Publications by authors named "Alan Coon"

Skin toxicity is a ubiquitous side effect in radiotherapy and can be difficult to predict. Moist desquamation in cancer patients can decrease quality of life and occasionally demand unplanned treatment breaks thus worsening outcome. In breast cancer patients, moist desquamation occurs approximately one-third of the time, and while avenues such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy exist to decrease skin side effects, they may be prohibitively expensive to distribute widely.

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Purpose: For patients with left-sided breast cancers, radiation treatment to the intact breast results in high doses to significant volumes of the heart, increasing the risk of cardiac morbidity, particularly in women with unfavorable cardiac anatomy. We compare helical tomotherapy (TOMO) and inverse planned intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy using opposed tangents (3D-CRT) for reductions in cardiac volumes receiving high doses.

Methods And Materials: Fifteen patients with left-sided breast cancers and unfavorable cardiac anatomy, determined by a maximum heart depth (MHD) of >or=1.

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Objectives: Static field intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has demonstrated dosimetric and clinical benefits over 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. TomoTherapy is a unique form of IMRT that may offer further improvements.

Methods: The study population consisted of 15 patients with low-risk prostate cancer treated at Rush University with TomoTherapy (n = 7) or IMRT (n = 8).

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Purpose: A new form of partial breast irradiation (PBI), ClearPath (CP) breast brachytherapy, has been introduced. We present our results of a dosimetric comparison of MammoSite (MS) and CP PBI.

Methods And Materials: The dimensions of the CP device were reconstructed onto the MS planning CT scans for 15 previously treated patients.

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Purpose: This analysis was undertaken to dosimetrically compare iridium-192 high-dose-rate brachytherapy (IB) and Xoft Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy (XB; Xoft Inc., Sunnyvale, CA) in the treatment of endometrial cancer.

Methods And Materials: The planning CT scans from 11 patients previously treated with IB were used to construct hypothetical treatment plans using the source characteristics of the XB device.

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Partial breast irradiation (PBI) was designed in part to decrease overall treatment times associated with whole breast radiation therapy (WBRT). WBRT treats the entire breast and usually portions of the axilla. The goal of PBI is to treat a smaller volume of breast tissue in less time, focusing the dose around the lumpectomy cavity.

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Purpose: Heterotopic ossification (HO), or abnormal bone formation, is a common sequela of total hip arthroplasty. This abnormal bone can impair joint function and must be surgically removed to restore mobility. HO can be prevented by postoperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use or radiotherapy (RT).

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Obesity is associated with leptin resistance as evidenced by hyperleptinemia. Resistance arises from impaired leptin transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB), defects in leptin receptor signaling, and blockades in downstream neuronal circuitries. The mediator of this resistance is unknown.

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