Fast neutron therapy for soft tissue XXXX .

@entity1 @entity3 @entity5 @entity242
Seventy-nine @entity1 with soft tissue @entity242 were treated with fast neutron therapy at the Hammersmith Hospital, MRC Cyclotron Unit. Sixty-six of these, treated between 1971 and 1983 were assessable. The histology was reviewed and graded in 82% of cases and @entity5 divided into groups according to maximum diameter. In sixteen @entity1 , who were irradiated following complete macroscopic removal of @entity5 , there was 94% local control and 86% survived 5 years. Of the 50 @entity1 who had gross @entity5 present 62% were greater than 10 cm in diameter, and 20 were recurrent after previous radiotherapy or surgery or both. Sixty-eight per cent of gross @entity5 completely regressed and local control was 52%. The main cause of death was metastatic spread, and median survival was 63 months for Grade 1 @entity1 , 9 months for Grade 2, and 7 months for Grade 3. Thus, there was a significant advantage to @entity1 with Grade 1 @entity5 but little difference between Grades 2 and 3. Twenty-seven @entity1 experienced late complications of treatment, 67% of which involved the skin predominantly and were related to the low energy of neutrons used. Seventeen of the 27 had received previous radiotherapy. Neutron therapy given in this dose and fractionation produced a higher local control rate than photon therapy, but complications were more frequent. Since these mainly involved the skin a lower level of complications may be anticipated using higher energy neutrons which will have a more even distribution of dose and lower skin dosage. Forty-eight per cent of @entity1 developed @entity3 , indicating the need for effective systemic therapy, especially in Grades 2 and 3 @entity5 .
