New Clinical Features and Dosimetric Predictor Identification for Symptomatic Radiation Pneumonitis after Tangential Irradiation in Breast Cancer Patients.

Tangential irradiation is the most popular postoperative radiotherapy technique for breast cancer. However, irradiation has been related to symptomatic radiation pneumonitis (SRP), which decreases the quality of life of patients. This study investigated the clinical features and dosimetric parameters related to SRP of the ipsilateral lung to identify risk factors for SRP in breast cancer patients after three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) with tangential fields.

Target splitting non-coplanar RapidArc radiation therapy for a diffuse sebaceous carcinoma of the scalp: a novel delivery technique.

Background And Purpose: To compare conventional lateral photon-electron, fixed-beam intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), coplanar and non-coplanar RapidArc for the treatment of a diffuse sebaceous gland carcinoma of the scalp.

Methods: Comprehensive dosimetry comparisons were performed among 3D-CRT, IMRT and various RapidArc plans. Target coverage, conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI) and doses to organs at risk (OAR) were calculated.

[Primary exploration of individual biological boosting target volume for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the methods of detecting and defining the biological boosting target volume (BBTV) in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: Ten patients with locally advanced NPC treated at our center during September to December 2010 were enrolled. The following factors were used to define and contour BBTV, including dose-deficient area locating at skull-base of gross tumor volume in conventional irradiation, hypoxia area detected by (99m)Tc-HL91 Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPET/CT) imaging and tumor-burdened area evaluated by comparing the pre-treatment and 36 Gy irradiation's CT images scanning at the same treatment position.

In vivo verification of superficial dose for head and neck treatments using intensity-modulated techniques.

Skin dose is one of the key issues for clinical dosimetry in radiation therapy. Currently planning computer systems are unable to accurately predict dose in the buildup region, leaving ambiguity as to the dose levels actually received by the patient's skin during radiotherapy. This is one of the prime reasons why in vivo measurements are necessary to estimate the dose in the buildup region.

[A matched cohort analysis of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy versus conventional radiotherapy for primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Background & Objective: Comparing with two-dimensional conventional radiotherapy (2D CRT), three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D CRT) features a precise tumor target volume positioning and a three-dimensional display of the tumor and surrounding normal tissues, therefore, helps to spare normal tissues in the radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study was to explore whether 3D CRT can increase the locoregional control rate while reduce the occurrence and severity of radiation-related sequelae for primary NPC patients.

Methods: Clinical data of 95 primary NPC patients, treated by 3D CRT from Feb.

[Dosimetric analysis of radiotherapy with middle shielding blocks of different widths at the lower cervical supraclavicular field for stage N2-3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Background & Objective: Anterior tangential field irradiation with middle shielding block at the lower cervical and supraclavicular region is needed in the conventional radiotherapy for stage N2-3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but there are still some disagreements on block width. This study was to explore a reasonable block width by dosimetric analysis of anterior tangential field irradiation with middle shielding blocks of different widths designed by the 3-dimensional treatment planning system (3D-TPS) at the lower cervical supraclavicular region for stage N2-3 NPC.

Methods: Ten untreated patients with stage N2-3 NPC received 3D-TPS-designed irradiation plan.

[Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma and analysis of locoregional recurrence].

Background & Objective: The efficacy of routine two-dimensional radiotherapy for primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is dissatisfied, while three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3-D CRT) can optimize irradiation dose distribution. This study was to explore the efficacy of 3-D CRT on NPC, and investigate dosimetric factors of locoregional failure.

Methods: Records of 87 patients with primary NPC, treated with 3-D CRT between Feb.