Phantom measurements and computed estimates of breast dose with radiotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma: dose reduction with the use of the involved field.

The risk of breast cancer following radiotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma appears to be dose related. In this study we compared breast dose in an anthropomorphic phantom for conventional 'mantle'; upper mediastinal/bilateral neck (minimantle) and unilateral neck fields, and evaluated the accuracy of computer planned dose estimates for out-of-field doses. For each field, computer-planned breast dose (CPD) estimates were compared with thermoluminescence dosimetry measurements in five locations within 'breast tissue'.

Interface software for DOSXYZnrc Monte Carlo dose evaluation on a commercial radiation treatment planning system.

Purpose: As the conventional graphical user interface (GUI) associated with DOSXYZnrc or BEAMnrc is unable to define specific structures such as gross tumor volume (GTV) on computed tomography (CT) data, the quantitative analysis of doses in the form of dose-volume histograms (DVHs) is difficult. The purpose of this study was to develop an interface that enables us to analyze the results of DOSXYZnrc output with a commercial radiation treatment planning (RTP) system and to investigate the validity of the system.

Materials And Methods: Interface software to visualize three-dimensional radiotherapy Monte Carlo (MC) dose data from DOSXYZnrc on the XiO RTP system was developed.

Investigations of different kilovoltage X-ray energy for three-dimensional converging stereotactic radiotherapy system: Monte Carlo simulations with CT data.

We are investigating three-dimensional converging stereotactic radiotherapy (3DCSRT) with suitable medium-energy x rays as treatment for small lung tumors with better dose homogeneity at the target. A computed tomography (CT) system dedicated for non-coplanar converging radiotherapy was simulated with BEAMnrc (EGS4) Monte-Carlo code for x-ray energy of 147.5, 200, 300, and 500 kilovoltage (kVp).

Identity and spirituality: a psychosocial exploration of the sense of spiritual self.

The authors examined the structure and content of adults' sense of spiritual identity by analyzing semistructured interviews with 13 spiritually devout men and 15 devout women, ages 22 to 72. Individuals' responses to the Role-Related Identity Interview (G. T.

Love and dating experience in early and middle adolescence: grade and gender comparisons.

The experience of being "in love" was studied in a sample of 186 early to middle adolescent males and 199 early to middle adolescent females. Results indicated that amount of dating experience of adolescents varied widely at each age. Being "in love" co-occurred with a reciprocal on-going relationship about half the time.