Acute toxicity profile of radiotherapy in 690 children and adolescents: RiSK data

Abstract Background and purpose The “Registry for the evaluation of side effects after radiation in childhood and adolescence” (risk) was introduced to characterize adverse effects of radiotherapy in childhood and adolescence prospectively. The aim of this analysis was to characterize the pattern of acute side effects. Materials and methods Since 2001, patients receiving radiotherapy in one of the German pediatric therapy trials have been registered in RiSK with detailed information regarding radiation doses to organs at risk and characterization of acute toxicities. Results From 2001 to May 2009, 690 patients have been characterized for acute toxicity in primary therapy. Acute toxicity ⩾ grade 1 was observed in 506 patients. In patients irradiated in their lung and liver, patients with grade 1 or 2 acute toxicities showed higher organ volumes exposed to radiation doses