[18]F-fluoroethyl-l-tyrosine positron emission tomography for radiotherapy target delineation: Results from a Radiation Oncology credentialing program.

Background And Purpose: The [18]F-fluoroethyl-l-tyrosine (FET) PET in Glioblastoma (FIG) study is an Australian prospective, multi-centre trial evaluating FET PET for newly diagnosed glioblastoma management. The Radiation Oncology credentialing program aimed to assess the feasibility in Radiation Oncologist (RO) derivation of standard-of-care target volumes (TV) and hybrid target volumes (TV) incorporating pre-defined FET PET biological tumour volumes (BTVs).

Materials And Methods: Central review and analysis of TV and TV was undertaken across three benchmarking cases.

Survey of brachytherapy training experience among radiation oncology trainees and fellows in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR).

Introduction: To evaluate brachytherapy training experience among trainees and fellows trained through the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR).

Methods: All current trainees and fellows (who obtained fellowship from 2015 onwards) were sent an online anonymous questionnaire on various aspects of brachytherapy training, including number of cases observed/ performed, opinions on brachytherapy assessment during training, barriers to brachytherapy training and future role of brachytherapy.

Results: The overall survey response rate was 24% (40/161 trainees, 30/126 fellows).

The use of collimator angle optimization and jaw tracking for VMAT-based single-isocenter multiple-target stereotactic radiosurgery for up to six targets in the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system.

Purpose: Island blocking occurs in single-isocenter multiple-target (SIMT) stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS) whenever targets share multi-leaf collimator (MLC) leaf pairs. This study investigated the effect on plan quality and delivery, of reducing island blocking through collimator angle optimization (CAO). In addition, the effect of jaw tracking in this context was also investigated.

Comparison of TG43 and Hounsfield Unit-based TG186 brachytherapy dose metrics in Oncentra Brachy for 100 patients receiving interstitial partial breast irradiation.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to conduct a retrospective analysis of 100 patients who received interstitial accelerated partial breast irradiation at a single institution, comparing the standard American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group (TG) 43 dose calculation algorithm to the model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs) available in the Oncentra Brachy treatment planning system.

Methods And Materials: Dose-volume histogram parameters were compared between the different dose calculation algorithms for the planning target volume and organs at risk. and a statistical analysis was performed.

Towards real time in-vivo rectal dosimetry during trans-rectal ultrasound based high dose rate prostate brachytherapy using MOSkin dosimeters.

Purpose: To compare the dose measured by MOSkin dosimeters coupled to a trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) probe to the dose predicted by the brachytherapy treatment planning system (BTPS) during high dose rate (HDR) prostate brachytherapy (pBT), and to examine the feasibility of performing real-time catheter-by-catheter analysis of in-vivo rectal dosimetry during TRUS based HDR pBT.

Method: Four MOSkin dosimeters were coupled to a TRUS probe during 20 TRUS-based HDR pBT treatment fractions. The measured MOSkin doses were retrospectively compared to those predicted by the BTPS for the total treatment fraction, as well as on a per catheter basis.

A Clinician's Guide to Cancer-Derived Exosomes: Immune Interactions and Therapeutic Implications.

Understanding of the role of immunity in the regulation of cancer growth continues to rapidly increase. This is fuelled by the impressive results yielded in recent years by immune checkpoint inhibitors, which block regulatory pathways to increase immune-mediated cancer destruction. Exosomes are cell-secreted membranous nanoscale vesicles that play important roles in regulating physiological and pathophysiological processes.

BrachyView: development of an algorithm for real-time automatic LDR brachytherapy seed detection.

BrachyView is a novel in-body imaging system developed to provide real-time intraoperative dosimetry for low dose rate prostate brachytherapy treatments. Seed positions can be reconstructed after in-vivo implantation using a high-resolution pinhole gamma camera inserted into the patient rectum. The obtained data is a set of 2D projections of the seeds on the image plane.

BrachyView: Reconstruction of seed positions and volume of an LDR prostate brachytherapy patient plan using a baseline subtraction algorithm.

Purpose: BrachyView is a novel in-body imaging system developed with the objective to provide real-time intraoperative dosimetry for low dose rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy treatments. The BrachyView coordinates combined with conventional transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) imaging, provides the possibility to localise the effective position of the implanted seeds inside the prostate volume, providing a unique tool for intra-operative verification of the quality of the implantation. This research presents the first complete LDR brachytherapy plan reconstructed by the BrachyView system and is used to evaluate the effectiveness of an imaging algorithm with baseline subtraction.

BrachyView: initial preclinical results for a real-time in-body HDR PBT source tracking system with simultaneous TRUS image fusion.

A prototype in-body gamma camera system with integrated trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS) and associated real-time image acquisition and analysis software was developed for intraoperative source tracking in high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. The accuracy and temporal resolution of the system was validated experimentally using a deformable tissue-equivalent prostate gel phantom and a full clinical HDR treatment plan. The BrachyView system was able to measure 78% of the 200 source positions with an accuracy of better than 1 mm.

Endobronchial brachytherapy in the management of lung malignancies: 20 years of experience in an Australian center.

Objectives: Management of end-stage lung cancers focuses on symptom control, requiring multimodality management. Endobronchial brachytherapy (EBB) is an evidence-based approach allowing safe delivery of clinically meaningful radiation doses. We provide a summary of treatment characteristics and clinical outcomes of EBB in a single center.

A risk-based approach to development of ultrasound-based high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy quality management.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to apply a risk-based approach to the development of a quality management (QM) program for ultrasound-based high-dose-rate (HDR) prostate brachytherapy (pBT) treatment planning and delivery.

Methods And Materials: A QM program was developed by a multidisciplinary team, using both an in-house risk-and-benefit balance impact template (RABBIT) tool and a failure modes and effect analysis (FMEA). FMEA scores were determined by three physicists, one radiation therapist and two radiation oncologists who were familiar with the protocol.

Dose accumulation of multiple high dose rate prostate brachytherapy treatments in two commercially available image registration systems.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess whether deformable image registration (DIR) is required for dose accumulation of multiple high dose rate prostate brachytherapy (HDRPBT) plans treated with the same catheter pattern on two different CT datasets.

Method: DIR was applied to 20 HDRPBT patients' planning CT images who received two treatment fractions on sequential days, on two different CT datasets, with the same implant. Quality of DIR in Velocity and MIM image registration systems was assessed by calculating the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) and mean distance to agreement (MDA) for the prostate, urethra and rectum contours.

High-dose-rate brachytherapy boost for prostate cancer: Outcomes and genitourinary toxicity.

Aims: To report disease outcomes and late urinary toxicity profile. To assess the impact of changing technique and evolving quality assurance on genitourinary toxicity rates.

Methods And Materials: One hundred eighty patients were treated with external beam radiation therapy and high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRB) for localized intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer, between December 2002 and February 2012.

Hemithoracic radiation therapy after extrapleural pneumonectomy for malignant pleural mesothelioma: Toxicity and outcomes at an Australian institution.

Introduction: We aim to report the outcome of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who underwent extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) and adjuvant hemithoracic radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy at a single Australian institution.

Method: Between July 2004 and March 2013, 53 patients were referred for radiation treatment following EPP, of whom 49 were suitable for adjuvant treatment. Radiation treatment initially involved a 3D conformal, mixed electron/photon technique, delivering 45-50.

Corneal optics after reading, microscopy and computer work.

Purpose: To compare lid-induced changes in corneal optics following reading, microscopy and computer work.

Methods: Nine subjects with normal ocular health were recruited for the study. Five subjects were myopic, two were emmetropic, one was astigmatic and one was hyperopic.