Daily patient setup error in prostate image guided radiation therapy with fiducial-based kilovoltage onboard imaging and conebeam computed tomography.

Background: This study examined the interfraction setup error in patients undergoing prostate radiotherapy using fiducial markers and on-board imaging.

Methods: Patients (n=53) were aligned to the treatment isocenter by laser followed by orthogonal kilovoltage (kV) radiographs to visualize bony anatomy and implanted fiducial markers. The magnitude and direction of couch shifts for isocenter correction required was determined by image registration for bony anatomy and fiducial markers.

Usefulness of two clinical chorioamnionitis definitions in predicting neonatal infectious outcomes: a systematic review.

Objective: To assess the usefulness of two definitions of acute clinical chorioamnionitis (ACCA) in predicting risk of neonatal infectious outcomes (NIO) and mortality, the first definition requiring maternal fever alone (Fever), and the second requiring ≥ 1 Gibbs criterion besides fever (Fever + 1).

Study Design: PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched from January 1, 1979 to April 9, 2013. Twelve studies were reviewed (of 316 articles identified): three studies with term patients, four with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) patients, and five mixed studies with mixed gestational ages and/or membrane status (intact and/or ruptured).

Anatomy of the fetal membranes using optical coherence tomography: part 1.

Introduction: In vitro studies on the structure of human fetal membranes have involved light or electron microscopy with fixation, dehydration, and staining. Recently, optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging technology, has provided high-resolution cross-sectional images of living biological tissues, with a penetration of 2-3 mm. We evaluated the use of this technology to examine the histologic features of human fetal membranes immediately after delivery.

Acute gastrointestinal toxicity and tumor response with preoperative intensity modulated radiation therapy for rectal cancer.

Background: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (preopCRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer is associated with grade 3 or higher acute gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity. This study was conducted to determine whether intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) significantly reduces acute GI toxicity, compared to 3-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT) in preopCRT for rectal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 48 patients treated between January 2002 and August 2010 with preopCRT for rectal cancer.

Cone-beam computed tomography image guided therapy to evaluate lumpectomy cavity variation before and during breast radiotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of change (RoC) in the size of the lumpectomy cavity (LC) before and during breast radiotherapy (RT) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), relative to the initial LC volume at CT simulation (CTVLC) and timing from surgery. A prospective institutional review board-approved study included 26 patients undergoing breast RT: 20 whole breast irradiation (WBI) patients and six partial breast irradiation (PBI) patients, with surgical clips outlining the LC. The patients underwent CT simulation (CTsim) followed by five CBCTs during RT, once daily for PBI and once weekly for WBI.