Clinical evaluation of a deep learning CBCT auto-segmentation software for prostate adaptive radiation therapy.

Purpose: Aim of the present study is to characterize a deep learning-based auto-segmentation software (DL) for prostate cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and to evaluate its applicability in clinical adaptive radiation therapy routine.

Materials And Methods: Ten patients, who received exclusive radiation therapy with definitive intent on the prostate gland and seminal vesicles, were selected. Femoral heads, bladder, rectum, prostate, and seminal vesicles were retrospectively contoured by four different expert radiation oncologists on patients CBCT, acquired during treatment.

Impact of beam complexity on plan delivery accuracy verification of a transmission detector in volumetric modulated arc therapy.

Objective: To study the effect of beam complexity on VMAT delivery accuracy evaluated by means of a transmission detector, together with the possibility of scoring plan complexity.

Methods: 43 clinical VMAT plans delivered by a TrueBeam linear accelerator to both Delta Discover and Delta Phantom+ for patient-specific quality assurance were evaluated. Global Dose-γ analysis, MLC-γ analysis, percentage of leaves with a deviation between planned and measured leaf tip position lower than 1 mm (LD) were computed.

Preliminary evaluation of a novel secondary check tool for intensity modulated radiotherapy treatment planning.

Purpose: To evaluate the dosimetric accuracy of the Delta4 Insight (DI) secondary-check dosimetry system.

Methods: Absolute dosimetry in reference conditions, output factors, percent depth doses normalized and off-axis dose profiles for different field sizes calculated by DI were compared with measurements. Dose calculations for 20 clinical IMRT/VMAT plans generated in the TPS using both AAA or AcurosXB algorithms were compared with measurements.

Delta Discover transmission detector: A comprehensive characterization for in-vivo VMAT monitoring.

Objective: To investigate the dosimetric behaviour, influence on photon beam fluence and error detection capability of Delta Discover transmission detector.

Methods: The transmission detector (TRD) was characterized on a TrueBeam linear accelerator with 6 MV beams. Linearity, reproducibility and dose rate dependence were investigated.

Moderately Hypofractionated Radiotherapy with Simultaneous Integrated Boost in Prostate Cancer: A Comparative Study with Conventionally Fractionated Radiation.

Background: To report 5-year clinical outcomes and toxicity in organ-confined prostate cancer (PCa) for low- and intermediate-risk patients treated with a moderately hypofractionated schedule of radiotherapy (RT) delivered with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) compared to a conventionally fractionated RT regimen.

Methods: Data of 384 patients with PCa treated between August 2006 and June 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The treatment schedule consisted of hypofractionated RT (HYPO FR) with SIB up to 70 Gy to the prostate gland and 63 Gy to seminal vesicles delivered in 28 fractions or in conventionally fractionated RT (CONV FR) up to a total dose of 80 Gy in 40 fractions.

Performance of Radiologists in the Evaluation of the Chest Radiography with the Use of a "new software score" in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pneumonia Suspected Patients.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of radiologists using a new software called "COVID-19 score" when performing chest radiography on patients potentially infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Chest radiography (or chest X-ray, CXR) and CT are important for the imaging diagnosis of the coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). CXR mobile devices are efficient during epidemies, because allow to reduce the risk of contagion and are easy to sanitize.

Patient dose in angiographic interventional procedures: A multicentre study in Italy.

Purpose: The Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM considers interventional radiology to be a special practice involving high doses of radiation and requiring strict monitoring to ensure the best quality assurance programs. This work reports the early experience of managing dose data from patients undergoing angiography in a multicentre study.

Materials And Methods: The study was based on a survey of about 15,200 sample procedures performed in 21 Italian hospitals centres involved on a voluntary basis.

PET-CT post therapy dosimetry in radioembolization with resin Y microspheres: Comparison with pre-treatment SPECT-CT Tc-MAA results.

Resin microspheres radioembolization is an effective treatment for liver tumors when the surgical option is not feasible. Doses delivered to tumor and normal liver can be assess in the pre-therapy phase by means of a Tc-MAA SPECT-CT simulation and after the treatment with Y PET-CT acquisition. The optimal therapeutic Y activity is determined on Tc-MAA SPECT-CT dose results in order to avoid healthy parenchyma toxicity and to effectively irradiate the tumor.

Patient's Peak Skin Dose evaluation using Gafchromic films in interventional cardiology procedures and its correlation with other dose indicators.

Objective: Number and complexity of interventional cardiology procedures have increased during last years and can result in patient skin dose high enough to cause deterministic skin effects. The aim of the work is to investigate the correlation between Peak Skin Dose (PSD) and the dosimetric indicators directly registered by the radiological equipment and provide the physicians a tool to identify patients at risk of deterministic effects and include them into a follow-up program.

Methods: PSD was measured in vivo using radiochromic Gafchromic XR-RV3 films, properly calibrated.

Correction to: Ten-year results of accelerated hypofractionated adjuvant whole-breast radiation with concomitant boost to the lumpectomy cavity after conserving surgery for early breast cancer.

An error inadvertently occurred in the discussion of the original publication when citing the local relapse rates of the EORTC 22881-10882 trial ('boost vs no boost trial').

Ten-year results of accelerated hypofractionated adjuvant whole-breast radiation with concomitant boost to the lumpectomy cavity after conserving surgery for early breast cancer.

Accelerated hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT) is considered a standard therapeutic option for early breast cancer (EBC) in the postoperative setting after breast conservation (BCS). A boost to the lumpectomy cavity may further increase local control. We herein report on the 10-year results of a series of EBC patients treated after BCS with hypofractionated WBRT with a concomitant photon boost to the surgical bed over 4 weeks.

Dosimetric characterization of small fields using a plastic scintillator detector: A large multicenter study.

Purpose: In modern radiation therapy accurate small fields dosimetry is a challenge and its standardization is fundamental to harmonize delivered dose in different institutions. This study presents a multicenter characterization of MLC-defined small field for Elekta and Varian linear accelerators. Measurements were performed using the Exradin W1 plastic scintillator detector.

Dosimetric characterization and behaviour in small X-ray fields of a microchamber and a plastic scintillator detector.

Objective: The aim of this work was to investigate the main dosimetric characteristics and the performance of an A26 Exradin ionization microchamber (A26 IC) and a W1 Exradin plastic scintillation detector (W1 PSD) in small photon beam dosimetry for treatment planning system commissioning and quality assurance programme.

Methods: Detector characterization measurements (short-term stability, dose linearity, angular dependence and energy dependence) were performed in water for field sizes up to 10 × 10 cm. Polarity effect (P) was examined for the A26 IC.

Red marrow and blood dosimetry in (131)I treatment of metastatic thyroid carcinoma: pre-treatment versus in-therapy results.

Treatment with radioiodine is a standard procedure for patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer, but the main approach to the therapy is still empiric, consisting of the administration of fixed activities. A predictive individualized dosimetric study may represent an important tool for physicians to determine the best activity to prescribe. The aim of this work is to compare red marrow and blood absorbed dose values obtained in the pre-treatment (PT) dosimetry phase with those obtained in the in-treatment (IT) dosimetry phase in order to estimate the predictive power of PT trial doses and to determine if they can be used as a decision-making tool to safely administer higher (131)I activity to potentially increase the efficacy of treatment.

Does accelerated hypofractionated adjuvant whole-breast radiotherapy increase mammographic density or change mammographic features?

Objective: To compare mammographic features before and after accelerated hypofractionated adjuvant whole-breast radiotherapy (AWB-RT) and to evaluate possible appearance of modifications.

Methods: A retrospective review of 177 females before and after an AWB-RT treatment (follow-up ranging from 5 to 9 years) was performed by four radiologists focused in breast imaging who independently evaluated diffuse mammographic density patterns and reported on possible onset of focal alterations; modifications in density and fibrosis with parenchymal distortion were deemed as indicators of AWB-RT treatment impact in breast imaging.

Results: Prevalent mammographic density (D) patterns in the 177 females evaluated were according to the American College of Radiology-Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR-BIRADS): D1, fibroadipose density (score percentage from 55.

Hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy and concomitant boost after breast conservation in elderly patients.

Aims: To report the 5- and 10-year results of accelerated hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT) with concomitant boost to the tumor bed in 83 consecutive patients with early breast cancer aged >70 years.

Methods: All patients were treated with breast conservation and hypofractionated WBRT. The prescription dose to the whole breast was 45 Gy (2.

Image-guided Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer Employing Hypofractionation and Simultaneous Integrated Boost: Results of a Consecutive Case Series with Focus on Erectile Function.

Aim: To report on clinical outcomes of prostate cancer patients treated with hypofractionated radiotherapy employing a simultaneous integrated boost strategy.

Patients And Methods: A consecutive series of 104 patients affected with prostate cancer was treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy using a hypofractionated schedule and a simultaneous integrated boost consisting of 70 Gy (2.5 Gy daily) to the prostate gland, 63 Gy to the seminal vesicles (2.

Hypofractionation and concomitant boost to deliver adjuvant whole-breast radiation in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): a subgroup analysis of a prospective case series.

To report the four-year outcomes of accelerated hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT) with a concomitant boost (CB) to the tumor bed in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), we performed a subgroup analysis of 103 patients affected with DCIS within a cohort of 960 early breast cancer patients treated with breast conservation and hypofractionated WBRT. Prescription dose to the whole breast was 45 Gy (2.25 Gy/20 fractions) with an additional daily CB of 0.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Italian blood donors: prevalence and molecular defect characterization.

Background: In the countries with high G6PD deficiency prevalence, blood donors are not routinely screened for this genetic defect. G6PD deficiency is often asymptomatic, blood donors may be carriers of the deficiency without being aware of it. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of G6PD deficiency among the Italian blood donors.

Exposures from nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures: the dose impact on the Aosta Valley population.

The present work evaluates the per-procedure, annual collective and per-capita effective doses to the Aosta Valley region population from nuclear medicine (NM) examinations performed from 2005 to 2011 at the regional NM department. Based on its demographical and socioeconomics characteristics, this area can be considered as representative of the level I countries, as defined by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation. The NM per-procedures effective doses were within the range of 0.

Combined chemoradiation for head and neck region myxofibrosarcoma of the maxillary sinus.

Aims And Background: Adult sarcomas of the head and neck region (HNSs) are considered a rare clinicopathological entity. They account for only 2-15% of all adult sarcomas and for less than 1% of all head and neck malignancies. The preferred initial treatment option is wide surgical excision.

Leptomeningeal metastasis from prostate cancer.

Aims And Background: Metastatic prostate carcinoma commonly involves bones and extrapelvic lymph nodes, with occasional visceral deposits. Central nervous system involvement is unusual and particularly the occurrence of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) is extremely rare, with few cases described in the medical literature. The clinical presentation is characterized by multifocal neurological deficit and the prognosis is generally dismal, with survival ranging between 3 and 6 months.

Dosimetric characterization and use of GAFCHROMIC EBT3 film for IMRT dose verification.

Radiochromic film has become an important tool to verify dose distributions in highly conformal radiation therapy such as IMRT. Recently, a new generation of these films, EBT3, has become available. EBT3 has the same composition and thickness of the sensitive layer of the previous EBT2 films, but its symmetric layer configuration allows the user to eliminate side orientation dependence, which is reported for EBT2 films.

Five-year results of a prospective case series of accelerated hypofractionated whole breast radiation with concomitant boost to the surgical bed after conserving surgery for early breast cancer.

Accelerated hypofractionation (HF) using larger dose per fraction, delivered in fewer fractions over a shorter overall treatment time, is presently a consistent possibility for adjuvant whole breast radiation (WBRT) after breast-conserving surgery for early breast cancer (EBC). Between 2005 and 2008, we submitted 375 consecutive patients to accelerated hypofractionated WBRT after breast-conserving surgery for EBC. The basic course of radiation consisted of 45 Gy in 20 fractions over 4 weeks to the whole breast (2.