Management of oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients:Current controversies and future directions

Oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)describes an intermediate stage of NSCLC between localized and widely-disseminated disease.This stage of NSCLC is characterized by a limited number of metastases and a more indolent tumor biology.Currently,the management of oligometastatic NSCLC involves radical treatment(radiotherapy or surgery)that targets the metastatic lesions and the primary tumor to achieve disease control.This approach offers the potential to achieve prolonged survival in patients who,in the past,would have only received palliative measures.The optimal therapeutic strategies for the different scenarios of oligometastatic disease(intracranial vs extracranial disease,synchronous vs metachronous)remain undefined.Given the lack of head-to-head studies comparing radiotherapy to surgery in these patients,the decision to apply surgery or radiotherapy(with or without systemic treatment)must be based on prognostic factors that allow us to classify patients.This classification will allow us to select the most appropriate therapeutic strategy on an individualized basis.In the future,the molecular or microRNA profiles will likely improve the treatment selection process.The objective of the present article is to review the most relevant scientific evidence on the management of patients with oligometastatic NSCLC,focusing on the role of radiotherapy and surgery.We also discuss areas of controversy and future directions.

Magnetic resonance imaging for prostate cancer before radical and salvage radiotherapy: What radiation oncologists need to know

External beam radiotherapy(EBRT) is one of the principal curative treatments for patients with prostate cancer(PCa). Risk group classification is based on prostate-specific antigen(PSA) level, Gleason score, and T-stage. After risk group determination, the treatment volume and dose are defined and androgen deprivation therapy is prescribed, if appropriate. Traditionally, imaging has played only a minor role in T-staging due to the low diagnostic accuracy of conventional imaging strategies such as transrectal ultrasound, computed tomography, and morphologic magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). As a result, a notable percentage of tumours are understaged, leading to inappropriate and imprecise EBRT. The development of multiparametric MRI(mp MRI), an imaging technique that combines morphologic studies with functional diffusion-weighted sequences and dynamic contrastenhanced imaging, has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of PCa. As a result, mpM RI is now used in staging PCa prior to EBRT, with possible implications for both risk group classification and treatment decisionmaking for EBRT. mpM RI is also being used in salvageradiotherapy(SRT), the treatment of choice for patients who develop biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. In the clinical context of biochemical relapse, it is essential to accurately determine the site of recurrence-pelvic(local, nodal, or bone) or distant-in order to select the optimal therapeutic management approach. Studies have demonstrated the value of mpM RI in detecting local recurrences-even in patients with low PSA levels(0.3-0.5 ng/m L)-and in diagnosing bone and nodal metastasis. The main objective of this review is to update the role of mpM RI prior to radical EBRT or SRT. We also consider future directions for the use and development of MRI in the field of radiation oncology.

Clinical features and radiological manifestations of COVID-19 disease

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)was discovered after unusual cases of severe pneumonia emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan Province(China).Coronavirus is a family of single-stranded RNA viruses.Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)is transmitted from person to person.Although asymptomatic individuals can transmit the virus,symptomatic patients are more contagious.The incubation period ranges from 3-7 d and symptoms are mainly respiratory,including pneumonia or pulmonary embolism in severe cases.Elevated serum levels of interleukins(IL)-2,IL-6,IL-7 indicate the presence of cytokine release syndrome,which is associated with disease severity.The disease has three main phases:Viral infection,pulmonary involvement,and hyperinflammation.To date,no treatment has proved to be safe or effective.Chest X-ray and computed tomography(CT)are the primary imaging tests for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia,follow-up,and detection of complications.The main radiological findings are ground-glass opacification and areas of consolidation.The long-term clinical course is unknown,although some patients may develop pulmonary fibrosis.Positron emission tomography-computed tomography(PETCT)is useful to assess pulmonary involvement,to define the affected areas,and to assess treatment response.The pathophysiology and clinical course of COVID-19 infection remain poorly understood.However,patterns detected on CT and PETCT may help to diagnose and guide treatment.In this mini review,we analyze the clinical manifestations and radiological findings of COVID-19 infection.