Rectal Hydrogel Spacer Improves Late Gastrointestinal Toxicity Compared to Rectal Balloon Immobilization After Proton Beam Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Purpose: Our purpose was to compare dosimetric parameters and late gastrointestinal outcomes between patients treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) for localized prostate cancer with rectal balloon immobilization versus a hydrogel rectal spacer.

Methods And Materials: Patients with localized, clinical stage T1-4 prostate adenocarcinoma were treated at a single institution using conventionally fractionated, dose-escalated PBT from 2013 to 2018. Patient-reported gastrointestinal toxicity was prospectively collected, and the incidence of rectal bleeding was retrospectively reviewed from patient records.

MRI Radiomic Features Are Independently Associated With Overall Survival in Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Purpose: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) represent a heterogeneous group of diseases, and selection of individualized treatments remains a challenge. The goal of this study was to determine whether radiomic features extracted from magnetic resonance (MR) images are independently associated with overall survival (OS) in STS.

Methods And Materials: This study analyzed 2 independent cohorts of adult patients with stage II-III STS treated at center 1 (N = 165) and center 2 (N = 61).

International Survey on the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines for Common Toxicities of Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) are widely used by patients with cancer. However, little is known about the extent to which these potential remedies are used internationally to treat the most common toxicities of radiation therapy. We report on the results of an international survey that assessed the use of CAMs.

Analysis of Gastrointestinal Toxicity in Patients Receiving Proton Beam Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Single-Institution Experience.

Purpose: We characterized both physician- and patient-reported rates of gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in patients treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) at our institution for prostate adenocarcinoma and identified factors associated with toxicity.

Methods And Materials: We treated 192 patients with PBT between July 2013 and July 2016. Included patients had ≥1 year of follow-up.

Patterns of Failure After Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Recurrent High-Grade Glioma: A Single Institution Experience of 10 Years.

Background: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a treatment modality that is frequently used as salvage therapy for small nodular recurrent high-grade gliomas (HGG). Due to the infiltrative nature of HGG, it is unclear if this highly focused technique provides a durable local control benefit.

Objective: To determine how demographic or clinical factors influence the pattern of failure following SRS for recurrent high-grade gliomas.

Autosegmentation of prostate anatomy for radiation treatment planning using deep decision forests of radiomic features.

Machine learning for image segmentation could provide expedited clinic workflow and better standardization of contour delineation. We evaluated a new model using deep decision forests of image features in order to contour pelvic anatomy on treatment planning CTs. 193 CT scans from one UK and two US institutions for patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer from 2012-2016 were anonymized.

Early toxicity and patient reported quality-of-life in patients receiving proton therapy for localized prostate cancer: a single institutional review of prospectively recorded outcomes.

Background: We report prospectively captured clinical toxicity and patient reported outcomes in a single institutional cohort of patients treated for prostate cancer with proton beam therapy (PBT). This is the largest reported series of patients treated mostly with pencil beam scanning PBT.

Methods: We reviewed 231 patients treated on an IRB approved institutional registry from 2013 to 2016; final analysis included 192 patients with > 1-year of follow-up.

Heart Dose and Outcomes in Radiation Treatment for Esophageal Cancer.

Purpose Studies have shown that radiation dose to the heart may be associated with worse outcomes in patients receiving chemoradiation for lung cancer. As esophageal cancer radiation treatment can result in relatively high cardiac doses, we evaluated a single-institution database of patients treated for esophageal cancer for heart dose and outcomes. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 59 patients with stage IIA-IIIB esophageal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation to 50.

A ring-based compensator IMRT system optimized for low- and middle-income countries: Design and treatment planning study.

Purpose: We propose a novel compensator-based IMRT system designed to provide a simple, reliable, and cost-effective adjunct technology, with the goal of expanding global access to advanced radiotherapy techniques. The system would employ easily reusable tungsten bead compensators that operate independent of a gantry (e.g.

Neutron Radiation Therapy for Treatment of Refractory Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

We describe the first reported use of neutron radiation therapy for successful palliation of treatment refractory Merkel cell carcinoma. The patient was a 78-year-old man with Merkel cell carcinoma involving the scalp and bilateral cervical lymph nodes. The extensive coalescing scalp lesions were locally destructive, painful, and highly detrimental to his overall quality of life, and he had previously progressed through 3 courses of conventional x-ray-based radiation therapy and multiple immunotherapy regimens.

Herpes zoster and radiation therapy: what radiation oncologists need to know about diagnosing, preventing, and treating herpes zoster.

Herpes zoster, a viral disease that is characterized by a painful and blistering eruption in the skin, represents reactivation of latent varicella zoster (chickenpox) virus infection. In high-risk groups such as elderly or immunocompromised patients, the incidence of zoster can be as high as 50%. Radiation oncologists are likely to see zoster because cancer, and cancer therapy, can adversely affect immune function.

Integrated models of education and service involving community-based health care for underserved populations: Tulane student-run free clinics.

Objectives: Throughout the United States numerous models of local programs, including student-run clinics, exist to address the issue of access to care. The role of these clinics in serving the local community and contributing to medical education has been documented only in limited detail, however. The purpose of this article is to describe the clinic models, patient demographics, and services provided by four student-run clinics in New Orleans.