A retrospective study on the delay in three different timescales of CT simulation among patients with pediatric cancer in a tertiary hospital.

Patients with pediatric cancer receive radiotherapy to cure several types of cancer, requiring computed tomography simulation (CT sim) for precise treatment. However, there is currently no suitable framework to reduce the inherent delays in CT sim. The present study aimed to identify the underlying causes of the delays in CT sim regarding three different time periods (duration of patient admission to CT sim, diagnosis to treatment and CT sim to treatment) among patients with pediatric cancer.

Total Number of Lymph Nodes in Neck Dissection and Its Relation to Cancer-Positive Lymph Nodes as a Prognostic Indicator in Aerodigestive Tract Cancers: A Multi-Center Study.

Objectives Few studies have been conducted on the total number of lymph nodes (LNs) in neck dissection and the lymph node ratio (LNR; number of positive lymph nodes divided by number of excised lymph nodes), or their potential use as a prognostic indicator for cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) and its treatment. We aimed to measure the number of lymph nodes dissected and the LNR to assess their prognostic value for cancers of the UADT, as well as their effect on overall survival and disease-free survival. Methods We performed a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with cancer of the UADT who underwent neck dissection as the primary or secondary modality of their treatment plan at King Abdulaziz University Hospital and the National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge- and Experience-Based Perceptions of Radiation Therapists during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

To assess the perceived risks and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on radiation therapists in Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was distributed to all radiation therapists in the country. The questionnaire contained questions about demographic characteristics, the extent of the pandemic's impact on hospital resources, risk perception, work-life, leadership, and immediate supervision.

Worst pattern of invasion and other histopathological features in oral cancer as determinants of prognosis and survival rate: A retrospective cohort analysis.

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is a well-recognized malignancy of the head and neck. Studies on patients with early-stage oral cancer have shown that they develop locally recurring and/or regional lymph node metastasis, which results in disease-associated mortality. Thus, early-stage oral cancer does not always present good prognoses.

Global Research Mapping of Psycho-Oncology Between 1980 and 2021: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Background And Aim: Psycho-oncology is a cross-disciplinary and collaborative sub-specialty of oncology that focuses on the psychological, behavioral, ethical, and social aspects of cancer in clinical settings. The aim of this bibliometric study was to analyze and characterize the research productivity and trends in psycho-oncology between 1980 and 2021.

Methodology: In May 2022, the Scopus database was searched for psycho-oncology-related publications using predetermined search keywords with specific restrictions.

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma of the scalp treated with surgical resection along with chemoradiation: A case report and review of the literature.

Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) is an infiltrative rare cutaneous neoplasm for which there are no consensus management guidelines because of the paucity of evidence-based practice; hence, the utility of their management is based only on previously published case reports. We report a case of a scalp lesion that was successfully treated using a combination of surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) experience on brain metastases: A 3-year retrospective study at King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

Objectives: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), a non-invasive surgical procedure had been utilized for treatment of patients with brain metastases. This study aims to determine the survival, local control of brain metastases and treatment outcome to SRS-treated patients based on radiological imaging.

Methods: The MRI scans of SRS-treated patients with brain metastases (n = 24) from the Radiology Department of King Abdulaziz University from January 2016 to September 2019 were examined.

Do Men and Women in Saudi Arabia Have the Same Level of Awareness and Knowledge of Breast Cancer? A Cross-Sectional Study.

Context: Awareness is important in combating breast cancer, as early detection (through mammograms) and prompt treatment offer the greatest chance of long-term survival.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess public knowledge of breast cancer (signs, symptoms, and risk factors) and awareness of screening programs; and compare it among men and women.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among male and female residents of five of the geographic regions of Saudi Arabia from February 2015 to May 2015.

Factors affecting Survival in Glioblastoma: A 10-year Single-Center Experience from Saudi Arabia.

Background: Glioblastoma is one of the most common and aggressive brain tumors in adults, which is associated with poor survival rate. This study aims to identify the clinical characteristics and outcome of glioblastoma patients who underwent different treatment modalities and to determine the predictors of survival in them.

Methods: A retrospective chart review conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH).

Beliefs of cancer patients in Saudi Arabia.

To examine oncology patients' beliefs about the transmissible nature of cancer or its treatments and to determine the correlates thereof. Cross-sectional. Sixty-nine hospital outpatients completed the questionnaire.

Assessment of quality of life (QoL) in breast cancer patients by using EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR-23 questionnaires: A tertiary care center survey in the western region of Saudi Arabia.

This cross-sectional study is aimed at assessing the quality of life in a cohort of breast cancer patients at the Oncology Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), King Abdulaziz University (KAU), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (SA), and to differentiate QoL among different groups. Mean time since diagnosis was 3.97±1.

Religiosity and Beliefs About the Transmission of Cancer, Chemotherapy, and Radiation Through Physical Contact in Saudi Arabia.

We examined relationships between religiosity and Saudi cancer patients' beliefs about the spread of cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy through close physical contact. Surveyed were 64 patients seen in university oncology clinics. Assessed were beliefs about the spread of cancer and its treatments, along with religious, demographic, social, psychological, and cancer-related characteristics.

Patterns, knowledge, and barriers of mammography use among women in Saudi Arabia.

To assess mammography utilization and knowledge, and to determine barriers associated with mammography utilization among Saudi women. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 5 main geographic regions of Saudi Arabia from February 2015 to May 2015. The sample comprised women aged ≥40 years.

Outcomes of Saudi Arabian Patients With Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treated With Primarily Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Followed by Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is the most common head and neck cancer in Saudi Arabia. This study reports the locoregional disease control and survival outcomes in patients with NPC treated in King Abdulaziz University Hospital.

Methods: Patients treated for NPC between June 2007 and October 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.

Optimization of Craniospinal Irradiation for Pediatric Medulloblastoma Using VMAT and IMRT.

Purpose: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) provide highly conformal target radiation doses, but also expose large volumes of healthy tissue to low-dose radiation. With improving survival, more children with medulloblastoma (MB) are at risk of late adverse effects of radiotherapy, including secondary cancers. We evaluated the characteristics of IMRT and VMAT craniospinal irradiation treatment plans in children with standard-risk MB to compare radiation dose delivery to target organs and organs at risk (OAR).

A retrospective study of head and neck re-irradiation for patients with recurrent or second primary head and neck cancer: the McGill University experience.

Background: We report our experience with patients who received re-irradiation to the head and neck area for locoregional recurrences (LRR) or second primaries (SP) in a previously irradiated field.

Methods: We reviewed 27 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of LRR or SP head and neck carcinoma treated with a second course of radiotherapy between April 2004 and July 2012. The main outcome measures were local control, overall survival, and complications.

Cultural challenges to implementation of formative assessment in Saudi Arabia: an exploratory study.

Background/purpose: This study investigates challenges that students and faculty face to implement assessment for learning; and the activities, capabilities, enablers, and indicators which could impact performance.

Method: The study is a mixed methods research, cross-sectional, exploratory study. The study was organized through two phases of data collection and analysis (QUAL → quan).

Using patients' charts to assess medical trainees in the workplace: a systematic review.

Objectives: The objective of this review is to summarize and critically appraise existing evidence on the use of chart stimulated recall (CSR) and case-based discussion (CBD) as an assessment tool for medical trainees.

Methods: Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Educational Resources Information Centre (ERIC), Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for original articles on the use of CSR or CBD as an assessment method for trainees in all medical specialties.

Results: Four qualitative and three observational non-comparative studies were eligible for this review.

Daily setup uncertainty analysis for craniospinal irradiation using helical tomotherapy.

Purpose: Setup deviations of a craniospinal irradiation (CSI) patient cohort previously treated with helical tomotherapy were used to derive the optimal planning target volume (PTV) margin for CSI patients treated in the supine position.

Methods And Materials: The daily setup shifts of 27 CSI tomotherapy patients as determined using pretreatment megavoltage computed tomography verification for a total of 454 fractions were evaluated. Translational displacements in the mediolateral (ML), craniocaudal (CC), and anteroposterior (AP) directions were used to assess the systematic and random setup errors, and to derive the PTV margin required when daily image guidance is unavailable.

Stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy in the treatment of juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma: the McGill University experience.

Purpose: To report our experience with linear accelerator-based stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy in the treatment of juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma.

Methods And Materials: We performed a retrospective review of 50 consecutive patients diagnosed with juxtapapillary choroidal melanoma and treated with linear accelerator-based stereotactic fractionated radiotherapy between April 2003 and December 2009. Patients with small to medium sized lesions (Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study classification) located within 2 mm of the optic disc were included.