Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Therapy for Pregnant Patients With Brain and Head and Neck Cancers.

Purpose: When radiation therapy is medically necessary for pregnant patients, photon-based treatments (XRT) have traditionally been used, whereas proton radiation therapy (PRT) is avoided due to concerns about neutron dose. This retrospective study analyzes pregnant patients treated with XRT and models the equivalent dose that would have been delivered to the fetus with proton radiation compared with XRT. The purpose of this work is to provide a comprehensive analysis of pencil beam scanning proton therapy (PBS-PRT) for pregnant patients and to evaluate whether PBS-PRT should be the new standard of practice for treating pregnant patients with brain and head and neck cancers.

Design and characterization of an economical (192)Ir hemi-brain small animal irradiator.

Purpose: To describe the design and dosimetric characterization of a simple and economical small animal irradiator.

Materials And Methods: A high dose rate (HDR) (192)Ir brachytherapy source from a commercially available afterloader was used with a 1.3 cm thick tungsten collimator to provide sharp beam penumbra suitable for hemi-brain irradiation of mice.

Report on use of a methodology for commissioning and quality assurance of a VMAT system.

Introduction: Results of use of methodology for VMAT commissioning and quality assurance, utilizing both control point tests and dosimetric measurements are presented.

Methods And Materials: A generalizable, phantom measurement approach is used to characterize the accuracy of the measurement system. Correction for angular response of the measurement system and inclusion of couch structures are used to characterize the full range gantry angles desirable for clinical plans.

Effects of scatter radiation on ICD and CRT function.

Background: Effects of direct radiation on implantable cardiac devices have been well studied. However, the effects of scatter radiation are not as clear. Recommendations on management of patients with implantable cardiac devices undergoing radiotherapy are based on limited studies mostly involving pacemakers.