Mantle fields in the era of dynamic multileaf collimation: field shaping and electronic tissue compensation.

Mantle field radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease is complicated by significant dose gradient (up to 10-20%) across the large fields required. Many different strategies of tissue compensation have been investigated, including custom physical compensators to provide better dose distributions. We present a method using dynamic multileaf collimator (dMLC) fluence modulation to simultaneously shape the treatment field and give homogeneous dose at depth throughout the classic mantle field.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma: early report on the reduction of ototoxicity.

Purpose: The combination of cisplatin chemotherapy and radiation therapy for the treatment of medulloblastoma has been shown to cause significant ototoxicity, impairing a child's cognitive function and quality of life. Our purpose is to determine whether the new conformal technique of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) can achieve lower rates of hearing loss by decreasing the radiation dose delivered to the cochlea and eighth cranial nerve (auditory apparatus).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-six pediatric patients treated for medulloblastoma were retrospectively divided into two groups that received either conventional radiotherapy (Conventional-RT Group) or IMRT (IMRT Group).