Image guided radiation therapy may result in improved local control in locally advanced lung cancer patients.

Purpose: Image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is designed to ensure accurate and precise targeting, but whether improved clinical outcomes result is unknown.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective comparison of locally advanced lung cancer patients treated with and without IGRT from 2001 to 2012 was conducted. Median local failure-free survival (LFFS), regional, locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS), distant failure-free survival, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were estimated.

Reirradiation for second primary or recurrent cancers of the head and neck: Dosimetric and outcome analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes, toxicity, and dosimetric characteristics of patients treated with reirradiation for head and neck cancers.

Methods: Fifty patients underwent ≥2 courses of radiation therapy (RT) postoperatively or definitively with or without chemotherapy. Composite dose volume histograms (DVHs) for selected anatomic structures were correlated with grade ≥3 late toxicity.

Comparison of accelerated hypofractionation and stereotactic body radiotherapy for Stage 1 and node negative Stage 2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Purpose: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and accelerated hypofractionated radiation therapy (AHRT) have favorable local control (LC) relative to conventional fractionation in the treatment of stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We report the results of our single institution experience with the treatment of early stage NSCLC with SBRT or AHRT in cases where SBRT was felt to be suboptimal.

Methods: One hundred and sixty patients with Stage 1 and node negative Stage 2 NSCLC were treated with SBRT or AHRT from 2003 to 2011.

Management of mediastinal relapse after treatment with stereotactic body radiotherapy or accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy for stage I/II non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose/objective(s): Regional failures occur in up to 15% of patients treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for stage I/II lung cancer. This report focuses on the management of the unique scenario of isolated regional failures.

Methods: Patients treated initially with SBRT or accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy were screened for curative intent treatment of isolated mediastinal failures (IMFs).

Thoracic re-irradiation using stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) techniques as first or second course of treatment.

Background And Purpose: Management for in-field failures after thoracic radiation is poorly defined. We evaluated SBRT as an initial or second course of treatment re-irradiating in a prior high dose region.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-three patients were treated with re-irradiation defined by the prior 30 Gy isodose line.

Neuroanatomical target theory as a predictive model for radiation-induced cognitive decline.

Objective: In a retrospective review to assess neuroanatomical targets of radiation-induced cognitive decline, dose volume histogram (DVH) analyses of specific brain regions of interest (ROI) are correlated to neurocognitive performance in 57 primary brain tumor survivors.

Methods: Neurocognitive assessment at baseline included Trail Making Tests A/B, a modified Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure, California or Hopkins Verbal Learning Test, Digit Span, and Controlled Oral Word Association. DVH analysis was performed for multiple neuroanatomical targets considered to be involved in cognition.

Limited margins using modern radiotherapy techniques does not increase marginal failure rate of glioblastoma.

Objective: We investigate the patterns of failure in the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) based on clinical target volume (CTV) margin size, dose delivered to the site of initial failure, and the use of temozolomide and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Methods: Between August 2000 and May 2010, 161 patients with GBM were treated with radiotherapy with or without concurrent temozolomide. Patients were treated with CTV expansions that ranged from 5 to 20 mm using a shrinking field technique.

The observed variance between predicted and measured radiation dose in breast and prostate patients utilizing an in vivo dosimeter.

Purpose: Report the results of using a permanently implantable dosimeter in radiation therapy: determine specific adverse events, degree of migration, and acquire dose measurements during treatment to determine difference between expected and measured dose.

Methods And Materials: The Dose Verification System is a wireless, permanently implantable metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor dosimeter using a bidirectional antenna for power and data transfer. The study cohort includes 36 breast (33 patients received two devices) and 29 prostate (21 patients received two devices) cancer patients.

Radiation safety issues with positron-emission/computed tomography simulation for stereotactic body radiation therapy.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) simulations using a Stereotactic Body Frame (SBF: Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden) were expanded to include 18F-deoxyglucosone positron-emission tomography (FDG PET) for treatment planning. Because of the length of time that staff members are in close proximity to the patient, concerns arose over the radiation safety issues associated with these simulations. The present study examines the radiation exposures of the staff performing SBRT simulations, and provides some guidance on limiting staff exposure during these simulations.

Photon spectral characteristics of dissimilar 6 MV linear accelerators.

This work measures and compares the energy spectra of four dosimetrically matched 6 MV beams, generated from four physically different linear accelerators. The goal of this work is twofold. First, this study determines whether the spectra of dosimetrically matched beams are measurably different.

Reducing set-up uncertainty in the Elekta Stereotactic Body Frame using Stealthstation software.

The Elekta Stereotactic Body Frame (SBF) is a device which allows extracranial targets to be localized and irradiated in a stereotactic coordinate system. Errors of positioning of the body relative to the frame are indirectly estimated by image fusion of multiple CT scans. A novel repositioning methodology, based on neurosurgical Stealth technology, is presented whereby accurate patient repositioning is directly confirmed before treatment delivery.