방사선의학 웹진

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Abstract
Background: Globally, the incidence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased among elderly patients. Elderly patients often present with multiple comorbidities that affect treatment tolerance and outcomes, and the optimal management strategy for this population has not yet been established. Therefore, we assessed comorbidities in elderly patients and investigated the treatment outcomes of radiotherapy (RT) to liver-confined HCC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 40 elderly patients aged ≥70 years with liver-confined HCC, who were treated with RT between 2015 and 2023. Comorbidity was assessed by using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Survival outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: The median age was 75 years (range, 70-87 years). The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage was 0 in 7 patients, A in 10 patients, B in 9 patients, and C in 14 patients. Most patients (85%) had Child-Pugh class A hepatic function before RT. The CCI scores ranged from 2 to 9 (median, 5). Various RT techniques were applied according to patients' condition, tumor burden, and treatment aim: three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in four patients, intensity-modulated radiotherapy in 20 patients; and stereotactic body radiotherapy in 16 patients. RT was delivered with radical intent in 30 patients and with palliative intent in 10 patients. The median biological effective dose calculated with an α/β ratio of 10 was 53.7 Gy10 (range, 39-134.4 Gy10). The median follow-up period after RT was 18 months. The 1-year local progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) rates were 74% and 81%, respectively, and the 3-year rates were 44% and 52%, respectively. Patients with CCI < 5 had more favorable OS than those with CCI ≥ 5, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: RT for liver-confined HCC appears to be a feasible treatment option for elderly patients with multiple comorbidities.

Affiliations

Sun Hyun Bae 1, Young Seok Kim 2, Sang Gyune Kim 2, Jeong-Ju Yoo 2, Jae Myeong Lee 3, Sanghyeok Lim 3, Jae Hong Jung 4, Chan Kyu Kim 5
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon 14584, Republic of Korea.
2Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon 14584, Republic of Korea.
3Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon 14584, Republic of Korea.
4Department of General Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon 14584, Republic of Korea.
5Division of Hematology-Oncology, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon 14584, Republic of Korea.