Delayed esophageal perforation from stereotactic body radiation therapy for locally recurrent central nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a novel form of external beam radiation therapy. It is used to treat early and locally recurrent nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSLC) in medically inoperable patients. It uses high dose, hypofractionated radiotherapy, with targeting of the tumor by precise spatial localization, thus minimizing injury to surrounding tissues.

Incorporate imaging characteristics into an arteriovenous malformation radiosurgery plan evaluation model.

Purpose: To integrate imaging performance characteristics, specifically sensitivity and specificity, of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) into arteriovenous malformation (AVM) radiosurgery planning and evaluation.

Methods And Materials: Images of 10 patients with AVMs located in critical brain areas were analyzed in this retrospective planning study. The image findings were first used to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of MRA and DSA.

How does performance of ultrasound tissue typing affect design of prostate IMRT dose-painting protocols?

Purpose: To investigate how the performance characteristics of ultrasound tissue typing (UTT) affect the design of a population-based prostate dose-painting protocol.

Methods And Materials: The performance of UTT is evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve. As the imager's sensitivity increases, more tumors are detected, but the specificity worsens, causing more false-positive results.

Fifteen-year results of breast-conserving surgery and definitive irradiation for Stage I and II breast carcinoma: the University of Pennsylvania experience.

Purpose: To determine the 15-year outcomes for women with early stage breast cancer after breast conservation therapy.

Methods And Materials: Between 1977 and 1990, 937 women with Stage I and II breast carcinoma (55% T1N0, 16% T2N0, 18% T1N1, and 11% T2N1) underwent lumpectomy, axillary lymphadenectomy, and definitive irradiation. The median patient age was 52 years.