MRI only in a patient with prostate cancer with bilateral metal hip prostheses: case study.

Objective: To outline a practical method of performing prostate cancer radiotherapy in patients with bilateral metal hip prostheses with the standard resources available in a modern general hospital. The proposed workflow is based exclusively on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to avoid computed tomography (CT) artifacts.

Case Description: This study concerns a 73-year-old man with bilateral hip prostheses with an elevated risk prostate cancer.

A national survey on technology and quality assurance for stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for early stage solid tumors and metastases is increasing worldwide. In 2013, the Italian Association of Medical Physicists (AIFM) created a working group in order to standardize the SBRT dosimetric aspects (AIFM/SBRT-WG). The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of technology and quality assurance (QA) as regards SBRT in Italy.

Gamma camera calibrations for the Italian multicentre study for lesion dosimetry in Ra therapy of bone metastases.

Purpose: The aim was to calibrate gamma cameras in the framework of the Italian multicentre study for lesion dosimetry in Ra therapy of bone metastases. Equipments of several manufacturers and different models were used.

Methods: Eleven gamma cameras (3/8- and 5/8-inch crystal) were used, acquiring planar static images with double-peak (82 and 154keV, 20% wide) and MEGP collimator.

Lung stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy: A large scale multi-institutional planning comparison for interpreting results of multi-institutional studies.

Purpose: A large-scale multi-institutional planning comparison on lung cancer SABR is presented with the aim of investigating possible criticism in carrying out retrospective multicentre data analysis from a dosimetric perspective.

Methods: Five CT series were sent to the participants. The dose prescription to PTV was 54Gy in 3 fractions of 18Gy.

Multicentre treatment planning inter-comparison in a national context: The liver stereotactic ablative radiotherapy case.

Purpose: To compare five liver metastasis stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) plans optimised in fourteen centres with 3D-Conformal-RT, IMRT, VMAT, CyberKnife and Tomotherapy and identify possible dosimetric differences.

Methods: Dose prescription was 75 Gy in 3 fractions, normalised at 67%-95% isodose.

Results: Excluding few cases, all institutions achieved the planning objectives.

A feasibility dosimetric study on prostate cancer : are we ready for a multicenter clinical trial on SBRT?

Purpose: The Italian Association of Medical Physics (AIFM) started a working group dedicated to stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatment. In this work, we performed a multicenter planning study on patients who were candidates for SBRT in the treatment of prostate cancer with the aim of evaluating the dosimetric consistency among the different hospitals.

Methods And Materials: Fourteen centers were provided the contours of 5 patients.

Set-up errors and planning target volume margins in head and neck cancer radiotherapy: a clinical study of image guidance with on-line cone-beam computed tomography.

Background: Set-up errors represent a source of uncertainty in head and neck (H&N) cancer radiotherapy. The present study evaluated set-up accuracy with the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in order to establish the proper clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margins to be adopted.

Methods: Local set-up accuracy was analysed for 44 H&N cancer patients since the implementation of CBCT.