Localization of the prostatic apex for radiotherapy planning: a comparison of two techniques.

Autopsy and pathology studies have shown that the caudal portion of the prostate gland harbors tumour in 64-75% of specimens examined. Accurate localization of the prostatic apex may be important in improving local control with external beam radiation therapy. We compared the location of the apex obtained with CT based treatment planning versus localization using retrograde urethrography in 32 consecutive patients.

The potential for normal tissue dose reduction with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy in conformal treatment planning for stage C prostate cancer.

Purpose: Preirradiation hormonal cytoreduction of prostate cancer has been proven to reduce exposure of normal structures by decreasing the size of the target volume. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) analysis, however, does not always appear to demonstrate a strong positive benefit with the use of neoadjuvant hormone therapy. This study analyzes various other factors influencing dose to normal organs, which may determine the success or failure of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy in achieving its goals.

Beam's eye view--based radiation therapy: description of methods.

Improving three-dimensional target definitions and dose delivery may improve local control rates in radiation therapy. Computed tomography (CT)-based treatment planning is one step toward achieving this goal, but further progress is possible with beam's eye view (BEV)-based planning. Initially, CT is performed with the patient in the treatment position, and data are transferred to a computerized treatment planning system.

Beams eye view-based photon radiotherapy I.

Geographic miss, dosimetric miss (underdosing), and proximity of the tumor to sensitive normal tissues are some of the causes of inadequate radiation dose delivery; this is one of many causes of failure after radiotherapy. In the past decade, computerized tomography (CT)-based treatment planning has helped to overcome some of these problems. Beam's eye view (BEV)-based radiotherapy planning is an improvement over CT-based treatment planning that may further increase the therapeutic ratio.