A 65-Year-Old Man With Back Pain and Imaging Findings of Spinal Cord Compression.

Spinal cord compression is a potentially devastating consequence of cancer. Early recognition of the signs and symptoms permit diagnosis prior to the development of irreversible neurological damage. This complication occurs in 5% to 10% of patients with malignancy, often at the end stages of the patient's illness; however, it can be the presenting manifestation of malignancy in up to 23% of patients.

Recurrent EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Discovered by Abnormal Mammogram: Adjuvant/Frontline Metastatic Management Options.

Breast metastasis from extramammary malignancy is rare, with a reported incidence rate of 0.4% to 1.3% in the published literature.

Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer, What is the Standard of Care?

Colorectal carcinoma is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with rectal cancer accounting for approximately one-third of newly diagnosed cases. A comprehensive trimodality approach involving neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, total mesorectal excision, and systemic chemotherapy has been the standard of care for medically operable patients with nonmetastatic, locally advanced rectal cancer. Despite a marked reduction in local recurrence rates with good local control, systemic recurrence rates of as high as 35% constitute the leading cause of death in this population.

Recurrent Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung With Cutaneous Metastasis in Breast.

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the second leading cause of new cancer cases in the United States. Although more commonly involving hilar nodes, the liver, adrenal glands, bones, and the brain, lung cancer can metastasize to almost any organ. Metastases, although rare in the skin may be the first sign of a lung cancer or cutaneous metastases may present as a sign of recurrent disease.

Split-course chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a single-institution experience of 144 patients.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a standard of care in the treatment of unresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). At Rush University Medical Center, patients with locally advanced NSCLC are treated with split-course CRT in an attempt to maximize efficacy and tolerability. We reviewed our experience in advanced NSCLC since 1999.

Comparison of computed tomography scout based reference point localization to conventional film and axial computed tomography.

Identification of source positions after implantation is an important step in brachytherapy planning. Reconstruction is traditionally performed from films taken by conventional simulators, but these are gradually being replaced in the clinic by computed tomography (CT) simulators. The present study explored the use of a scout image-based reconstruction algorithm that replaces the use of traditional film, while exhibiting low sensitivity to metal-induced artifacts that can appear in 3D CT methods.

Weight gain in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients during treatment with split-course concurrent chemoradiotherapy is associated with superior survival.

Background: Preoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is an accepted treatment for potentially resectable, locally advanced, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We reviewed a decade of single institution experience with preoperative split-course CRT followed by surgical resection to evaluate survival and identify factors that may be helpful in predicting outcome.

Methods And Materials: All patients treated with preoperative split-course CRT and resection at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) between January 1999 and December 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.

Treatment of locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Approximately one third of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients will present with locally advanced, stage III disease. With the use of pretreatment positron emission testing and mediastinal lymph node sampling, classifying stage III NSCLC has become more involved and treatment strategies have shifted from single modality thoracic radiation to combined chemoradiotherapy. This article reviews evidence-based strategies in the treatment of locally advanced NSCLC and presents new efforts for improving the poor prognosis of this disease by incorporating novel chemotherapy and biologic based regimens.

Toxicity associated with bowel or bladder puncture during gynecologic interstitial brachytherapy.

Purpose: Interstitial brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies is associated with significant toxicity. Some reports have correlated this toxicity with needle puncture of the visceral organs. This study examined our experience with interstitial brachytherapy and investigated the relationship between the visceral puncture and toxicity.

Application of holographic display in radiotherapy treatment planning II: a multi-institutional study.

We hypothesized that use of a true 3D display providing easy visualization of patient anatomy and dose distribution would lead to the production of better quality radiation therapy treatment plans. We report on a randomized prospective multi-institutional study to evaluate a novel 3D display for treatment planning.The Perspecta Spatial 3D System produces 360 degrees holograms by projecting crosssectional images on a diffuser screen rotating at 900 rpm.

Upright 3D treatment planning using a vertical CT.

In this report, we describe a novel technique used to plan and administer external beam radiation therapy to a patient in the upright position. A patient required reirradiation for thymic carcinoma but was unable to tolerate the supine position due to bilateral phrenic nerve injury and paralysis of the diaphragm. Computed tomography (CT) images in the upright position were acquired at the Northern Illinois University Institute for Neutron Therapy at Fermilab.

Long term disease-free survival resulting from combined modality management of patients presenting with oligometastatic, non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

We report outcomes on 23 patients with oligometastastic (1 or 2 sites) NSCLC treated with aggressive local, regional, and systemic treatment. The results suggest that this is a favorable subset of patients who may benefit from such an approach, with a 22% rate of long-term survival. This treatment strategy is a departure from the usual practice of palliative-only therapy for all NSCLC patients presenting with metastatic disease.

Vaginal lymphatic channel location and its implication for intracavitary brachytherapy radiation treatment.

Purpose: In vaginal intracavitary brachytherapy using cylindrical applicators, it is common to prescribe dose to a depth of 0.5 cm to cover the lymphatic channels. However, the actual depth of the lymphatics within the vaginal wall has never been determined.