Computed chest radiography for total body irradiation: image quality and clinical feasibility.

In myeloablative total body irradiation (TBI), lung shielding blocks are used to reduce the dose to the lungs and hence decrease the risk of radiation pneumonitis. Some centers are still using mega-Volt (MV) imaging with dedicated silver halide-based films during simulation and treatment for lung delineation and position verification. However, the availability of these films has recently become an issue.

Incidence and radiotherapy treatment patterns of complicated bone metastases.

Background: Despite the encouraging results of the SCORAD trial, single fraction radiotherapy (SFRT) remains underused for patients with complicated bone metastases with rates as low as 18-39%. We aimed to evaluate the incidence and treatment patterns of these metastases in patients being referred to a tertiary centre for palliative radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all bone metastases treated at our centre from January 2013 until December 2017.

Patient-reported outcomes and functional exercise capacity in a real-life setting in non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy: the Lung PLUS study.

Introduction: To better understand the impact of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and its treatment-related toxicity on early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (ES-NSCLC) patients, we conducted the Lung PLUS study in a real-world setting.

Methods: This is a monocentric prospective longitudinal study up to 12 months post-treatment, evaluating clinician- and patient-reported toxicity (resp. CTCAE and PRO-CTCAE), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (EORTC QLQ-C30 and LC-13), activities of daily living (HAQ-DI) and functional exercise capacity (6 Minute Walking Test (6MWT)).

Dose-volume-based evaluation of convolutional neural network-based auto-segmentation of thoracic organs at risk.

Background And Purpose: The geometrical accuracy of auto-segmentation using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has been demonstrated. This study aimed to investigate the dose-volume impact of differences between automatic and manual OARs for locally advanced (LA) and peripherally located early-stage (ES) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Material And Methods: A single CNN was created for automatic delineation of the heart, lungs, main left and right bronchus, esophagus, spinal cord and trachea using 55/10/40 patients for training/validation/testing.

Adoption of single fraction radiotherapy for uncomplicated bone metastases in a tertiary centre.

Background: Single-fraction radiotherapy (SFRT) offers equal pain relief for uncomplicated painful bone metastases as compared to multiple-fraction radiotherapy (MFRT). Despite this evidence, the adoption of SFRT has been poor with published rates of SFRT for uncomplicated bone metastases ranging from <10% to 70%. We aimed to evaluate the adoption of SFRT and its evolution over time following the more formal endorsement of the international guidelines in our centre starting from 2013.

Automated Instead of Manual Treatment Planning? A Plan Comparison Based on Dose-Volume Statistics and Clinical Preference.

Purpose: Automated planning aims to speed up treatment planning and improve plan quality. We compared manual planning with automated planning for lung stereotactic body radiation therapy based on dose-volume histogram statistics and clinical preference.

Methods And Materials: Manual and automated intensity modulated radiation therapy plans were generated for 56 patients by use of software developed in-house and Pinnacle 9.

Outcome and prognostic factors in 110 consecutive patients with primary uterine leiomyosarcoma: A Rare Cancer Network study.

Objective: Primary uterine leiomyosarcomas (ULMS) are rare, and the optimal treatment is controversial. We aimed to assess the outcome and prognostic factors in a multicenter population of women treated for primary ULMS.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data of 110 women treated in 19 institutions of the Rare Cancer Network (RCN).

Combining high dose external beam radiotherapy with a simultaneous integrated boost to the dominant intraprostatic lesion: Analysis of genito-urinary and rectal toxicity.

Background And Purpose: Local recurrences after radiotherapy are dose-dependent and occur in the dominant intraprostatic lesion (DIL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-defined DIL on toxicity.

Materials And Methods: Four-hundred and ten patients were treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Intensity-modulated arc therapy with cisplatin as neo-adjuvant treatment for primary irresectable cervical cancer. Toxicity, tumour response and outcome.

Purpose: The goal of this work was to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of intensity-modulated arc therapy ± cisplatin (IMAT ± C) followed by hysterectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer.

Patients And Methods: A total of 30 patients were included in the study. The primary tumour and PET-positive lymph node(s) received a simultaneous integrated boost.

Postoperative intensity-modulated arc therapy for cervical and endometrial cancer: a prospective report on toxicity.

Purpose: To report on toxicity after postoperative intensity-modulated arc therapy (IMAT) for cervical (CC) and endometrial cancer (EC).

Methods And Materials: Twenty-four CC and 41 EC patients were treated with postoperative IMAT. If indicated, para-aortic lymph node irradiation (preventive or when affected, PALN) and/or concomitant cisplatin (40 mg/m(2), weekly) was administered.

Radiotherapy and surgery-an indispensable duo in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcoma.

The authors undertook a systematic review to designate the role that radiotherapy (RT) might play in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas. Correlating with recent literature, the objective of this review was to evaluate whether there was enough evidence for the authors to develop an institutional treatment protocol concerning the use of RT in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcoma. Furthermore, this was a call for surgeons to talk to radiation oncologists before performing surgery.

First trimester diclofenac exposure and pregnancy outcome.

Objective: To assess the safety of diclofenac during pregnancy.

Methods: A prospective observational cohort study, evaluating follow-up data of women who contacted Teratology Information Services to get counseling. The exposed group included 145 pregnant women who were exposed to diclofenac between the 5th and the 14th gestational week.

Prediction of late normal tissue complications in RT treated gynaecological cancer patients: potential of the gamma-H2AX foci assay and association with chromosomal radiosensitivity.

In the present study, the gamma-H2AX assay was investigated as a predictive test for the development of late normal tissue complications. Therefore, phosphorylated histone H2AX (gamma-H2AX) foci were scored in peripheral blood T-lymphocytes of gynaecological radiotherapy patients, irradiated in vitro with a high dose rate (HDR) and a low dose rate (LDR) protocol. The G2 chromatid break assay was used to compare chromosomal radiation sensitivity with DNA double-strand-break (DSB) repair capacity.

Acute normal tissue reactions in head-and-neck cancer patients treated with IMRT: influence of dose and association with genetic polymorphisms in DNA DSB repair genes.

Purpose: To investigate the association between dose-related parameters and polymorphisms in DNA DSB repair genes XRCC3 (c.-1843A>G, c.562-14A>G, c.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA double-strand break repair genes: association with head and neck cancer and interaction with tobacco use and alcohol consumption.

We investigated the effect of different levels of smoking and drinking on the development of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (HNSCC) and performed analyses to evaluate possible differences in cancer susceptibility among the anatomical subregions of head and neck. Moreover, we investigated the association between 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the homologous recombination DNA repair pathway (XRCC3 c.-1843 A>G, XRCC3 c.

Chromosomal radiosensitivity in head and neck cancer patients: evidence for genetic predisposition?

The association between chromosomal radiosensitivity and genetic predisposition to head and neck cancer was investigated in this study. In all, 101 head and neck cancer patients and 75 healthy control individuals were included in the study. The G(2) assay was used to measure chromosomal radiosensitivity.

Intraoperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy (IBT) for locally unresectable intraabdominal malignancy.

Purpose: Intraoperative high-dose-rate brachytherapy (IBT) has been successfully used in locally advanced unresectable intraabdominal malignancy. We retrospectively evaluated the safety, feasibility, and general outcome of IBT following cytoreductive surgery.

Patients And Methods: After radical resection, the target area to be treated by IBT was determined jointly by the surgeon and the radiation oncologist.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation versus hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant therapy is increasingly used in resectable locally advanced rectal cancer. The exact role of the addition of chemotherapy is not established. We compared neoadjuvant therapy using chemoradiation (CRT) or hyperfractionated accelerated radiotherapy (HART).

An observational longitudinal study to evaluate miction, defecation, and sexual function after radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy for early-stage cervical cancer.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the problems with miction, defecation, and sexuality after a radical hysterectomy with or without adjuvant radiotherapy for the treatment of cervical cancer stage I-IIA. This study included an observational longitudinal study of self-reported bladder, defecation, and sexual problems with a baseline score. Ninety-four women were included in the study.

TGFbeta1 polymorphisms and late clinical radiosensitivity in patients treated for gynecologic tumors.

Purpose: To investigate the association between six transforming growth factor beta1 gene (TGFbeta1) polymorphisms (-1.552delAGG, -800G>A, -509C>T, Leu10Pro, Arg25Pro, Thr263Ile) and the occurrence of late normal tissue reactions after gynecologic radiotherapy (RT).

Methods And Materials: Seventy-eight women with cervical or endometrial cancer and 140 control individuals were included in the study.

Compliance to surgical and radiation treatment guidelines in relation to patient outcome in early stage endometrial cancer.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: We evaluated the adherence to treatment guidelines in early stage endometrial cancer and the influence of adherence to guidelines on overall survival.

Method: Patients were identified in the central region in the Netherlands from 1990 till 1995. Patient and tumour characteristics, surgical findings, radiation and follow-up data were abstracted from medical records.