Treatment planning considerations for I eye plaque brachytherapy.

Effective cancer brachytherapy requires a treatment plan that delivers high-dose to tumor, while minimizing the dose to critical normal tissues. Therefore, an accurate knowledge of the sources and magnitude of the techniques is essential for producing robust and well optimized-plans. The purpose of this technical note is to establish general procedures and strategies for optimization and customization of the plaques loaded with radioactive seeds, particularly focusing on the definition of useful tactics to limit high doses to organs at risk and adapt the treatment time to the necessity of institution.

Episcleral brachytherapy as an effective alternative in vasoproliferative tumors.

The aim of this study is to assess the results of episcleral brachytherapy as treatment of retinal vasoproliferative tumors (RVTs) in a referral Intraocular Tumors Unit (ITU). A retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with vasoproliferative tumors of the retina and treated with episcleral brachytherapy in the ITU, University Hospital of Valladolid between 2009 and 2015 was done. Five patients accomplished the inclusion criteria.

Radiobiological doses, tumor, and treatment features influence on outcomes after epiescleral brachytherapy. A 20-year retrospective analysis from a single-institution: part II.

Purpose: To assess the influence of the radiobiological doses, tumor, and treatment features on retinopathy, cataracts, retinal detachment, optic neuropathy, vitreous hemorrhage, and neovascular glaucoma at the authors' institution after brachytherapy for posterior uveal melanoma.

Material And Methods: Medical records of 243 eyes with uveal melanoma, treated by iodine brachytherapy between 1996 and 2016 at a single center were analyzed. Clinical and radiotherapy data were extracted from a dedicated database.

Radiobiological doses, tumor, and treatment features influence on local control, enucleation rates, and survival after epiescleral brachytherapy. A 20-year retrospective analysis from a single-institution: part I.

Purpose: To assess influence of the radiobiological doses, tumor, and treatment features on local control, enucleation rates, overall and disease-specific survival rates after brachytherapy for posterior uveal melanoma.

Material And Methods: Local control, enucleation, overall and disease-specific survival rates were evaluated on the base of 243 patients from 1996 through 2016, using plaques loaded with iodine sources. Clinical and radiotherapy data were extracted from a dedicated prospective database.

Visual outcome after posterior uveal melanoma episcleral brachytherapy including radiobiological doses.

Purpose: To assess the long-term influence of radiobiological doses in the evolution of visual acuity (VA) in patients with uveal melanoma treated by episcleral brachytherapy.

Material And Methods: Visual acuity was evaluated prospectively from a case series of 243 patients in 2016 treated with I. Data analysis was applied to trend VA outcome and find the accurate best-fit line.

Infiltrative Intraocular Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma after Local Resection and Brachytherapy: Clinical and Pathological Findings.

A pseudophakic 70-year-old man presented to the clinic with a slow-growing conjunctival mass in the left eye. He was diagnosed with a conjunctival exophytic lesion suspicious of invasive conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). Excisional biopsy showed a well-differentiated CSCC with positive margins and the patient underwent adjuvant brachytherapy.

Pattern of Local Recurrence After I-125 Episcleral Brachytherapy for Uveal Melanoma in a Spanish Referral Ocular Oncology Unit.

Purpose: To describe the time, frequency, and clinical characteristics of treatment failure after I-125 brachytherapy in patients with uveal melanoma treated and followed in a Spanish referral ocular oncology unit.

Design: Prospective, consecutive, interventional case series.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma from 1995 to 2016 and treated with episcleral brachytherapy were included.

Episcleral brachytherapy for uveal melanoma: analysis of 136 cases.

Purpose: To assess the results of I-125 episcleral brachytherapy (EB) in uveal melanoma: tumour control, visual acuity (VA), eye preservation and survival.

Patients: Prospective and consecutive study of patients with a diagnosis of uveal melanoma at the Ocular Oncology Unit in the Valladolid University Teaching Hospital treated with EB between September 1997 and June 2008. Ocular examination and extraocular and systemic extension data were registered in a database at the time of the diagnosis and during the follow-up.

A pilot study of satisfaction in oncology nursing care: an indirect predictor of quality of care.

Purpose: Although "satisfaction" is not easy to define, excellence in health care is impossible without professional/patient satisfaction, so this paper aims to report on a pilot study designed in order to evaluate the degree of nursing staff satisfaction with the implementation of measures to improve quality of care.

Design/methodology/approach: The project consisted of several phases: writing protocols of care; training of nursing staff in their management; and a cross-sectional study to evaluate nursing staff satisfaction with them. The design of the survey consisted of a 16-item Likert scale, which had to be auto filled.

Life after breast cancer: dealing with lymphoedema.

Background: In recent years, breast cancer (BC) mortality rates have declined, reflecting advances in early detection. Prevention and management of treatment sequelae that could impair function or quality of life have increased in relevance. Lymphoedema after BC treatment is one of these sequelae.

Pilot study of a clinical pathway implementation in rectal cancer.

Background: Rectal cancer is a highly prevalent disease which needs a multidisciplinary approach to be treated. The absence of specific protocols implies a significant and unjustifiable variability among the different professionals involved in this disease. The purpose is to develop a clinical pathway based on the analysis process and aims to reduce this variability and to reduce unnecessary costs.

Drug extravasation: a dreaded complication.

A 62-year-old man diagnosed with a stage I lung adenocarcinoma was treated by an upper right lobectomy. Eighteen months later an elevation of carcinoembryoinc antigen (CEA) was detected, and CT tomography revealed a stage IV disease. Chemotherapy including cisplatin (Platinol) and docetaxel (Taxotere) was administered.