Evaluation of ion recombination and polarity effect on photon depth dose measurements using mini- and micro-ion chamber.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of ion recombination ( ) and polarity ( ) correction factors on percentage depth dose (PDD) curves for three ion chambers, using flat and flattening filter free (FFF) beams, across different broad field sizes. A method to assess these effects and their corresponding corrections is proposed.

Methods: and were evaluated following the IAEA TRS-398 protocol for three ion chambers: PTW Semiflex-3D-31021, PinPoint-3D-31022, and Semiflex-31010.

Machine learning and lean six sigma for targeted patient-specific quality assurance of volumetric modulated arc therapy plans.

Background And Purpose: Radiotherapy plans with excessive complexity exhibit higher uncertainties and worse patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) results, while the workload of measurement-based PSQA can impact the efficiency of the radiotherapy workflow. Machine Learning (ML) and Lean Six Sigma, a process optimization method, were implemented to adopt a targeted PSQA approach, aiming to reduce workload, risk of failures, and monitor complexity.

Materials And Methods: Lean Six Sigma was applied using DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control) steps.

STRILL: Phase I Trial Evaluating Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) Dose Escalation for Re-Irradiation of Inoperable Peripheral Lung Lesions.

Few data are available on the role of SBRT re-irradiation for isolated recurrences. We designed a prospective phase I study to evaluate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of SBRT for thoracic re-irradiation, for peripheral lung lesions. RT was delivered with a dose escalation design from 30 Gy in five fractions up to 50 Gy in five fractions.

Twenty Years of Advancements in a Radiotherapy Facility: Clinical Protocols, Technology, and Management.

Background: Hypo-fractionation can be an effective strategy to lower costs and save time, increasing patient access to advanced radiation therapy. To demonstrate this potential in practice within the context of temporal evolution, a twenty-year analysis of a representative radiation therapy facility from 2003 to 2022 was conducted. This analysis utilized comprehensive data to quantitatively evaluate the connections between advanced clinical protocols and technological improvements.

Oligorecurrent Prostate Cancer and Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy: Where Are We Now? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Studies.

Context: The optimal management of oligometastatic prostate cancer (PCa) is still debated.

Objective: The purpose of the present systematic review and meta-analysis is to collect the available evidence to date to better define the role of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in selected patients with oligorecurrent PCa.

Evidence Acquisition: Study methodology complied with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA).

Exploring miRNA Signature and Other Potential Biomarkers for Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer Characterization: The Biological Challenge behind Clinical Practice. A Narrative Review.

In recent years, a growing interest has been directed towards oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPC), as patients with three to five metastatic lesions have shown a significantly better survival as compared with those harboring a higher number of lesions. The efficacy of local ablative treatments directed on metastatic lesions (metastases-directed treatments) was extensively investigated, with the aim of preventing further disease progression and delaying the start of systemic androgen deprivation therapies. Definitive diagnosis of prostate cancer is traditionally based on histopathological analysis.

Computer-Assisted Classification Patterns in Autoimmune Diagnostics: The AIDA Project.

Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are significant biomarkers in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases in humans, done by mean of Indirect ImmunoFluorescence (IIF) method, and performed by analyzing patterns and fluorescence intensity. This paper introduces the AIDA Project (autoimmunity: diagnosis assisted by computer) developed in the framework of an Italy-Tunisia cross-border cooperation and its preliminary results. A database of interpreted IIF images is being collected through the exchange of images and double reporting and a Gold Standard database, containing around 1000 double reported images, has been settled.

Fuzzy technique for microcalcifications clustering in digital mammograms.

Background: Mammography has established itself as the most efficient technique for the identification of the pathological breast lesions. Among the various types of lesions, microcalcifications are the most difficult to identify since they are quite small (0.1-1.

Mammographic images segmentation based on chaotic map clustering algorithm.

Background: This work investigates the applicability of a novel clustering approach to the segmentation of mammographic digital images. The chaotic map clustering algorithm is used to group together similar subsets of image pixels resulting in a medically meaningful partition of the mammography.

Methods: The image is divided into pixels subsets characterized by a set of conveniently chosen features and each of the corresponding points in the feature space is associated to a map.

Surgical treatment of chronic acromioclavicular dislocation with biologic graft vs synthetic ligament: a prospective randomized comparative study.

Background: Acromioclavicular (AC) dislocation involves complete loss of articular contact; it is defined as chronic when it follows conservative management or unsuccessful surgical treatment.

Materials And Methods: The study compared the clinical and radiographic outcomes of AC joint stabilization performed in 40 patients with chronic dislocation using a biological allograft (group A) or a synthetic ligament (group B). Demographic data included: M/F: 25/15; mean age: 35 ± 3.

Correlation between radiographic risk for glenoid component loosening and clinical scores in shoulder arthroplasty.

Glenoid component loosening is the weak point in the failure of total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). In this study we analyse the radiographic risk factors observed on 86 cemented polyethylene glenoid components and their relationship with clinical signs at a mean follow-up of 5.8 years.

A massive lesion detection algorithm in mammography.

A new algorithm for massive lesion detection in mammography is presented. The algorithm consists in three main steps: 1) reduction of the dimension of the image to be processed through the identification of regions of interest (roi) as candidates for massive lesions; 2) characterization of the RoI by means of suitable feature extraction; 3) pattern classification through supervised neural networks. Suspect regions are detected by searching for local maxima of the pixel grey level intensity.