Motion modeling from 4D MR images of liver simulating phantom.

Background And Purpose: A novel method of retrospective liver modeling was developed based on four-dimensional magnetic resonance (4D-MR) images. The 4D-MR images will be utilized in generation of the subject-specific deformable liver model to be used in radiotherapy planning (RTP). The purpose of this study was to test and validate the developed 4D-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method with extensive phantom tests.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment: Is There Still Hope?

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) carries poor survival outcomes despite recent progress in cancer treatment in general. Angiogenesis is crucial for tumour survival and progression. Therefore, several agents targeting the pathways that mediate angiogenesis have been developed.

Determination of acceptance criteria for geometric accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging scanners used in radiotherapy planning.

Background And Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly used in radiotherapy planning; yet, the performance of the utilized scanners is rarely regulated by any authority. The aim of this study was to determine the geometric accuracy of several magnetic resonance imaging scanners used for radiotherapy planning, and to establish acceptance criteria for such scanners.

Materials And Methods: The geometric accuracy of five different scanners was measured with three sequences using a commercial large-field-of-view phantom.

Retrospective four-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging of liver: Method development.

Purpose of our research was to develop a four-dimensional (4D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method of liver. Requirements of the method were to create a clinical procedure with acceptable imaging time and sufficient temporal and spatial accuracy. The method should produce useful planning image sets for stereotactic body radiation therapy delivery both during breath-hold and in free breathing.

Nutritional Counseling for Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing (Chemo) Radiotherapy-A Prospective Randomized Trial.

Locally advanced head and neck cancer is managed either by combined surgery and (chemo) radiotherapy or definitive (chemo) radiotherapy, which may deteriorate nutritional status. Previous data have shown that intensive nutritional intervention by a dietician reduces radiation-induced adverse events including weight loss. To determine if on-demand nutritional counseling (ODC, control group) would be as efficacious as intensive nutritional counseling (INC, experimental group) in patients undergoing (chemo) radiotherapy.

Tumor volume as a prognostic marker in p16-positive and p16-negative oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of primary gross tumor volume (pGTV) and nodal gross tumor volume (nGTV) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) and the difference in their role between human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative patients.

Methods: The patient cohort consists of 91 OPSCC patients treated with definitive radiochemotherapy or radiotherapy using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). All patients had a minimum follow-up of 31 months.

MRI-only based radiation therapy of prostate cancer: workflow and early clinical experience.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most comprehensive imaging modality for radiation therapy (RT) target delineation of most soft tissue tumors including prostate cancer. We have earlier presented step by step the MRI-only based workflow for RT planning and image guidance for localized prostate cancer. In this study we present early clinical experiences of MRI-only based planning.

Olfactory and gustatory functions after free flap reconstruction and radiotherapy for oral and pharyngeal cancer: a prospective follow-up study.

Background: The senses of smell and taste can be adversely affected by both tumour- and treatment-related factors amongst head and neck cancer patients. The consequences may negatively impact nutritional status as well as quality of life in this patient population.

Patients And Methods: This prospective longitudinal follow-up study is consisted of 44 patients treated for oral cavity, oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer with tumour resection and microvascular free tissue transfer reconstruction at the Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Epidemiological and treatment-related factors contribute to improved outcome of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in Finland.

Background: Treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has changed, as the proportion of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related disease has increased. We evaluated nationwide information on its management and outcome during the treatment paradigm change period.

Methods: We included all patients diagnosed and treated for OPSCC at the five Finnish university hospitals from 2000 to 2009.

Submandibular gland cancer: Specific features and treatment considerations.

Background: In the absence of unified treatment protocol, we evaluated the management and outcomes of submandibular gland cancers in an unselected patient series.

Methods: We included all patients with resected submandibular gland cancer treated at the Helsinki University Hospital from 2000 to 2010 with a 5-year minimum follow-up.

Results: Twenty-five patients with cancer represented 30% of submandibular gland neoplasms, and most were adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACCs; 56%).

Outcome of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Finland: A nationwide study.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is uncommon in western countries and data on the outcome and histological presentation are scarce in nonendemic areas. We report here the outcome on all patients with NPC treated in Finland between 1990 and 2009.

Material And Methods: The Finnish Cancer Registry database was used to identify the patients.

Early stage minor salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma has favourable prognosis.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of minor salivary and mucous gland (MiSG) adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck and to compare the results with earlier reports including our recently published series on major salivary gland (MaSG) ACC. The study comprised 68 MiSG ACCs operated during 1974-2012 at the Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. Medical records and histological samples were reviewed.

Changing trends in the management of the neck in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Treatment for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has changed toward a more oncologic approach. We evaluated treatment of the neck, the incidence of regional recurrences, and factors associated with regional recurrence during the treatment approach transition period in patients with regional lymph node metastasis.

Methods: All patients with oropharyngeal SCC diagnosed at the Helsinki University Hospital during 2000-2009 were analyzed for clinicopathological factors, treatment, p16 expression, and regional recurrence.

Cachexia at diagnosis is associated with poor survival in head and neck cancer patients.

Conclusions: One third of the patients had cachexia with an association of significantly shorter survival. These results suggest that combining HGS and MAMA seems to be a practical method to screen cachexia in patients with head and neck cancer and may also be used when assessing their prognosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the hypothesis that cachexia defined as both low mid-arm muscle area (MAMA) and handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with decreased survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Radiotherapy in desmoid tumors : Treatment response, local control, and analysis of local failures.

Background: Desmoid tumors (aggressive fibromatosis) are rare soft tissue tumors which frequently recur after surgery. Desmoid tumors arise from musculoaponeurotic tissue in the extremities, head and neck, abdominal wall, or intra-abdominally. Our aim was to examine the outcome of radiotherapy of desmoid tumors in a single institution series.

A Novel Digital Patient-Reported Outcome Platform for Head and Neck Oncology Patients-A Pilot Study.

Introduction: The patient's role in toxicity reporting is increasingly acknowledged. There is also a need for developing modern communication methods between the patient and the medical personnel. Furthermore, the increasing number of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients is reflected in the volume of treatment follow-up visits, which remains a challenge for the health care.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy in the Treatment of Recurrent Laryngeal Cancer.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and efficacy of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) as a larynx-preserving treatment option for patients with recurrent laryngeal cancer.

Methods And Materials: Six patients with locally recurrent squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma and 3 patients with persistent laryngeal cancer after prior treatment were treated with BNCT at the FiR1 facility (Espoo, Finland) in 2006 to 2012. The patients had received prior radiation therapy with or without concomitant chemotherapy to a cumulative median dose of 66 Gy.

Toward a more patient-specific model of post-radiotherapy saliva secretion for head and neck cancer patients.

Background: Reduction of saliva secretion is a common side effect following radiotherapy (RT) for cancer of the head and neck region. The aim of this study is to predict the post-RT salivary function for individual patients prior to treatment and to recognise possible differences in individual radiosensitivity.

Material And Methods: A predictive model for post-RT salivary function was validated for 64 head and neck cancer patients.

Converting from CT- to MRI-only-based target definition in radiotherapy of localized prostate cancer: A comparison between two modalities.

Purpose: To investigate the conversion of prostate cancer radiotherapy (RT) target definition from CT-based planning into an MRI-only-based planning procedure.

Materials And Methods: Using the CT- and MRI-only-based RT planning protocols, 30 prostate cancer patients were imaged in the RT fixation position. Two physicians delineated the prostate in both CT and T2-weighted MRI images.

Pattern of recurrent disease in major salivary gland adenocystic carcinoma.

This study aims to evaluate the long-term outcome of major salivary gland adenocystic carcinoma (ACC). This is a retrospective review of 54 cases of ACC during a 35-year period from 1974 to 2009 at the Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. Medical records and histological samples were reviewed.

NRS-2002 for pre-treatment nutritional risk screening and nutritional status assessment in head and neck cancer patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the value of nutritional risk screening-2002 (NRS-2002) as a nutritional risk screening and status assessment method and to compare it with nutritional status assessed by subjective and objective methods in the screening of head and neck cancer patients.

Methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients (50 male), with a median age of 61 years (range, 33-77), with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) were enrolled prior to cancer therapy. Nutritional status was assessed by NRS-2002, patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA), handgrip strength (HGS) and mid-arm muscle area (MAMA).

Voice quality after treatment of early vocal cord cancer: a randomized trial comparing laser surgery with radiation therapy.

Objective: Early laryngeal cancer is usually treated with either transoral laser surgery or radiation therapy. The quality of voice achieved with these treatments has not been compared in a randomized trial.

Methods And Materials: Male patients with carcinoma limited to 1 mobile vocal cord (T1aN0M0) were randomly assigned to receive either laser surgery (n=32) or external beam radiation therapy (n=28).

FDG-PET/CT in the Assessment of Treatment Response after Oncologic Treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: In many centers, (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is used to monitor treatment response after definitive (chemo)radiotherapy [(C)RT] for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but its usefulness remains somewhat controversial. We aimed at assessing the accuracy of FDG-PET/CT in detecting residual disease after (C)RT.

Method: All HNSCC patients with FDG-PET/CT performed to assess treatment response 10-18 weeks after definitive (C)RT at our institution during 2008-2010 were included.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy in definitive oncological treatment of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC) is treated by definitive concomitant chemoradiotherapy at most centres. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is an advanced computer-controlled high-precision radiotherapy technique that has been used at our institution in the treatment of HSCC since 2002. Our aim was to review the treatment results of IMRT-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients diagnosed with HSCC.