Tumor volume as a prognostic factor for local control and overall survival in advanced larynx cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: Tumor volume has been postulated to be an important prognostic factor for oncological outcome after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. This postulate was retrospectively investigated in a consecutively treated cohort of T3-T4 larynx cancer patients.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Tumor volume as prognostic factor in chemoradiation for advanced head and neck cancer.

Background: Tumor volume is an important predictor of outcome in radiotherapy alone. Its significance in concomitant chemoradiation (CCRT) is much less clear. We analyzed the prognostic value of primary tumor volume for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with CCRT.

Quantification of shape variation of prostate and seminal vesicles during external beam radiotherapy.

Purpose: The prostate is known to translate and rotate under influence of rectal filling changes and many studies have addressed the magnitude of these motions. However, prostate shape variations also have been reported. For image-guided radiotherapy, it is essential to know the relative magnitude of translations, rotations, and shape variation so that the most appropriate correction strategy can be chosen.

Pretreatment probability model for predicting outcome after intraarterial chemoradiation for advanced head and neck carcinoma.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiation is being used increasingly to treat patients with advanced-stage head and neck carcinoma. In the current study, a clinical nomogram was developed to predict local control and overall survival rates for individual patients who will undergo chemoradiation.

Methods: Ninety-two consecutive patients with UICC TNM Stage III/IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and supraglottic larynx were treated with selective-targeted chemoradiation (acronym: RADPLAT).

A model to predict bladder shapes from changes in bladder and rectal filling.

The purpose of this study is to develop a model that quantifies in three dimensions changes in bladder shape due to changes in bladder and/or rectal volume. The new technique enables us to predict changes in bladder shape over a short period of time, based on known urinary inflow. Shortly prior to the treatment, the patient will be scanned using a cone beam CT scanner (x-ray volume imager) that is integrated with the linear accelerator.

Application of video imaging for improvement of patient set-up.

Background And Purpose: For radiotherapy of prostate cancer, the patient is usually positioned in the left-right (LR) direction by aligning a single marker on the skin with the projection of a room laser. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of a room-mounted video camera in combination with previously acquired CT data to improve patient set-up along the LR axis.

Material And Methods: The camera was mounted in the treatment room at the caudal side of the patient.