Excessive esophageal toxicity in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with concurrent hypofractionated chemoradiotherapy and 3-weekly platinum doublet chemotherapy.

Introduction: Concurrent chemoradiation followed by immunotherapy is the standard of care for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Prior to the introduction of adjuvant immunotherapy, we treated patients with stage III NSCLC with concurrent platinum doublet chemotherapy and 66 Gy in 24 fractions. We determined the toxicity of this treatment.

Target volume delineation in breast conserving radiotherapy: are co-registered CT and MR images of added value?

Introduction: In breast conserving radiotherapy differences of target volume delineations between observers do occur. We evaluated whether delineations based on co-registered computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may result in an improved consistency between observers. We used the delineation conformity index (CI) to compare clinical target volumes of glandular breast tissue (CTV breast) and lumpectomy cavity (LC) on both imaging modalities.

MRI- versus CT-based volume delineation of lumpectomy cavity in supine position in breast-conserving therapy: an exploratory study.

Purpose: To examine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) for lumpectomy cavity (LC) volume delineation in supine radiotherapy treatment position and to assess the interobserver variability.

Methods And Materials: A total of 15 breast cancer patients underwent a planning CT and directly afterward MRI in supine radiotherapy treatment position. Then, 4 observers (2 radiation oncologists and 2 radiologists) delineated the LC on the CT and MRI scans and assessed the cavity visualization score (CVS).

Magnetic resonance imaging- versus computed tomography-based target volume delineation of the glandular breast tissue (clinical target volume breast) in breast-conserving therapy: an exploratory study.

Purpose: To examine MRI and CT for glandular breast tissue (GBT) volume delineation and to assess interobserver variability.

Methods And Materials: Fifteen breast cancer patients underwent a planning CT and MRI, consecutively, in the treatment position. Four observers (two radiation oncologists and two radiologists) delineated the GBT according to the CT and separately to the MR images.

Measuring the similarity of target volume delineations independent of the number of observers.

The variability of target delineations is a topic of interest in radiotherapy. The similarity of delineations is often quantified by use of a conformity index (CI) defined as the ratio of common to encompassing volume. Several forms of CI are in use, but no consensus exists on how to calculate the CI for more than two delineations.

Dosimetric characteristics of the Leipzig surface applicators used in the high dose rate brachy radiotherapy.

The nucletron Leipzig applicator is designed for (HDR) 192Ir brachy radiotherapy of surface lesions. The dosimetric characteristics of this applicator were investigated using simulation method based on Monte Carlo N-particle (MCNP) code and phantom measurements. The simulation method was validated by comparing calculated dose rate distributions of nucletron microSelectron HDR 192Ir source against published data.