High-dose, single-fraction image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy for metastatic spinal lesions.

Purpose: To report tumor control and toxicity for patients treated with image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy (RT) for spinal metastases with high-dose single-fraction RT.

Methods And Materials: A total of 103 consecutive spinal metastases in 93 patients without high-grade epidural spinal cord compression were treated with image-guided intensity-modulated RT to doses of 18-24 Gy (median, 24 Gy) in a single fraction between 2003 and 2006. The spinal cord dose was limited to a 14-Gy maximal dose.

Clinical outcomes after reirradiation of paraspinal tumors.

Objective: We present our experience with reirradiation of locally recurrent paraspinal tumors using image-guided intensity modulated radiotherapy (IG-IMRT).

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 37 patients who were reirradiated using IG-IMRT for recurrent paraspinal tumors between 2000 and 2005. We evaluated radiation dose to the spinal cord or cauda equina in first and second radiation treatments, time to first recurrence, and clinical outcomes after reirradiation including second recurrence, survival, pain, functional status, and toxicity.

Accurate setup of paraspinal patients using a noninvasive patient immobilization cradle and portal imaging.

Because of the proximity of the spinal cord, effective radiotherapy of paraspinal tumors to high doses requires highly conformal dose distributions, accurate patient setup, setup verification, and patient immobilization. An immobilization cradle has been designed to facilitate the rapid setup and radiation treatment of patients with paraspinal disease. For all treatments, patients were set up to within 2.

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for lymphoma involving the mediastinum.

Purpose: To determine the feasibility, potential advantage, and indications for intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma involving excessively large mediastinal disease volumes or requiring repeat RT.

Methods And Materials: Sixteen patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 11) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 5) undergoing primary radiotherapy or repeat RT delivered via an IMRT plan were studied. The indications for using an IMRT plan were previous mediastinal RT (n = 5) or extremely large mediastinal treatment volumes (n = 11).

Clearance assurance for stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy.

The nature of stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT)/radiosurgery (SRS) requires the use of oblique non-coplanar beams to avoid critical structures and maximize target coverage. These beams are delivered via a combination of gantry, collimator, and couch rotations. Such beam orientations could result in the gantry colliding with the patient or couch.