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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSemin Radiat Oncol
October 2024
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
January 2025
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.
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTech Innov Patient Support Radiat Oncol
June 2024
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Transl Radiat Oncol
November 2023
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: 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.
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: 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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Transl Radiat Oncol
May 2023
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: 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.
Tech Innov Patient Support Radiat Oncol
March 2023
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground 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.
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.
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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