Cancer patients and the Internet: a survey of the 'Quality of Life' Working Groups of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Internistische Onkologie and the Nord-Ostdeutsche Gesellschaft für Gynäkologische Onkologie.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes, such as quality of life (QoL) assessment, are becoming more important as endpoint in clinical trials and for decision making regarding new anticancer product approvals. Nevertheless, numerous obstacles exist regarding the implementation of QoL assessment in the daily practice of medical oncologists. Regular, computerized or internet home-based QoL assessments could be a step forward.

The delineation of target volumes for radiotherapy of lung cancer patients.

Purpose: Differences in the delineation of the gross target volume (GTV) and planning target volume (PTV) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer are considerable. The focus of this work is on the analysis of observer-related reasons while controlling for other variables.

Methods: In three consecutive patients, eighteen physicians from fourteen different departments delineated the GTV and PTV in CT-slices using a detailed instruction for target delineation.

Palliative total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) for advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Our aim was to analyze the effectiveness of palliative total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) in the management of advanced cutaneous T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (CTCL). Eighteen patients (median age 59 years) with advanced and therapy-refractory CTCL in stages IIB-IV were treated with TSEBT for the first time. The most common histological subtype was Mycosis fungoides (72%).

Temozolomide combined with irradiation as postoperative treatment of primary glioblastoma multiforme. Phase I/II study.

Background And Purpose: The role of radiochemotherapy in the treatment of primary glioblastoma multiforme is still discussed controversially. To evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of irradiation and concomitant administration of 50 mg/m(2) temozolomide in patients with primary malignant glioma, this phase I/II study was conducted.

Patients And Methods: 53 Patients with histologically confirmed WHO grade IV malignant glioma were enrolled into the study.

Influence of irradiated volume on ureteral injury after intraoperative radiation therapy: experimental study in dogs.

Purpose: To investigate the role of irradiated volumes at intraoperative radiation therapy in the development of ureteral injury in dogs.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen beagle dogs were randomized to receive 30 Gy of intraoperative radiation therapy in the right ureter. Lead shielding ensured that different volumes were irradiated.

The electronic portal imaging system Siemens Beamview Plus versus the conventional verification films CEA-TVS and DuPont COL-7. A critical appraisal of visual image quality.

Aim: The aim of this study was the validation of the visual image quality of electronic portal imaging devices (EPID) and conventional verification films from the point of view of the end-viewers of portal films, the radiotherapists.

Material And Methods: The verification image was represented in two different forms, viz. an electronic portal image employing Siemens Beamview Plus (on a computer monitor) and two different portal films using the conventional verification films CEA-TVS and DuPont CQL-7 (on a negatoscope).

[Lung dose depending on exact patient positioning during total body irradiation (TBI). Isoeffectiveness considerations to assess the risk of interstitial pneumonia after TBI].

Purpose: In this case report, we studied the effect of patient's movements on total lung dose during total body irradiation (TBI). The dose-effect relationship regarding the development of interstitial pneumonitis and the problem of defining a threshold value are discussed. Based on considerations about the isoeffects we calculated the pneumonitis risk in dependence of increasing lung dose.