Publications by authors named "Thomas R Niedermayr"
Article Synopsis
- Radiation therapy is crucial for cancer treatment, but target delineation mostly relies on slow, manual processes done by experts, which can vary between different operators.* -
- This study introduces Radformer, an auto-delineation network that combines a vision transformer with large language models to improve the accuracy of identifying RT target volumes.* -
- Evaluated on a dataset of nearly 3,000 head-and-neck cancer patients, Radformer showed significantly better segmentation performance than current models, indicating its potential for use in radiation therapy.*
Purpose: To develop and implement an automated plan check (APC) tool using a Six Sigma methodology with the aim of improving safety and efficiency in external beam radiotherapy.
Methods: The Six Sigma define-measure-analyze-improve-control (DMAIC) framework was used by measuring defects stemming from treatment planning that were reported to the departmental incidence learning system (ILS). The common error pathways observed in the reported data were combined with our departmental physics plan check list, and AAPM TG-275 identified items.
Variability in MRI vs. ultrasound measures of prostate volume and its impact on treatment recommendations for favorable-risk prostate cancer patients: a case series.
Radiat Oncol
September 2014
Background: Prostate volume can affect whether patients qualify for brachytherapy (desired size ≥20 mL and ≤60 mL) and/or active surveillance (desired PSA density ≤0.15 for very low risk disease). This study examines variability in prostate volume measurements depending on imaging modality used (ultrasound versus MRI) and volume calculation technique (contouring versus ellipsoid) and quantifies the impact of this variability on treatment recommendations for men with favorable-risk prostate cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUse of a rectal spacer with low-dose-rate brachytherapy for treatment of prostate cancer in previously irradiated patients: Initial experience and short-term results.
Brachytherapy
October 2014
Background: Salvage brachytherapy in patients with prior pelvic radiation carries a risk of rectal injury. Herein, we report our initial experience using a hydrogel spacer between the prostate and the rectum during salvage brachytherapy.
Methods And Materials: A total of 11 patients with prostate cancer and prior radiotherapy (5 prostate brachytherapy, 2 prostate external beam radiation therapy [EBRT], and 4 rectal cancer EBRT) received (125)I brachytherapy after attempted placement of 10cc of a diluted hydrogel spacer between the prostate and rectum.
Purpose: We sought to determine whether placing empty catheters within the prostate and then inverse planning iodine-125 seed locations within those catheters (High Dose Rate-Emulating Low Dose Rate Prostate Brachytherapy [HELP] technique) would improve concordance between planned and achieved dosimetry compared with a standard intraoperative technique.
Methods And Materials: We examined 30 consecutive low dose rate prostate cases performed by standard intraoperative technique of planning followed by needle placement/seed deposition and compared them to 30 consecutive low dose rate prostate cases performed by the HELP technique. The primary endpoint was concordance between planned percentage of the clinical target volume that receives at least 100% of the prescribed dose/dose that covers 90% of the volume of the clinical target volume (V100/D90) and the actual V100/D90 achieved at Postoperative Day 1.