Publications by authors named "Christoph Furweger"

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a well-established treatment modality for the management of uveal melanoma, achieving high tumor control and eye retention rates. There are several SRS treatment platforms available, including the recently developed self-shielding gyroscopic radiosurgery (GRS) system. We report the first use of GRS in the treatment of uveal melanoma.

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Purpose: Uveal melanoma (UM), although a rare malignancy, stands as the most prevalent intraocular malignancy in adults. Controversies persist regarding the dose dependency of local control (LC) through radiation therapy. This study sought to elucidate the significance of the prescription dose by employing time-dose-response models for patients with UM receiving photon-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

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Purpose: Although emerging clinical evidence supports robotic radiosurgery as a highly effective treatment option for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) less than 4 cm in diameter, delivery uncertainties and associated target volume margins have not been studied in detail. We assess intrafraction tumor motion patterns and accuracy of robotic radiosurgery in renal tumors with real-time respiratory tracking to optimize treatment margins.

Methods: Delivery log files from 165 consecutive treatments of RCC were retrospectively analyzed.

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Brainstem metastases (BSM) present a significant neuro-oncological challenge, resulting in profound neurological deficits and poor survival outcomes. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) offer promising therapeutic avenues for BSM despite their precarious location. This international multicenter study investigates the efficacy and safety of SRS and FSRT in 136 patients with 144 BSM treated at nine institutions from 2005 to 2022.

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Background Stereotactic radiosurgery is a well-established treatment option for the management of various benign and malignant brain tumors. It can be delivered with several treatment platforms, usually requiring shielded radiation vaults to meet regulatory safety requirements. Recent technical advances have led to the first self-shielding platform enabling the delivery of gyroscopic radiosurgery (GRS).

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Objective: Treatment for meningiomas involving the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) is challenging and proved to be associated with higher risks compared to other brain locations. Therapeutical strategies may be either microsurgical (sub-)total resection or adjuvant radiation, or a combination of both. Thrombosis or SSS occlusion following resection or radiosurgery needs to be further elucidated to assess whether single or combined treatment is superior.

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Objective: Proton beam therapy is considered, by some authors, as having the advantage of delivering dose distributions more conformal to target compared with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Here, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of proton beam for VSs, evaluating tumor control and cranial nerve preservation rates, particularly with regard to facial and hearing preservation.

Methods: We reviewed, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) articles published between 1968 and September 30, 2022.

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Background: Radiosurgery is a well-established treatment for various intracranial tumors. In contrast to other established radiosurgery platforms, the new ZAP-X allows for self-shielding gyroscopic radiosurgery. Here, treatment beams with variable beam-on times are targeted towards a small number of isocenters.

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Background: Periodic and slow target motion is tracked by synchronous motion of the treatment beams in robotic stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). However, spontaneous, non-periodic displacement or drift of the target may completely change the treatment geometry. Simple motion compensation is not sufficient to guarantee the best possible treatment, since relative motion between the target and organs at risk (OARs) can cause substantial deviations of dose in the OARs.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study reports the first German phase II trial (HYPOSTAT) focused on using hypofractionated robotic stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for patients with localized prostate cancer.
  • The trial initially included older patients but later opened enrollment to those 60 years and older, delivering a total of 35 Gy in 5 fractions to the prostate and potentially the proximal seminal vesicles for higher-risk patients.
  • Results showed that no patients experienced severe treatment-related gastrointestinal or genitourinary side effects, and acute side effects were mostly mild, while there were no significant changes in urinary function or quality of life.
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Objective: To analyse the efficacy and safety of focal prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography (PSMA-PET)- and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)-guided single-fraction stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) local recurrences.

Patients And Methods: Patients with PSMA-PET-positive PCa local recurrences treated with single-fraction SBRT between 2016 and 2020 were included. Identification for subsequent recurrences or metastatic spread based on increasing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were evaluated using PSMA-PET imaging.

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Objectives: Fast volumetric ultrasound presents an interesting modality for continuous and real-time intra-fractional target tracking in radiation therapy of lesions in the abdomen. However, the placement of the ultrasound probe close to the target structures leads to blocking some beam directions.

Methods: To handle the combinatorial complexity of searching for the ultrasound-robot pose and the subset of optimal treatment beams, we combine CNN-based candidate beam selection with simulated annealing for setup optimization of the ultrasound robot, and linear optimization for treatment plan optimization into an AI-based approach.

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Background: Self-shielding gyroscopic radiosurgery (GRS) represents a technical innovation in the field of stereotactic radiosurgery. GRS does not require a radiation vault and is optimized for radiosurgical treatments. Reports on its usage are limited.

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In this study. we aimed to detect vestibular schwannomas (VSs) in individual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) slices by using a 2D-CNN. A pretrained CNN (ResNet-34) was retrained and internally validated using contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (T1c) MRI slices from one institution.

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Background Neural networks for analyzing MRIs are oftentimes trained on particular combinations of perspectives and acquisition sequences. Since real-world data are less structured and do not follow a standard denomination of acquisition sequences, this impedes the transition from deep learning research to clinical application. The purpose of this study is therefore to assess the feasibility of classifying the acquisition sequence from a single MRI slice using convolutional neural networks.

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Purpose: Adrenal gland metastases (AGMs) are a common manifestation of metastatic tumor spread, especially in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In patients with a limited systemic tumor burden, effective treatments for AGMs are needed. Due to varying fractionation schemes and limited reports, short-course treatment results for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for AGMs are lacking.

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Introduction High-dose local stereotactic robotic radiosurgery (RRS) is a non-invasive alternative to surgery in renal masses and selected patients. We have, so far, limited its use to the elderly and patients at high risk from surgery. In this study, we matched patients with renal tumors who were treated with single fraction RRS to patients who underwent open partial nephrectomy (OPN).

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study analyzed 41 patients undergoing SRS while on ACT, monitoring for ICH occurrences over an average follow-up of 8.2 months, finding a low risk of bleeding with no significant neurological deficits or deaths linked to ICH.
  • * The results showed cumulative ICH incidences of 2.1%, 12.4%, and 12.4%
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Pulmonary metastases are the most frequent site of metastases in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Metastases directed treatment remains an important treatment option despite advances in systemic therapies. However, the safety and efficacy of robotic radiosurgery (RRS) for the treatment of lung metastases of RCC remains unclear.

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Background: Foramen magnum meningiomas (FMMs) represent a considerable neurosurgical challenge given their location and potential morbidity. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an established non-invasive treatment modality for various benign and malignant brain tumors. However, reports on single-session or multisession SRS for the management and treatment of FMMs are exceedingly rare.

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: Many proposed algorithms for tumor detection rely on 2.5/3D convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and the input of segmentations for training. The purpose of this study is therefore to assess the performance of tumor detection on single MRI slices containing vestibular schwannomas (VS) as a computationally inexpensive alternative that does not require the creation of segmentations.

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Background: Due to recent medical advancements, patients suffering from metastatic spinal disease have a prolonged life expectancy than several decades ago, and some will eventually experience relapses. Data for the retreatment of spinal metastasis recurrences occurring at the very same macroscopic spot as the initially treated lesion are limited. Previous studies mainly included recurrences in the boundary areas as well as other macroscopic parts of the initially affected vertebrae.

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Background: Ependymomas are rare neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS), usually localized intracranially and most commonly diagnosed in children. Spinal ependymomas are more frequent in young adults. They are either primary lesions or manifest as disseminated seeding of cranial tumors.

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Background: Most existing publications on quality of life (QoL) following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for vestibular schwannomas (VS) gather information retrospectively by conducting surveys several years after treatment. The purpose of this study is therefore to provide longitudinal QoL data and assess how changes in hearing impact QoL.

Methods: Patients completed the 12-item short-form (SF-12) health survey prior to treatment and at every follow-up visit.

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Background: The rates of incomplete surgical resection for pituitary macroadenomas with cavernous sinus invasion are high. In growth hormone-producing adenomas, there is a considerable risk for persistent acromegaly. Thus, effective treatment options are needed to limit patient morbidity and mortality.

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