The financial toxicity of breast cancer: a systematic mapping of the literature and identification of research challenges.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, increasingly prevalent also among working-age populations. Regardless of age, breast cancer has significant direct and indirect costs on the individuals, families and society. The aim of the research was to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the financial toxicity of breast cancer, to identify research voids and future research challenges.

The Use of 3D Printing Technology in Gynaecological Brachytherapy-A Narrative Review.

Radiation therapy, including image-guided adaptive brachytherapy based on magnetic resonance imaging, is the standard of care in locally advanced cervical and vaginal cancer and part of the treatment in other primary and recurrent gynaecological tumours. Tumour control probability increases with dose and brachytherapy is the optimal technique to increase the dose to the target volume while maintaining dose constraints to organs at risk. The use of interstitial needles is now one of the quality indicators for cervical cancer brachytherapy and needles should optimally be used in ≥60% of patients.

Development and assessment of 3D-printed individual applicators in gynecological MRI-guided brachytherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical use of 3D printing technology for the modelling of individual applicators for advanced gynecological tumors in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based brachytherapy (BT).

Material And Methods: We tested individually designed 3D-printed applicators in nine patients with advanced gynecological cancer. Before BT was performed, all patients were treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).

Long Term Results of Radiotherapy in Vulvar Cancer Patients in Slovenia between 1997-2004.

Background: The aim of this retrospective single institution study was to analyse long term results of vulvar cancer treatment with conventional 2D radiotherapy in Slovenia between years 1997-2004.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-six patients, median age 74.4 years +/- 9.

Definitive radiotherapy for uterine cervix cancer: long term results for patients treated in the period from 1998 till 2002 at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse results of the two-dimensional (2D) uterine cervix cancer treatment at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana from 1998 till 2002, before the three-dimensional (3D) approach was introduced in our clinical practice.

Methods: Ninety-eight patients with the following FIGO stage distribution were analysed: 10% IB, 7% IIA, 37% IIB, 4% IIIA and 42% IIIB. The influence of age, haemoglobin level, histology, grade, stage, lymph node status, cumulative point A dose, and an overall treatment time on the survival and local control (LC) were evaluated.

Comparison of 3D MRI with high sampling efficiency and 2D multiplanar MRI for contouring in cervix cancer brachytherapy.

Background: MRI sequences with short scanning times may improve accessibility of image guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) of cervix cancer. We assessed the value of 3D MRI for contouring by comparing it to 2D multi-planar MRI.

Patients And Methods: In 14 patients, 2D and 3D pelvic MRI were obtained at IGABT.

Standardization of the apex beat in the full left lateral position and its diagnostic value in detecting left ventricular dilatation.

Aims: The aims of this study were to determine the characteristics of the apex beat in the full left lateral position in healthy adults, and to assess its value in the diagnosis of left ventricular dilatation.

Methods And Results: 77 healthy adults and 27 patients with left ventricular dilatation were evaluated by history, physical examination, electrocardiography, apexcardiography and complete transthoracic echocardiographic examination. The location, size and quality of the apex beat were determined in the 90-degree left lateral position.