Standard vs conformal radiation therapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate: no difference.

Objective: To compare results of treatment of adenocardinoma of the prostate using Standard (2D) vs Conformal (3D) treatment planning. Methods: The records of all patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate treated curatively with radiation therapy alone from July 1991 to June 1994 were reviewed. Acute and late complications were scored by the RTOG criteria.

Influence of tumor volume on survival in patients irradiated for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the importance of CT-defined total tumor volume (TTV) on overall survival (OS) in patients with unresectable or medically inoperable non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

Methods And Materials: Between 1991 and 1998, 150 evaluable patients with Stage I-IIIB NSCLC were treated with three-dimensionally planned conformal radiotherapy and curative intent at Duke University Medical Center. On the treatment-planning CT, the primary tumor and nodal volumes were identified and subsequently combined to form the TTV.

The time course of radiation therapy-induced reductions in regional perfusion: a prospective study with >5 years of follow-up.

Purpose: To assess the time-dependence of radiation therapy (RT)-induced reductions in regional lung perfusion, as measured by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) lung perfusion scans.

Methods And Materials: Between 1991 and 1999, 79 patients had SPECT lung perfusion scans before and serially after RT. Changes in regional perfusion were correlated with regional dose using 3D planning tools and image fusion (PLUNC-Plan UNC).

Radiation-induced pulmonary toxicity: a dose-volume histogram analysis in 201 patients with lung cancer.

Purpose: To relate lung dose-volume histogram-based factors to symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients with lung cancer undergoing 3-dimensional (3D) radiotherapy planning.

Methods And Materials: Between 1991 and 1999, 318 patients with lung cancer received external beam radiotherapy (RT) with 3D planning tools at Duke University Medical Center. One hundred seventeen patients were not evaluated for RP because of <6 months of follow-up, development of progressive intrathoracic disease making scoring of pulmonary symptoms difficult, or unretrievable 3D dosimetry data.

Relating radiation-induced regional lung injury to changes in pulmonary function tests.

Purpose: To determine whether the sum of radiotherapy (RT)-induced reductions in regional lung perfusion is quantitatively related to changes in global lung function as assessed by reductions in pulmonary function tests (PFTs).

Methods And Materials: Two hundred seven patients (70% with lung cancer) who received incidental partial lung irradiation underwent PFTs (forced expiratory volume in 1 s and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide) before and repeatedly after RT as part of a prospective clinical study. Regional lung function was serially assessed before and after RT by single photon emission computed tomography perfusion scans.