Recommended approaches for screening and early detection of lung cancer in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region: a consensus statement.

Background: The prevalence of lung cancer in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region has steadily increased in recent years and is generally associated with a poor prognosis due to the late detection of most of the cases. We explored the factors leading to delayed diagnoses, as well as the challenges and gaps in the early screening, detection, and referral framework for lung cancer in the MEA.

Methods: A steering committee meeting was convened in October 2022, attended by a panel of ten key external experts in the field of oncology from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, who critically and extensively analyzed the current unmet needs and challenges in the screening and early diagnosis of lung cancer in the region.

Scholarly Activity of Radiation Oncologists in High-Income Developing Countries: Saudi Arabia as an Example.

Purpose: To examine the trends and quality metrics of publications by radiation oncologists in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: PubMed was searched using names of all Saudi radiation oncologists to retrieve published articles between January 2010 and December 2019. International collaboration, journal impact factor and country of origin, and number of citations were collected.

Highlights on the Management of Oligometastatic Disease.

The understanding of oligometastatic disease (OMD) is rapidly evolving and with this comes the ability to utilize a number of modalities that excel in the localized control of disease. It has been identified that there are no clear guidelines based on high-level evidence to standardized approaches toward the management of OMD. These highlights have been developed to provide a road map for all health-care professionals who are involved in the management of OMD to support standardized patient care.

Risk of vertebral compression fracture specific to osteolytic renal cell carcinoma spinal metastases after stereotactic body radiotherapy: A multi-institutional study.

Purpose: Determine the risk of vertebral compression fracture (VCF) following stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), specific to osteolytic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) spinal metastases, and associated predictive factors.

Methods: 187 RCC osteolytic spinal tumor segments in 116 patients obtained from a multi-institutional pooled database were reviewed. Each segment was evaluated according to the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS).

Spine stereotactic body radiotherapy for renal cell cancer spinal metastases: analysis of outcomes and risk of vertebral compression fracture.

Object: The aim of this study was to evaluate local control (LC) and the risk of vertebral compression fracture (VCF) after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients with renal cell cancer spinal metastases.

Methods: Prospectively collected data on 71 spinal segments treated with SBRT in 37 patients were reviewed. The median follow-up was 12.

Surgical resection of epidural disease improves local control following postoperative spine stereotactic body radiotherapy.

Background: Spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is increasingly being applied to the postoperative spine metastases patient. Our aim was to identify clinical and dosimetric predictors of local control (LC) and survival.

Methods: Eighty patients treated between October 2008 and February 2012 with postoperative SBRT were identified from our prospective database and retrospectively reviewed.

Vertebral compression fracture after spine stereotactic body radiotherapy: a multi-institutional analysis with a focus on radiation dose and the spinal instability neoplastic score.

Purpose: Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) is increasingly recognized as an adverse event after spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). We report a multi-institutional study aimed at clarifying the risk and predictive factors associated with VCF.

Patients And Methods: A total of 252 patients with 410 spinal segments treated with SBRT were included.

Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy in five daily fractions for post-operative surgical cavities in brain metastases patients with and without prior whole brain radiation.

Our purpose was to report efficacy of hypofractionated cavity stereotactic radiotherapy (HCSRT) in patients with and without prior whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). 32 surgical cavities in 30 patients (20 patients/21 cavities had no prior WBRT and 10 patients/11 cavities had prior WBRT) were treated with image-guided linac stereotactic radiotherapy. 7 of the 10 prior WBRT patients had "resistant" local disease given prior surgery, post-operative WBRT and a re-operation, followed by salvage HCSRT.

Radiation-induced vertebral compression fracture following spine stereotactic radiosurgery: clinicopathological correlation.

Spine stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is increasingly being used to treat metastatic spinal tumors. As the experience matures, high rates of vertebral compression fracture (VCF) are being observed. What is unknown is the mechanism of action; it has been postulated but not confirmed that radiation itself is a contributing factor.

Utilization of radiotherapy services by a palliative care unit: pattern and implication.

Background: The role of radiotherapy in palliation is well recognized. Analyzing referrals from an inpatient palliative care unit (PCU) to the radiation oncology (RO) service may help in planning palliative care (PC) services and educational programs.

Objective: To determine the pattern and rate of referrals from a PCU to the RO service at a tertiary oncology facility in Saudi Arabia.

Vertebral compression fracture (VCF) after spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT): analysis of predictive factors.

Purpose: Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are increasingly observed after spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). The aim of this study was to determine the risk of VCF after spine SBRT and identify clinical and dosimetric factors predictive for VCF. The analysis incorporated the recently described Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) criteria.