Combatting resistance in intensive care: the multimodal approach of the Spanish ICU "Zero Resistance" program.

This article is one of ten reviews selected from the Annual Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2015 and co-published as a series in Critical Care. Other articles in the series can be found online at http://ccforum.com/series/annualupdate2015.

Evaluation of a software system for estimating planned dose error in patients, based on planar IMRT QA measurements.

Background: Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) dosimetry verification is routinely conducted via integrated or individual field dosimetry using film or a matrix of detectors. Techniques and software systems are commercially available which use individual field dosimetry measurements as input into algorithms that estimate 3D patient dose distributions on CT scan derived target volumes and organs at risk (OARs), thus allowing direct dose-volume histogram (DVH) analysis vs. treatment planning system (TPS) DVH.

SU-E-T-309: Dosimetric Study and Clinical Implementation of an HDR Applicator of SAVI for Partial Breast Irradiation.

Purpose: To present clinical implementation and quality assurance for a new HDR applicator of Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant (SAVI) for partial breast irradiation and the higher-order DVH examined.

Methods: The SAVI applicator with multi-peripheral struts can be differentially loaded with the HDR source for a conformal dose distribution to the lumpectomy cavity. The treatment plan is evaluated by a dose volume histogram (DVH) as follows: V90 > 90%, V150 < 50 cc, and V200 < 20 cc.

Verification of MLC based real-time tumor tracking using an electronic portal imaging device.

Purpose: The authors have developed a novel technique using an electronic portal imaging device (EPID) to verify the geometrical accuracy of delivery of dose-rate-regulated tracking (DRRT). This technique, called verification of real-time tracking with EPID (VORTE), can potentially be used for both on-line and off-line quality assurance (QA) of MLC-based dynamic tumor tracking.

Methods: The shape and position of target as a function of time, which is assumed to be known, is projected onto the EPID plane.

Lung dose for minimally moving thoracic lesions treated with respiration gating.

Purpose: To evaluate incidental doses to benign lung tissue for patients with minimally moving lung lesions treated with respiratory gating.

Methods And Materials: Seventeen lung patient plans were studied retrospectively. Tumor motion was less than 5 mm in all cases.