Repeat single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent vestibular schwannoma.

Background: Data are scarce on the efficacy of a second radiosurgery (SRS) treatment of vestibular schwannoma that has progressed following initial treatment with SRS. We sought to report the outcome of our repeat SRS series with long-term imaging follow-up.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 6 patients who met the following criteria: Repeat SRS at our institution between 1995 and 2018; solitary unilateral tumor; no evidence of neurofibromatosis; and magnetic resonance (MR) planning for both SRS treatments.

Dose-escalated proton therapy with elective nodal irradiation and concomitant chemotherapy for unresectable, borderline resectable, or medically inoperable pancreatic cancer: a phase II trial.

Background: To report outcomes of a phase II single-institution trial of dose-escalated proton radiotherapy with elective nodal irradiation (ENI) and concomitant chemotherapy for patients with unresectable, borderline resectable, or medically inoperable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Patients received 40.5 GyRBE in 18 fractions to the gross disease and elective nodal volumes followed by 22.

Potential Financial Implications of Substituting Cognitive Medicine for Technical Radiation Oncology Billing Services.

Respected authors recommend broadening the radiation oncology (RO) scope-of-practice by taking more responsibility for the general medical care of our patients, directing the delivery of systemic cancer treatments that avoid the high toxicity of cytotoxic chemotherapy, managing palliative care, and supervising inpatient services for brachytherapy cases and problems related to radiation toxicity. The purpose of these changes is to increase RO involvement in clinical decision making and to avoiding becoming pigeon-holed as technicians instead of oncologists. There are no data estimating the financial implications of substituting traditional radiation oncology practice with that of an expanded clinical role.

Radiation treatment of soft palate squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: To report our institution's experience treating soft palate squamous cell carcinoma with radiotherapy alone or combined with adjuvant chemotherapy and/or neck dissection for residual disease.

Methods: We analyzed 159 patients treated curatively between 1963 and 2016. Median follow-up was 4 years.

Dosimetric Predictors of Cardiotoxicity in Thoracic Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer.

Background: Higher cardiac radiotherapy (RT) doses when treating lung cancer are associated with worse overall survival (OS), although the direct association between cardiac dose and early cardiotoxicity is poorly understood. We hypothesized that RT doses to the heart and cardiac substructures are associated with under-reported early cardiotoxicity and worse OS.

Patients And Methods: We conducted an institutional retrospective review of lung cancer patients treated with conventionally fractionated RT from 2010 to 2015.

Infants with esophageal atresia and right aortic arch: Characteristics and outcomes from the Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium.

Purpose: Right sided aortic arch (RAA) is a rare anatomic finding in infants with esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF). In the presence of RAA, significant controversy exists regarding optimal side for thoracotomy in repair of the EA/TEF. The purpose of this study was to characterize the incidence, demographics, surgical approach, and outcomes of patients with RAA and EA/TEF.

Challenging surgical dogma in the management of proximal esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal fistula: Outcomes from the Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium.

Purpose: Perioperative management of infants with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is frequently based on surgeon experience and dogma rather than evidence-based guidelines. This study examines whether commonly perceived important aspects of practice affect outcome in a contemporary multi-institutional cohort of patients undergoing primary repair for the most common type of esophageal atresia anomaly, proximal EA with distal TEF.

Methods: The Midwest Pediatric Surgery Consortium conducted a multicenter, retrospective study examining selected outcomes on infants diagnosed with proximal EA with distal TEF who underwent primary repair over a 5-year period (2009-2014), with a minimum 1-year follow up, across 11 centers.

Perioperative management and outcomes of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula.

Background/purpose: Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is a rare congenital anomaly lacking contemporary data detailing patient demographics, medical/surgical management and outcomes. Substantial variation in the care of infants with EA/TEF may affect both short- and long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to characterize the demographics, management strategies and outcomes in a contemporary multi-institutional cohort of infants diagnosed with EA/TEF to identify potential areas for standardization of care.