Abstract:
Objective To compare the differences in acute hematological adverse reactions induced by craniospinal irradiation (CSI) with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and conventional radiotherapy (CRT).
Methods The clinical data and hematological data of 48 patients with central nervous system malignant tumors who underwent CSI treatment at the 900th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA from January 2008 to May 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients included 32 males and 16 females, aged 3–56(14.7±5.6) years old. On the basis of the radiotherapy technique used, the patients were divided into the CSI-IMRT group (16 cases) and CSI-CRT group (32 cases). Acute hematological adverse reactions during radiotherapy were compared between the two groups according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. The independent sample t test was used to compare the measurement data, and the χ2 test was used to compare the count data.
Results No significant difference was found between the CSI-IMRT group and the CSI-CRT group in terms of gender, histopathological type, tumor location, spinal cord invaded, surgery, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score (χ2=0.511–5.730, all P>0.05). No significant difference in the onset time of myelosuppression (5–26(10.8±6.8) days vs. 5–29(10.3±6.2) days) and the time of most severe myelosuppression (9–34(20.1±6.0) days vs. 7–36(16.0±8.0) days) between the CSI-IMRT group and CSI-CRT group (t=0.221, −1.653; both P>0.05). No significant difference in the incidence of decreased white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts and hemoglobin content between the CSI-IMRT group and CSI-CRT group (87.5%(14/16) vs. 78.1%(25/32), 56.2%(9/16) vs. 31.2% (10/32), 56.2%(9/16) vs. 53.1%(17/32); χ2= 0.615, 2.788, 0.042; all P>0.05). No significant difference was observed in the incidence of decreased WBC and platelet counts and decreased hemoglobin content (severe myelosuppression) in grades Ⅲ–Ⅳ (25.0% (4/16) vs. 21.9% (7/32), 12.5% (2/16) vs. 3.1% (1/32), 6.2% (1/16) vs. 9.4% (3/32); χ2= 0.059, 1.600, 0.136; all P>0.05.
Conclusions No significant difference in the incidence of myelosuppression and severe myelosuppression (grade Ⅲ or above) induced by CSI-IMRT and CSI-CRT. CSI-IMRT has dosimetric advantages and is worthy of further clinical application.