Quality and mechanical efficiency of automated knowledge-based planning for volumetric-modulated arc therapy in head and neck cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the automated RapidPlan in assessing plan quality and to explore how beam complexity affects the mechanical performance of volumetric modulated arc therapy for head and neck cancers.

Materials And Methods: The plans were first generated using automated RapidPlan with scripting application programming interface (API) and then further refined through manual optimization (RP+MP) to improve plan quality. The quality of 20 plans was assessed, taking into account dose statistics and clinical plan acceptability.

Interobserver delineation variability of computed tomography-based radiomic features of the parotid gland.

Purpose: To assess the interobserver delineation variability of radiomic features of the parotid gland from computed tomography (CT) images and evaluate the correlation of these features for head and neck cancer (HNC) radiotherapy patients.

Materials And Methods: Contrast-enhanced CT images of 20 HNC patients were utilized. The parotid glands were delineated by treating radiation oncologists (ROs), a selected RO and AccuContour auto-segmentation software.

Prophylactic management of radiation-induced mucositis using herbal mouthwash in patients with head and neck cancer: an assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Radiation-induced mucositis (RIOM) is one of the most common side effects from head and neck radiotherapy. Several reagents have been introduced to manage the symptom; however, there is still a limited number of effective reagents. Herbal mouthwashes with payayor ( Lindau) and fingerroot () were tested their efficacies in preventing and reducing severity of RIOM in comparison with normal saline with sodium bicarbonate.

Prognostic significance of uPA and uPAR expression in patients with cervical cancer undergoing radiotherapy.

Cervical cancer remains a major health threat. Urokinase serves as a marker of metastatic tumors. The present study aimed to determine whether the expression levels of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), before and during the course of radiotherapy, serve as prognostic markers for patients with cervical cancer.

Author Correction: Imaging and clinical data archive for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy.

In the original version of the Data Descriptor the surname of author Hesham Elhalawani was misspelled. This has now been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions.

Imaging and clinical data archive for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy.

Cross sectional imaging is essential for the patient-specific planning and delivery of radiotherapy, a primary determinant of head and neck cancer outcomes. Due to challenges ensuring data quality and patient de-identification, publicly available datasets including diagnostic and radiation treatment planning imaging are scarce. In this data descriptor, we detail the collection and processing of computed tomography based imaging in 215 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that were treated with radiotherapy.

Comparison of CT images with average intensity projection, free breathing, and mid-ventilation for dose calculation in lung cancer.

The purpose of this study was to compare three computed tomography (CT) images under different conditions-average intensity projection (AIP), free breathing (FB), mid-ventilation (MidV)-used for radiotherapy contouring and planning in lung cancer patients. Two image sets derived from four-dimensional CT (4DCT) acquisition (AIP and MidV) and three-dimensional CT with FB were generated and used to plan for 29 lung cancer patients. Organs at risk (OARs) were delineated for each image.

Clinical analysis of cholangiocarcinoma patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy.

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) or bile duct cancer is a rare cancer type in developed countries, while its prevalence is increased in southeast Asia, affecting ~33.4 men and ~12.3 women per 100,000 individuals.

Quantitative body mass characterization before and after head and neck cancer radiotherapy: A challenge of height-weight formulae using computed tomography measurement.

Objectives: We undertook a challenge to determine if one or more height-weight formula(e) can be clinically used as a surrogate for direct CT-based imaging assessment of body composition before and after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, who are at risk for cancer- and therapy-associated cachexia/sarcopenia.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective single-institution study included 215 HNC patients, treated with curative radiotherapy between 2003 and 2013. Height/weight measures were tabulated.

Association of Body Composition With Survival and Locoregional Control of Radiotherapy-Treated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Importance: Major weight loss is common in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who undergo radiotherapy (RT). How baseline and posttreatment body composition affects outcome is unknown.

Objective: To determine whether lean body mass before and after RT for HNSCC predicts survival and locoregional control.