Single-fraction radiation retreatment for bone metastases: role of a rapid access clinic.

Objectives: This study investigates retreatment rates in single-fraction radiation therapy (SFRT) for painful bone metastasis in patients with limited life expectancy. We compared retreatment-free survival (RFS) in patients from a rapid access bone metastases clinic (RABC) and non-RABC patients, identifying factors associated with retreatment.

Methods: In this observational study, we analysed RABC patients who received SFRT between April 2018 and November 2019, using non-RABC SFRT patients as a comparison group.

A simple solution to create a custom scalp-sparing helmet to prevent alopecia in patients undergoing total skin electron beam therapy for cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

Total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) is effective for patients with refractory or diffuse skin involvement of cutaneous T cell lymphomas (CTCL). A common concern for patients undergoing TSEBT is the development of alopecia. Patients are already burdened with the physical symptoms associated with their disease; therefore, mitigating additional physical side effects of treatment, including cosmetic concerns, is important.

A Machine Learning Model Approach to Risk-Stratify Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer for Hospitalization and Mortality Outcomes.

Purpose: Patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer frequently experience unplanned hospitalizations, but predictive tools to identify high-risk patients are lacking. We developed a machine learning model to identify high-risk patients.

Methods And Materials: In the study, 1341 consecutive patients undergoing GI (abdominal or pelvic) radiation treatment (RT) from March 2016 to July 2018 (derivation) and July 2018 to January 2019 (validation) were assessed for unplanned hospitalizations within 30 days of finishing RT.

Outcomes after salvage for HPV-positive recurrent oropharyngeal cancer treated with primary radiation.

Purpose: HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) carries a favorable prognosis for patients, yet nearly 30% of patients will experience disease relapse. We sought to detail patterns of failure, associated salvage therapy, and outcomes for patients with recurrent HPV-positive OPSCC.

Methods And Materials: This is a single institution retrospective study of patients with recurrent HPV-positive OPSCC irradiated from 2002 to 2014.

Partial omission of bleomycin for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma patients treated with combined modality therapy: Does incomplete ABVD lead to inferior outcomes?

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients achieve excellent outcomes; therefore, treatment de-escalation strategies to spare toxicity have been prioritized. In a large randomized trial of early stage HL patients, omission of chemotherapeutic agents including bleomycin from the standard ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) regimen was not found to be non-inferior; however the effect of partial omission is unknown. We investigated the effect of bleomycin omission on outcome for 150 early stage HL patients.

Decreased heart dose with deep inspiration breath hold for the treatment of gastric lymphoma with IMRT.

We hypothesized that deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) and computed-tomography image-guided radiotherapy (CT-IGRT) may be beneficial to decrease dose to organs at risk (OARs), when treating the stomach with radiotherapy for lymphoma. We compared dosimetric parameters of OARs from plans generated using free-breathing (FB) versus DIBH for 10 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma involving the stomach treated with involved site radiotherapy. All patients had 4DCT and DIBH scans.

Outcomes of Curative-Intent Treatment for Patients With Breast Cancer Presenting With Sternal or Mediastinal Involvement.

Purpose: Optimal treatment of patients diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer limited to the mediastinum or sternum has never been delineated. Herein, we sought to determine the efficacy of multimodality treatment, including metastasis-directed radiation therapy, in curing patients with this presentation.

Methods And Materials: This is a single-institution retrospective cohort study of patients with de novo metastatic breast cancer treated from 2005 to 2014, with a 50-month median follow-up for the primary cohort.

Lingual Tonsillectomy Likely Does Not Improve Outcomes for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck From an Unknown Primary Site.

Objective: Patients with mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck almost always have a primary site in the base of tongue or tonsillar fossa. Lingual tonsillectomy has recently been advocated as part of the diagnostic evaluation as opposed to directed biopsies of the base of tongue and thought to possibly result in an increased likelihood or cure. The purpose of this project is to determine whether this is probable.

How Does MR Imaging Help Care for My Breast Cancer Patient? Perspective of a Radiation Oncologist.

Radiation therapy is used in many cases of both early and late breast cancer. The authors examine the role of MR imaging as it pertains to radiotherapy planning and treatment approaches for patients with breast cancer. MR imaging can assist the radiation oncologist in determining the best radiation approach and in creating treatment planning volumes.

Radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy for base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the long-term disease control, survival, and complications after definitive radiotherapy (RT) alone or combined with adjuvant chemotherapy with or without planned neck dissection for base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 467 patients treated at the University of Florida with definitive RT alone or combined with adjuvant chemotherapy between 1964 and 2011 for base of tongue SCC.

Methods: Median follow-up was 5.

Base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma with infiltrative bone marrow carcinomatosis after definitive chemoradiation: A case report.

Background: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is known for its propensity for aggressive local progression and regional lymphatic spread. Distant metastases are relatively uncommon and the likelihood of hematogenous dissemination is primarily related to the extent and location of cervical lymph node metastases. Common sites of distant metastasis include the liver and lung.

Local control in non-metastatic medulloblastoma.

Background: A single-institution review of long-term outcomes and factors affecting local control (LC) following radiotherapy for non-metastatic medulloblastoma.

Material And Methods: From 1963 to 2008, 50 children (median age, 7.3 years; range 1.

Late toxicity following craniospinal radiation for early-stage medulloblastoma.

Background: The purpose of this study is to review late toxicity following craniospinal radiation for early-stage medulloblastoma.

Material And Methods: Between 1963 and 2008, 53 children with stage M0 (n = 50) or M1 (n = 3) medulloblastoma were treated at our institution. The median age at diagnosis was 7.

Radiotherapy for sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC).

Materials And Methods: The medical records of 23 patients treated with definitive or postoperative RT between 1992 and 2010 at the University of Florida were retrospectively reviewed. Fifteen patients (65%) received primary surgery and postoperative RT.

Radiation therapy for mucosal melanoma of the head and neck.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and complications of radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of patients with mucosal melanomas of the head and neck.

Materials And Methods: The medical records of 21 patients treated with definitive or postoperative (RT) between 1974 and 2011 at the University of Florida Department of Radiation Oncology in Gainesville, FL, and the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute in Jacksonville, FL, were retrospectively reviewed under an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. Primary sites included nasal cavity, oropharynx, and paranasal sinuses.