Head and neck cancer patient positioning using synthetic CT data in MRI-only radiation therapy.

Purpose: The accuracy and precision of patient positioning is crucial in radiotherapy; however, there are no publications available using synthetic computed tomography (sCT) that evaluate rotations in head and neck (H&N) patients positioning or the effect of translation and rotation combined. The aim of this work was to evaluate the differences between using sCT with the CT for 2D- and 3D-patient positioning in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-only workflow.

Methods: This study included 14 H&N cancer patients, with generated sCT data (MRI Planner v2.

Synthetic computed tomography data allows for accurate absorbed dose calculations in a magnetic resonance imaging only workflow for head and neck radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: Few studies on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) only head and neck radiation treatment planning exist, and none using a generally available software. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of absorbed dose for head and neck synthetic computed tomography data (sCT) generated by a commercial convolutional neural network-based algorithm.

Materials And Methods: For 44 head and neck cancer patients, sCT were generated and the geometry was validated against computed tomography data (CT).

Structure delineation in the presence of metal - A comparative phantom study using single and dual-energy computed tomography with and without metal artefact reduction.

Background And Purpose: Metal artefacts in computed tomography (CT) images impairs structure delineation. These artefacts can potentially be reduced with dual-energy CT (DECT) with or without using metal artefact reduction (MAR). The purpose was to investigate how structure delineation in DECT with or without MAR and single-energy CT (SECT) images were affected by metals.

MR-OPERA: A Multicenter/Multivendor Validation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Only Prostate Treatment Planning Using Synthetic Computed Tomography Images.

Purpose: To validate the dosimetric accuracy and clinical robustness of a commercially available software for magnetic resonance (MR) to synthetic computed tomography (sCT) conversion, in an MR imaging-only workflow for 170 prostate cancer patients.

Methods And Materials: The 4 participating centers had MriPlanner (Spectronic Medical), an atlas-based sCT generation software, installed as a cloud-based service. A T2-weighted MR sequence, covering the body contour, was added to the clinical protocol.

Results of preoperative chemoradiotherapy for patients with advanced cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.

Objectives: Curative treatment of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer is challenging due to the proximity to critical anatomical structures. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of trimodality therapy with preoperative chemotherapy and reduced-dose radiotherapy followed by organ-preserving surgery for treating patients with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study included all 156 patients diagnosed with sinonasal cancer in western Sweden between 1986 and 2009.

Longitudinal evaluation of patients with cancer in the oral tongue, tonsils, or base of tongue--does interstitial radiation dose affect quality of life?

Purpose: To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with oral tongue, tonsil, or base of tongue cancer in a prospective longitudinal study and explore correlations between HRQL scores and interstitial radiation dose, dose rate, and volume of implant.

Methods And Materials: Ninety patients with oral tongue cancer (n=30) and tonsil or base of tongue cancer (n=60) were assessed with the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 and the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and Neck module at diagnosis, and after 3, 12, and 36 months of starting treatment.

Results: The HRQL of all patients decreased during treatment.

Quality of life as predictor of weight loss in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate whether a relationship exists between malnutrition (> or =10% weight loss) and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with head and neck cancer and whether weight loss can be predicted with HRQL questionnaires.

Methods: Weight and HRQL were monitored in 49 patients. HRQL was assessed longitudinally, using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer module (QLQ-H&N35), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Effects of psychosocial intervention on quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background: A longitudinal, prospective, case-control study evaluated if a psychosocial support program improved health-related quality of life (HRQL) in head and neck (H&N) cancer patients.

Methods: One hundred forty-four H&N cancer patients were included: 52 study patients and 92 controls. The study group met the support team repeatedly throughout the first year after diagnosis.

The effect of omalizumab on nasal allergic inflammation.

Background: In sensitized patients, coupling between IgE and FcepsilonRI receptors on mast cells leads to release of proinflammatory mediators and a subsequent influx of inflammatory cells to the affected organ. Omalizumab (Xolair; formerly rhuMAb-E25) binds to circulating IgE, thus preventing induction of the allergic process.

Objective: We investigated the effect of treatment with omalizumab on seasonal allergic rhinitis and related changes in inflammatory cell numbers in nasal biopsy specimens.

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: long-term results in preoperative embolized and non-embolized patients.

A treatment and follow-up study of 32 patients with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) was performed at our clinic between 1974 and 1998. The majority had undergone surgery either via an antral approach or with a lateral rhinotomy. In the 1970s, surgery was combined with ligature of the external carotid artery and, since 1981, it has been combined with preoperative embolization.