Management of skin reactions during radiotherapy in Flanders (Belgium): a study of nursing practice before and after the introduction of a skin care protocol.

Purpose Of The Research: To evaluate nursing practice in Flanders (Belgium) regarding skin care during radiotherapy and the effect of the introduction of an evidence based protocol on daily nursing practice.

Methods And Sample: Nurses working at radiotherapy departments in Flanders were invited to complete a 58-item questionnaire. The survey was undertaken in 2001 (n=67) and end of 2006 (n=89).

Assessment of intrafractional movement and internal motion in radiotherapy of rectal cancer using megavoltage computed tomography.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to provide estimates of setup and internal margins of patients treated for rectal carcinoma using helical tomotherapy and to assess possible margin adaptations. Using helical tomotherapy, highly conformal dose distributions can be created, and the integrated megavoltage computed tomography (MVCT) modality allows very precise daily patient positioning. In clinical protocols, however, margins originating from traditional setup procedures are still being applied.

TomoTherapy: implications on daily workload and scheduling patients.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to measure the mean duration of treatments and to investigate the occasional events, with extreme influence on treatment time.

Patients And Methods: Time measurements were performed from the start of patient treatments (n=72) and one year later (n=27) on TomoTherapy. The time interval of the different procedures during treatment was measured.

The effect of timing of the provision of information on anxiety and satisfaction of cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.

Background: To improve the provision of information to their radiotherapy patients, the authors examined whether the timing of given written information has an effect on anxiety and satisfaction.

Methods: Two sources of information were used: 1) a booklet with a description of radiotherapy procedures and the sensations patients can experience; 2) teaching sheets with treatment-site-related information. 68 patients were randomized to a simultaneous-information group (n = 31) and a stepwise-information group (n = 37).

Characteristics and clinical application of a treatment simulator with Ct-option.

Background And Purpose: The integration of a scanner for computed tomography (CT) and a treatment simulator (Sim-CT, Elekta Oncology Systems, Crawley, UK) has been studied in a clinical situation. Image quality, hounsfield units (HU) and linearity have been evaluated as well as the implications for treatment planning. The additional dose to the patient has also been highlighted.

Use of a simulator with CT option in radiotherapy of macular degeneration.

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of a conventional simulation procedure in radiotherapy of age-related macular degeneration.

Methods And Materials: A computed tomographic (CT) extension attached to the treatment simulator was used to acquire CT images immediately after conventional simulation in 18 patients referred for treatment of age-related macular degeneration. Analysis was performed on 16 one-sided treatment cases for whom images were obtained.