Dosimetry of the left anterior descending coronary artery in left breast cancer patients treated with postoperative external radiotherapy.

Aim: To evaluate the dose distribution to the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in patients treated with postoperative three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT).

Background: Postoperative radiotherapy may increase the risk of heart disease, particularly in patients with left-sided breast cancer. Clinical data on doses to the LAD are limited.

Implementation of intensity modulated radiotherapy for prostate cancer in a private radiotherapy service in Mexico.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) allows physicians to deliver higher conformal doses to the tumour, while avoiding adjacent structures. As a result the probability of tumour control is higher and toxicity may be reduced. However, implementation of IMRT is highly complex and requires a rigorous quality assurance (QA) program both before and during treatment.