
treated with 30 Gy in 10 fractions.
Conclusion: Radiation therapy has been found to be an
important modality in the management ofoncologic
emergencies,Investment in RT infrastructure and
development of RT techniques will provide the
improvement of not only patient`s quality of life but also
the survival.