Publications by authors named "McNair H"

Background And Objective: Delivering radiotherapy to the bladder is challenging as it is a mobile, deformable structure. Dose-escalated adaptive image-guided radiotherapy could improve outcomes. RAIDER aimed to demonstrate the safety of such a schedule.

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The implementation and early adoption of online adaptive radiotherapy (oART) has required the presence of clinicians, physicists and radiation therapists (RTT) at the treatment console. The impact on each of them is unique to their profession and must be considered for safe and efficient implementation. In the short term future, widespread adoption will depend on the development of innovative workflows, and rethinking of traditional roles and responsibilities may be required.

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Purpose: Owing to substantial interfraction motion in cervical cancer, plan-of-the-day (PotD) adaptive radiation therapy may be of benefit to patients. Implementation is limited by uncertainty over how to generate the planning target volumes (PTVs). We compared published methods on our own patients.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for treating muscle invasive bladder cancer using image-guided adaptive radiation therapy while monitoring long-term clinical outcomes.
  • A total of 59 patients with specific stages of bladder cancer participated, with their tumors receiving doses ranging from 68 to 72 Gy, and the MTD was found to be 70 Gy.
  • Results showed that 5-year overall survival was 58%, and the bladder preservation rate was high at 89%, with minimal severe acute toxicities reported.
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Article Synopsis
  • Radiotherapy trial quality assurance (RT QA) is essential for ensuring safe and consistent radiation treatment across different institutions, focusing on adaptive methods like Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) in the RAIDER trial for bladder cancer.
  • This study analyzed data from 72 participants over 884 Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans to compare online and offline treatment plan selections, revealing an overall concordance rate of 83%.
  • Results showed an improvement in concordance from 75% in the first stage of the trial to 91% in the second stage, emphasizing the importance of ongoing QA support during the introduction of new radiotherapy techniques.
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Introduction: We aimed to establish if stereotactic body radiotherapy to the prostate can be delivered safely using reduced clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margins on the 1.5T MR-Linac (MRL) (Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden), in the absence of gating.

Methods: Cine images taken in 3 orthogonal planes during the delivery of prostate SBRT with 36.

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Purpose: Swallow-related motion of the larynx is most significant in the cranio-caudal directions and of` short duration. Conventional target definition for radical radiation therapy includes coverage of the whole larynx. This study longitudinally examined respiration- and swallow-related laryngeal motions using cine-magnetic resonance imaging.

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Introduction: Adapting radiotherapy services with workforce innovation using skills-mix or task-shifting optimises resources, supporting current and future demands. Advanced practitioners (APs) work at a different level of practice (beyond initial registration) across four pillars: clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research. There is limited cross-country research on the advanced therapeutic radiographers/radiation therapists (TR/RTTs), particularly in Europe.

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The radiation therapy (RT) landscape is continuously evolving, necessitating adaptation in roles and responsibilities of radiation therapists (RTTs). Advanced Practice Radiation Therapists (APRTs) have taken on a proactive role in expanding services and assuming responsibilities within multi-professional teams. A European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) brought geographically diverse and experienced RTTs together, to discuss how advanced practice (AP) in the RTT profession should be future-proofed and create a global platform for collaboration.

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Introduction: Strict safety practices are essential to ensure the safety of patients and staff in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Training regarding the fundamentals of MRI safety is well-established and commonly agreed upon. However, more complex aspect of screening patients, such as image review or screening of unconscious patients/patients with communication difficulties is less well discussed.

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Background And Purpose: Interfraction motion during cervical cancer radiotherapy is substantial in some patients, minimal in others. Non-adaptive plans may miss the target and/or unnecessarily irradiate normal tissue. Adaptive radiotherapy leads to superior dose-volume metrics but is resource-intensive.

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Introduction: Distended rectums on pre-radiotherapy scans are historically associated with poorer outcomes in patients treated with two-dimensional IGRT. Subsequently, strict rectal tolerances and preparation regimes were implemented. Contemporary IGRT, daily online registration to the prostate, corrects interfraction motion but intrafraction motion remains.

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Introduction: A comfortable treatment position in radiotherapy may promote patient stability and improve outcomes such as accuracy. The aim of this study was to identify, prioritise and determine the feasibility of delivery of intervention components as part of a radiotherapy comfort intervention package.

Methods: Prior research, consisting of a systematic review and qualitative interviews with patient and therapeutic radiographers, was triangulated and 15 intervention components developed.

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Purpose: Patients undergoing radiotherapy are positioned to restrict motion, ensuring treatment accuracy. Immobilisation can be uncomfortable which may impact treatment accuracy. Therapeutic radiographers (TR) are responsible for managing patient comfort, yet there is little evidence to guide practice.

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Introduction: Therapeutic radiographers (TRs) have adapted to the changing requirements and demands of the oncology service and in response to advanced techniques such as on-line adaptive MRI-guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT). The skills required for MRIgRT would benefit many TRs not just those involved in this technique. This study presents the results of a training needs analysis (TNA) for the required MRIgRT skills in readiness for training TRs for current and future practice.

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The use of breath-hold techniques in radiotherapy, such as deep-inspiration breath hold, is increasing although guidelines for clinical implementation are lacking. In these recommendations, we aim to provide an overview of available technical solutions and guidance for best practice in the implementation phase. We will discuss specific challenges in different tumour sites including factors such as staff training and patient coaching, accuracy, and reproducibility.

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Article Synopsis
  • Adding concurrent chemotherapy to radiotherapy enhances treatment outcomes for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, with a meta-analysis indicating better disease control with a hypofractionated schedule.
  • The RAIDER clinical trial compared standard and adaptive radiotherapy in patients with unifocal bladder cancer, assessing acute toxicity based on therapy and fractionation schedules.
  • Results showed that individuals receiving concomitant therapy experienced significantly higher rates of acute grade 2+ gastrointestinal toxicity in the 20-fraction group, but not in the 32-fraction group, highlighting differences in toxicity based on treatment regimens.
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Objectives: To measure the magnitude of intra-fraction prostate motion (IFPM) during stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) delivered without intra-fraction tracking.To assess if current margins adequately cover IFPM.To derive margins using new guidelines.

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Purpose: A scoping literature review was conducted to identify gastrointestinal (GI) factors most likely to influence prostate motion during radiotherapy. We proffer that patient specific measurement of these GI factors could predict motion uncertainty during radiotherapy, facilitating personalised care by optimising treatment technique e.g.

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Introduction: There is little research regarding the experiences of patient comfort and how it is best managed in radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of patient and therapeutic radiographer views of comfort during radiotherapy.

Methods: This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews, with cancer patients (n = 25) and therapeutic radiographers (n = 25), conducted between January-July 2019.

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The implementation of MRI-guided online adaptive radiotherapy has enabled extension of therapeutic radiographers' roles to include contouring. An offline interobserver variability study compared five radiographers' and five clinicians' contours on 10 MRIs acquired on a MR-Linac from 10 patients. All contours were compared to a "gold standard" created from an average of clinicians' contours.

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Background And Purpose: The implementation of MRI-guided online adaptive radiotherapy has facilitated the extension of therapeutic radiographers' roles to include contouring, thus releasing the clinician from attending daily treatment. Following undergoing a specifically designed training programme, an online interobserver variability study was performed.

Materials And Methods: 117 images from six patients treated on a MR Linac were contoured online by either radiographer or clinician and the same images contoured offline by the alternate profession.

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Introduction: Advanced Practice (AP) roles in Radiotherapy (RT) over time are variable, often locally developed and not underpinned by professional standards which leads to conceptual and practical gaps. This study aimed to assess AP roles amongst Therapeutic Radiographers/Radiation Therapists (TR/RTTs) and identify educational gaps for this level across Europe.

Methods: An anonymous online survey was designed, validated, and distributed across Europe.

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Purpose: Radiation therapy is the key treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer. Organ motion presents a challenge to accurate targeting of external beam radiation therapy. The plan-of-the-day (PotD) adaptive approach is therefore an attractive option.

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