Dosimetry Comparison of Palliative Radiation Plans Generated From Available Diagnostic CT Images Versus Dedicated CT Simulation for Inpatients.

Introduction The morbidity sequelae of advanced cancer are often irreversible. Early palliative radiation can prevent, delay, and even improve these consequences. Treatment may be delayed due to a packed computed tomography (CT) simulation schedule or other logistics, including the cost and burden of arranging ambulance transportation when radiation centers are off-site.

Simple shielding reduces dose to the contralateral breast during prone breast cancer radiotherapy.

Our goal was to design a prone breast shield for the contralateral breast and study its efficacy in decreasing scatter radiation to the contralateral breast in a prone breast phantom setup receiving radiation therapy designed for breast cancer. We constructed a prone breast phantom setup consisting of (1) A thermoplastic mask with a left-sided depression created by a water balloon for a breast shape; (2) 2 plastic bags to hold water in the thermoplastic mask depression; (3) 2000mL of water to fill the thermoplastic mask depression to create a water-based false breast; (4) 1-cm thick bolus placed in the contralateral breast holder; (5) 2 lead (Pb) sheets, each 0.1-cm thick for blocking scatter radiation in the contralateral bolus-based false breast; (6) a prone breast board to hold the thermoplastic mask, water, bolus, and lead; (7) 9cm solid water on top of the breast board to simulate body; (8) a diode was used to verify dose for each treatment field of the treated water-based breast; (9) metal-oxide-semiconductor-field effect transistor (MOSFET) dosimeters to measure dose to the contralateral bolus-based breast.

Feasibility of intensity-modulated and image-guided radiotherapy for locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Background: In this study the feasibility of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and tomotherapy-based image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) for locally advanced esophageal cancer was assessed.

Methods: A retrospective study of ten patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer who underwent concurrent chemotherapy with IMRT (1) and IGRT (9) was conducted. The gross tumor volume was treated to a median dose of 70 Gy (62.

Feasibility of image-guided radiotherapy for elderly patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Purpose: The study aims to assess the tolerance of elderly patients (70 years or older) with locally advanced rectal cancers to image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). A retrospective review of 13 elderly patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent preoperative chemoradiation using IGRT was performed. Grade 3-4 acute toxicities, survival, and long-term complications were compared to 17 younger patients (<70 years) with the same disease stage.

Feasibility of tomotherapy-based image-guided radiotherapy for locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer.

Purpose: The study aims to assess the feasibility of tomotherapy-based image-guided (IGRT) radiotherapy for locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer. A retrospective review of 33 patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced oropharyngeal cancers was conducted. Radiotherapy planning, treatment toxicity and loco-regional control were assessed.

Feasibility of Tomotherapy-based image-guided radiotherapy to reduce aspiration risk in patients with non-laryngeal and non-pharyngeal head and neck cancer.

Purpose: The study aims to assess the feasibility of Tomotherapy-based image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) to reduce the aspiration risk in patients with non-laryngeal and non-hypopharyngeal cancer. A retrospective review of 48 patients undergoing radiation for non-laryngeal and non-hypopharyngeal head and neck cancers was conducted. All patients had a modified barium swallow (MBS) prior to treatment, which was repeated one month following radiotherapy.

Feasibility of tomotherapy to reduce cochlea radiation dose in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.

Aims And Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of tomotherapy-based image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) on the radiation dose to the cochlea in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer.

Methods And Study Design: A retrospective review of five patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiation with tomotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal cancer was performed.

Results: The mean dose to the right and left cochlea was 25 Gy and 35.

Feasibility of intensity-modulated and image-guided radiotherapy for functional organ preservation in locally advanced laryngeal cancer.

Purpose: The study aims to assess the feasibility of intensity-modulated and image-guided radiotherapy (IMRT, and IGRT, respectively) for functional preservation in locally advanced laryngeal cancer. A retrospective review of 27 patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiation for locally advanced laryngeal cancers (8 IMRT, 19 IGRT) was undertaken. In addition to regular clinical examinations, all patients had PET imaging at 4 months and 10 months after radiotherapy, then yearly.

Feasibility of image-guided radiotherapy based on helical tomotherapy to reduce contralateral parotid dose in head and neck cancer.

Background: To evaluate the feasibility of image-guided radiotherapy based on helical Tomotherapy to spare the contralateral parotid gland in head and neck cancer patients with unilateral or no neck node metastases.

Methods: A retrospective review of 52 patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancers with image guidance based on daily megavoltage CT imaging with helical tomotherapy was performed.

Results: Mean contralateral parotid dose and the volume of the contralateral parotid receiving 40 Gy or more were compared between radiotherapy plans with significant constraint (SC) of less than 20 Gy on parotid dose (23 patients) and the conventional constraint (CC) of 26 Gy (29 patients).

Feasibility of tomotherapy to reduce normal lung and cardiac toxicity for distal esophageal cancer compared to three-dimensional radiotherapy.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of tomotherapy and three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiotherapy to spare normal critical structures (spinal cord, lungs, and ventricles) from excessive radiation in patients with distal esophageal cancers.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective dosimetric study of nine patients who had advanced gastro-esophageal (GE) junction cancer (7) or thoracic esophageal cancer (2) extending into the distal esophagus. Two plans were created for each of the patients.

Impact of image-guided radiotherapy to reduce laryngeal edema following treatment for non-laryngeal and non-hypopharyngeal head and neck cancers.

We would like to determine the effectiveness of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) to reduce laryngeal edema following treatment for head and neck cancer and to assess patient perception of voice and speech after treatment. We conducted a retrospective review of 44 patients undergoing radiation for non-laryngeal and non-hypopharyngeal head and neck cancers. Endoscopic and/or mirror examinations of the larynx were performed following radiotherapy at each follow-up visit.

Feasibility of tomotherapy for Graves' ophthalmopathy: Dosimetry comparison with conventional radiotherapy.

Purpose: To compare the dosimetry of tomotherapy and the conventional half-beam technique (HBT) or non-split beam technique (NSBT) for target coverage and radiation dose to the lacrimal glands and lens.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of 7 patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy who had radiotherapy because of disease progression on high steroid dose is reported: 3 patients were treated with tomotherapy and 4 patients with HBT.

Results: Compared to HBT, tomotherapy may provide better target coverage and significant reduction of radiation dose to the lacrimal glands and a higher dose to the lens.

Feasibility of Tomotherapy to spare the cochlea from excessive radiation in head and neck cancer.

We would like to evaluate the effectiveness of Tomotherapy for decreasing radiation dose to the cochlea in head and neck cancer patients. A retrospective review of 72 patients undergoing radiation for head and neck cancer was performed. Cochlea dose was compared between 20 patients treated with conventional intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and 52 treated with Tomotherapy.

Effectiveness of image-guided radiotherapy for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background: Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) combines precise target visualization with optimal delivery of radiation dose to spare normal tissue from radiation and may potentially reduce side-effects and long-term treatment complications. We have assessed the effectiveness of IGRT for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective review of 22 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who underwent preoperative chemoradiation was conducted.

Effectiveness of image-guided radiotherapy for laryngeal sparing in head and neck cancer.

We would like to compare the effectiveness of image-guided (IGRT) and intensity-modulated (IMRT) radiotherapy to spare the larynx in head and neck cancer patients. A retrospective review of 48 patients undergoing radiation for non-laryngeal and non-hypopharyngeal head and neck cancers. Mean laryngeal and hypopharyngeal dose was compared between 11 patients treated with IMRT and 37 patients treated with IGRT.