Preserving the legacy of reirradiation: A narrative review of historical publications

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to illustrate the historical development of reirradiation during several decades of the 20th century, in particular between 1920 and 1960. METHODS AND MATERIALS We chose the format of a narrative review because the historical articles are heterogeneous. No systematic extraction of baseline data, treatment details, or follow-up care was possible in many cases. RESULTS Both hematological malignancies and solid tumors were treated with a second course of radiation therapy, and indications included local relapse, regional nodal recurrence, and second primary tumors developing in a previously treated region. The literature consists of retrospective single-institution analyses describing treatment approaches that included external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, or combinations thereof. Data on toxicities and survival were often provided. Breast cancer and gynecological, head and neck, brain, and skin tumors are among the entities included in this review. CONCLUSIONS The leading pioneers in the field are fully aware of many of the challenges we continue to debate today. These include the process of late tissue changes and development of personalized treatment approaches and better ways to select patients who are likely to benefit from a second course of radiation therapy.