Dose-volumetric parameters and prediction of severe acute esophagitis in patients with locally-advanced non small-cell lung cancer treated with neoadjuvant concurrent hyperfractionated-accelerated chemoradiotherapy.

Background: To identify dose-volume parameters predictive for severity of acute esophagitis (CTC > grade 2) in locally-advanced non small-cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) patients treated with neoadjuvant concurrent hyperfractionated-accelerated chemoradiotherapy (HA-CRT) a retrospective analysis was performed. 88 patients were treated with HA-CRT followed by radical surgery. Predictive power of absolute oesophageal length, absolute and relative oesophageal volume included in the 95%-isodose, patient- and tumor-related factors for severity of acute esophagitis was assessed.

Irradiation treatment of laryngeal cancer in a patient with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

Background: Due to an aging population the incidence of both cardiac and tumor-related illnesses is increasing. A problem may arise if radiotherapy is necessary in close anatomic proximity to an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). These highly precise devices may respond to ionizing radiation with a loss of function or uncontrolled stimulation, with both effects being potentially life threatening.