Free-breathing conformal irradiation of pancreatic cancer.

The purpose of this study was to assess treatment margins in free-breathing irradiation of pancreatic cancer after bone alignment, and evaluate their impact on conformal radiotherapy. Fifteen patients with adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas underwent implantation of single fiducial marker. Intrafraction uncertainties were assessed on simulation four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) by calculating maximal intrafraction fiducial excursion (MIFE).

Quasi-VMAT in high-grade glioma radiation therapy.

Purpose: To compare a quasi-volumetric modulated arc therapy (qVMAT) with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for the treatment of high-grade gliomas. The qVMAT technique is a fast method of radiation therapy in which multiple equispaced beams analogous to those in rotation therapy are radiated in succession.

Patients And Methods: This study included 12 patients with a planning target volume (PTV) that overlapped at least one organ at risk (OAR).

Planning hybrid intensity modulated radiation therapy for whole-breast irradiation.

Purpose: To test tangential and not-tangential hybrid intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for whole-breast irradiation.

Methods And Materials: Seventy-eight (36 right-, 42 left-) breast patients were randomly selected. Hybrid IMRT was performed by direct aperture optimization.

Prostate image-guided radiotherapy by megavolt cone-beam CT.

Purpose: To test megavolt cone-beam CT (MV-CBCT) in order to evaluate setup errors in prostate radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: The setup of 9 patients was verified weekly by electronic portal imaging (EPI) and MV-CBCT, both per-formed in the same treatment session. EPI were compared with digitally reconstructed radiographies (DRRs).

[Exclusive intra-operative radiation therapy (IORT) for early stage breast cancer: pilot study of feasibility].

Aim: To evaluate feasibility, tolerability and cosmetic outcome of intra-operative radiation therapy (IORT) as an exclusive post-surgery treatment of early stage breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: From October 2008 to October 2009 30 patients underwent wide breast cancer excision or quadrantectomy followed by IORT on tumor bed with accelerated electrons at the dose of 21Gy. The characteristics of the patients were: ductal breast cancer or invasive lobular cT1, cT2 ≤ 2,5 cm, cN0, G1-2, age over 35 years, M0.