Correlation of planning target volume with mucositis for head-and-neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiation

Head-and-neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiation.

The aim of the study was to see if there is any correlation between the planning target volume (PTV) and mucositis.

This was a single-arm prospective study.

A total of forty head-and-neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiation were assessed for mucositis at the 5^th week. The grades of mucositis were correlated with PTVs of low risk (54 Gy) and high risk (60-66 Gy).

The data were analyzed using the statistical software, SPSS Inc. Release 2009, predictive analytics software statistics for windows version 20.0, Chicago. Log transformation was done as the data were skewed. Independent t-test was used to compare between the two grades of toxicity. P <0.01 was considered for statistical significance.

The mean PTV_{low risk} was 522cc (228-771) and PTV_{high risk} was 254cc (20-780). Grade II mucositis was seen in 27 (67%) patients and Grade III in 11 (28%) patients. The mean PTV_{low risk} was higher for patients, who had Grade III compared to Grade II mucositis (571 vs. 517 cc, P = 0.052).

The same was seen for PTV_{high risk}(367 vs. 222 cc, P = 0.017). PTV is a better predictor of mucositis, and those patients with larger PTV require close monitoring and early intervention of mucositis.