Reproducibility in Radiomics: A Comparison of Feature Extraction Methods and Two Independent Datasets.

Radiomics involves the extraction of information from medical images that are not visible to the human eye. There is evidence that these features can be used for treatment stratification and outcome prediction. However, there is much discussion about the reproducibility of results between different studies.

Determining the Occurrence of Hypothyroidism Following Treatment With Radiation Therapy in Head and Neck Carcinoma Patients and the Associated Role of Risk Factors and Dose-Volume Histograms: A Prospective Study.

Background Head and neck carcinomas are one of the most common malignancies in developing countries including India. Most patients are treated with radiotherapy. Although post-radiotherapy hypothyroidism is a known complication, data regarding its incidence and factors influencing it are scarce.

Framework for Machine Learning of CT and PET Radiomics to Predict Local Failure after Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancers.

Context: Cancer Radiomics is an emerging field in medical imaging and refers to the process of converting routine radiological images that are typically qualitatively interpreted to quantifiable descriptions of the tumor phenotypes and when combined with statistical analytics can improve the accuracy of clinical outcome prediction models. However, to understand the radiomic features and their correlation to molecular changes in the tumor, first, there is a need for the development of robust image analysis methods, software tools and statistical prediction models which is often limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Aims: The aim is to build a framework for machine learning of radiomic features of planning computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) using open source radiomics and data analytics platforms to make it widely accessible to clinical groups.

Patterns of Recurrence in Locally Advanced Resectable Oesophageal Carcinoma: Retrospective Review from a Tertiary Cancer Centre in South India.

Purpose: The study aims to analyse patterns of recurrence following neoadjuvant treatment and surgery in carcinoma oesophagus with an intent to postulate optimal nodal radiation.

Methodology: A retrospective review of patients who presented to our centre within a 5-year period (2014-2018), with recurrence following sequential neoadjuvant treatment and radical surgery, was conducted in this single-institution study. The patterns of recurrence and duration of disease-free survival were analysed.

Effects of radiotherapy on olfaction and nasal function in head and neck cancer patients.

Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT) is a major component of treatment in head and neck malignancies and often the radiation field includes the nasal cavity and olfactory cleft region. We aimed to assess olfaction, mucociliary clearance time and quality of life (QOL) before RT and during the course of radiotherapy.

Methods: This prospective, observational, cohort study was conducted over a period of 1 year.

Management of Locally Advanced Carcinoma Oesophagus with Radiation/Chemoradiation: Single Institute Experience.

Purpose: Oesophageal malignancy is the fourth commonest cancer which has a very poor outcome. In the management of oesophageal malignancy, radiation therapy is underutilized by many physicians due to feared complications though its role is well proven in literature. This study brings the role of radiation therapy in terms of loco-regional and distant relapse.

Role of conventional and diffusion weighted MRI in predicting treatment response after low dose radiation and chemotherapy in locally advanced carcinoma cervix.

Background And Purpose: To assess the diagnostic performance of conventional and diffusion weighted (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting response in locally advanced cervical cancer.

Materials And Methods: Total 24 patients with stage IIB-IIIB squamous cell carcinoma cervix were treated with initial two cycles of paclitaxel and carboplatin and concurrent low dose radiotherapy prior to standard chemoradiation. Response was assessed clinically and radiologically after 3 weeks of initial treatment.

Radiation Pneumonitis After Conventional Radiotherapy For Breast Cancer: A Prospective Study.

Background: Loco-regional radiotherapy is an important treatment modality in breast cancer and radiation pneumonitis (RP) is one of the early toxicities.

Aim: To study the occurrence, correlation of RP with patient and radiotherapy related factors and the effects on pulmonary function following conventional radiotherapy in breast cancer.

Settings And Design: Prospective study, from a tertiary hospital in a developing country.

Low-dose fractionated radiation and chemotherapy prior to definitive chemoradiation in locally advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix: Results of a prospective phase II clinical trial.

Background: We investigated the feasibility of neoadjuvant low-dose radiation and chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin (LDCRT) before radical chemoradiation (CRT) and assessed the feasibility, efficacy, and response rate to such a regimen.

Methods: This is a single-arm phase II trial of 24 patients, with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix (stage IIB-IIIB). Patients received low-dose fractionated radiotherapy, carboplatin (AUC×5) and paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)), three weekly for two cycles followed by CRT.

Conventional margins not sufficient for post-prostatectomy prostate bed coverage: an analysis of 477 cone-beam computed tomography scans.

Purpose: To study prostate bed deformation, and compare coverage by 5 mm and 10mm posterior expansion PTV margins.

Method: Fifty patients who completed post-prostatectomy radiotherapy had two expansion margins applied to the planning CT CTV: PTV10 (10 mm isometrically) and PTV5 (5 mm posteriorly, 10 mm all other directions). The CTV was then contoured on 477 pre-treatment CBCTs, and PTV5 and PTV10 coverage of each CBCT-CTVs was assessed.

Hypofractionated Palliative Radiotherapy in Locally Advanced Inoperable Head and Neck Cancer: CMC Vellore Experience.

Background: A novel, short duration, palliative radiotherapy schedule for inoperable head and neck cancer was evaluated in terms of palliation of cancer-related symptoms and acute toxicities.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-six patients with inoperable head and neck cancer were included in the study (2010-2012). All patients received 40 Gy in 10 fractions (equivalent dose: 49.

Nanotechnology in oncology: Characterization and in vitro release kinetics of cisplatin-loaded albumin nanoparticles: Implications in anticancer drug delivery.

Context: Nanotechnology is an empowering technology that holds promise in cancer therapeutics by increasing the ratio of tumor control probability to normal tissue complication probability. It can increase the bioavailability of the drug at the target site, reduce the frequency of administration and reach otherwise lesser-accessible sites. The present study shows the feasibility of the cisplatin-loaded albumin nanoparticle as a sustained delivery system.

Accuracy of relocation, evaluation of geometric uncertainties and clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margin in fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for intracranial tumors using relocatable Gill-Thomas-Cosman (GTC) frame.

The present study is aimed at determination of accuracy of relocation of Gill-Thomas-Cosman frame during fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. The study aims to quantitatively determine the magnitudes of error in anteroposterior, mediolateral and craniocaudal directions, and determine the margin between clinical target volume to planning target volume based on systematic and random errors. Daily relocation error was measured using depth helmet and measuring probe.