Clinical Acceptability of Automated Radiation Treatment Planning for Head and Neck Cancer Using the Radiation Planning Assistant.

Purpose: Radiation treatment planning for head and neck cancer is a complex process with much variability; automated treatment planning is a promising option to improve plan quality and efficiency. This study compared radiation plans generated from a fully automated radiation treatment planning system to plans generated manually that had been clinically approved and delivered.

Methods And Materials: The study cohort consisted of 50 patients treated by a specialized head and neck cancer team at a tertiary care center.

Does Thyroid Gland Preserving Total Laryngectomy Affect Oncological Control in Laryngeal Carcinoma?

Introduction: Thyroid lobectomy is recommended with total laryngectomy in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. However, it is associated with a 32% to 89% risk of hypothyroidism, which is a problem for patients without access to thyroid hormone monitoring and replacement. A number of studies have reported a low incidence of thyroid gland involvement and recommended preserving the thyroid gland in favorable cases.

Retrospective Validation and Clinical Implementation of Automated Contouring of Organs at Risk in the Head and Neck: A Step Toward Automated Radiation Treatment Planning for Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Purpose We assessed automated contouring of normal structures for patients with head-and-neck cancer (HNC) using a multiatlas deformable-image-registration algorithm to better provide a fully automated radiation treatment planning solution for low- and middle-income countries, provide quantitative analysis, and determine acceptability worldwide. Methods Autocontours of eight normal structures (brain, brainstem, cochleae, eyes, lungs, mandible, parotid glands, and spinal cord) from 128 patients with HNC were retrospectively scored by a dedicated HNC radiation oncologist. Contours from a 10-patient subset were evaluated by five additional radiation oncologists from international partner institutions, and interphysician variability was assessed.

Genetic variation in Otos is associated with cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Background: Ototoxicity is an adverse drug reaction that may limit the effective use of cisplatin chemotherapy. Given the reported in vitro protective role of the gene Otos in response to cisplatin, this study aimed to explore the potential of Otos as a genetic modifier of ototoxicity.

Patients & Methods: One hundred South African cisplatin-receiving cancer patients with baseline and follow-up audiometric data were screened for variation in exonic target regions of Otos using direct cycle sequencing.