Glaucoma Care of Prison Inmates at an Academic Hospital.

Importance: Glaucoma care for prison inmates is underrepresented in the literature even though managing the treatment of such patients may provide unique challenges.

Objectives: To evaluate the glaucoma profile of prison inmates treated at an academic ophthalmology center and to report on the medical and surgical management and follow-up metrics.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study assessed data from 82 incarcerated patients treated at the glaucoma clinic, an academic referral center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, between January 2013 and December 2017.

Programmatic Comparison and Dissemination of an Audit of Single-fraction Radiation Therapy Prescribing Practices for Bone Metastases is Associated with a Meaningful and Lasting Change in Practice on a Population Level.

Purpose: There is ample evidence that single-fraction radiation therapy (SFRT) is as efficacious as more costly and morbid multifraction regimens. We previously demonstrated that an audit-based intervention increased the use of SFRT in all regional cancer centers the following year. However, other investigators have demonstrated that interventions were only associated with a transient 1-year change in prescribing practices.

Utilization of palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases near end of life in a population-based cohort.

Background: Palliative radiotherapy (PRT) can significantly improve quality of life for patients dying of cancer with bone metastases. However, an aggressive cancer treatment near end of life is an indicator of poor-quality care. But the optimal rate of overall palliative RT use near the end of life is still unknown.

Incidence of distal bone metastases in patients treated for palliative radiotherapy and associations with primary tumour types.

Purpose: This study assesses the incidence of distal bone metastases in palliative radiotherapy (RT) patients.

Material And Methods: All courses of RT for bone metastases from 2007-2011 for patient living in British Columbia (BC) were identified in a provincial RT programme. Treated bone metastases (BoM) were categorized as distal if the BoM was located within or distal to the elbow or knee.

Palliative radiotherapy fractionation schedules prescribed are dependent on the distance a patient travels to receive treatment.

This study assessed the impact of the distance a patient travelled to the treatment centre on the use of single fraction RT for bone metastases. There was significant variability in the prescription of SFRT by distance at which the patient lives from a cancer centre (p<0.001).

Incidence and treatment patterns of complicated bone metastases in a population-based radiotherapy program.

Introduction: There is abundant evidence in support of single fraction (SF) radiation therapy (RT) for uncomplicated bone metastases (BoM). We sought to determine the proportion of BoM that is complicated in a population-based RT program in order to act as a potential guide for assessing SFRT utilization rates.

Materials And Methods: A total of 3200 RT courses were prescribed to 1880 consecutive patients diagnosed with BoM in 2013.

Impact of Using Audit Data to Improve the Evidence-Based Use of Single-Fraction Radiation Therapy for Bone Metastases in British Columbia.

Purpose: To assess the impact of a population-based intervention to increase the consistency and use of single-fraction radiation therapy (SFRT) for bone metastases.

Methods And Materials: In 2012, an audit of radiation therapy prescriptions for bone metastases in British Columbia identified significant interphysician and -center (26%-73%) variation in the use of SFRT. Anonymous physician-level and identifiable regional cancer center SFRT use data were presented to all radiation oncologists, together with published guidelines, meta-analyses, and recommendations from practice leaders.

Use of single- versus multiple-fraction palliative radiation therapy for bone metastases: population-based analysis of 16,898 courses in a Canadian province.

Purpose: There is abundant evidence that a single fraction (SF) of palliative radiation therapy (RT) for bone metastases is equivalent to more protracted and costly multiple fraction courses. Despite this, there is low utilization of SFRT internationally. We sought to determine the utilization of SFRT in a population-based, publicly funded health care system.

Incidence of second metachronous head and neck cancers: population-based outcomes over 25 years.

Objectives/hypothesis: The primary objective was to determine the incidence of second metachronous head and neck cancers (HNC) following an index HNC and estimate their overall survival.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: A total of 1,658 consecutive primary HNC patients diagnosed in 1986 to 1990 were identified through the prospectively maintained provincial BC Cancer Registry database.

Outcomes of patients with unresected stage III and stage IV non-small cell lung cancer: A single institution experience.

Introduction: To report on the demographic profile and survival outcomes of North Indian population affected with stage III and stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: From November 2008 to January 2012, 138 consecutively diagnosed NSCLC patients were included in this study. The patient, tumor and treatment related factors were analyzed.

An unusual presentation of classic idiopathic polyarteritis nodosa as acute interstitial nephritis.

In the medical literature, there have been few reported cases of classic Polyarteritis Nodosa (cPAN) presenting with acute renal failure (ARF) and, unlike microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), no documentation to our knowledge of cPAN with clinical presentation similar to acute interstitial nephritis. We describe a case of ARF and a clinical picture suggestive of acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). However, renal biopsy of this patient showed acute necrotizing intrarenal vasculitis, suggestive of cPAN.

Additional rectal and sigmoid mucosal points and doses in high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy for carcinoma cervix: a dosimetric study.

Background: Late rectal and sigmoid toxicities seen in cervical cancer patients are attributed to brachytherapy despite rectal doses within tolerance limits. The purpose of this study was to identify additional dosimetric points which may better forecast rectal complications.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy (ICA-HDR) applications with conventional X-ray and computed tomography (CT) based planning were studied.

Patterns of locoregional treatment of breast cancer among radiation oncologists in India: a practice survey.

Background: The objective of the study was to assess and evaluate the practice patterns of locoregional treatment of early and advanced breast cancer among radiation oncologists (ROs) in India.

Materials And Methods: This questionnaire-based survey was served to practicing ROs through electronic mails and personal communication between November 2006 and March 2008. Patterns of practices with respect to locoregional treatment of breast cancer in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ, early breast cancer (EBC), locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer (MBC) were studied.

Complementary and alternative medicine in present day oncology care: promises and pitfalls.

Cancer is already a well-recognized global phenomenon. The traditional approaches to cancer therapy have been surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These modalities have shown considerable promise and presently form cornerstones of management of most malignancies.