Adjuvant breast radiotherapy using a simultaneous integrated boost: clinical and dosimetric perspectives.

Introduction: We sought to assess the cosmetic outcomes and the proportion of patients with late radiotherapy toxicity in a group of women with early-stage breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and adjuvant radiotherapy using a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technique.

Methods And Materials: Female patients with early-stage breast cancer (pT1-2 N0-1) treated with BCS and radiotherapy using an SIB technique were identified retrospectively from the departmental database. Radiotherapy consisted of 45 Gy in 25 fractions delivered to the whole breast with a simultaneous forward-planned conformal boost to the tumour bed of 60 Gy in 25 fractions.

Outcomes of preoperative radiotherapy and resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma.

Background: Preoperative radiotherapy (RT) is an important component of the management of retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). We aimed to establish the feasibility of this approach by determining the accuracy of computed tomography (CT)-guided core biopsy, proportion of patients completing treatment, rates of acute toxicity and surgical complications, and treatment outcomes.

Methods: This is a retrospective review.

Value of PET scan in patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma treated with preoperative radiotherapy.

Purpose: Preoperative radiotherapy provides advantages in the management of retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). We describe our experience treating a cohort who underwent pre- and post-radiotherapy functional imaging with FDG-PET scan.

Methods And Materials: Consecutive patients presenting between January 1999 and December 2009 with a diagnosis of either primary or recurrent RPS were identified from the hospital patient record database using ICD codes, and cross-referenced with the completed radiotherapy course database.

Childhood abuse and its association with mid-aged women's sexual functioning.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of recalled childhood sexual and physical abuse with current sexual functioning in mid-life. The sample was participants in the longitudinal population-based cohort of mid-aged women, The Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Project. Three hundred sixty two of the women (92% of the available cohort) were administered the Violence Questionnaire in the sixth year of follow-up.