Brain Linac-Based Radiation Therapy: "Test Drive" of New Immobilization Solution and Surface Guided Radiation Therapy.

Aim: To test inter-fraction reproducibility, intrafraction stability, technician aspects, and patient/physician's comfort of a dedicated immobilization solution for Brain Linac-based radiation therapy (RT).

Methods: A pitch-enabled head positioner with an open-face mask were used and, to evaluate inter- and intrafraction variations, 1-3 Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) were performed. Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) was used to evaluate intrafraction variations at 3 time points: initial (i), final (f), and monitoring (m) (before, end, and during RT).

Non-surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Cancer of the biliary confluence also known as hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) or Klatskin tumor, is a rare type of neoplastic disease constituting approximately 40%-60% of intrahepatic malignancies, and 2% of all cancers. The prognosis is extremely poor and the majority of Klatskin tumors are deemed unresectable upon diagnosis. Most patients with unresectable bile duct cancer die within the first year after diagnosis, due to hepatic failure, and/or infectious complications secondary to biliary obstruction.

Poor-Prognosis Patients Affected by Glioblastoma: Retrospective Study of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy with Simultaneous Integrated Boost and Concurrent/Adjuvant Temozolomide.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a very poor-prognosis brain tumor. To date, maximal excision followed by radiochemotherapy, in 30 fractions, is the standard approach. Limited data are present in the literature about hypofractionated radiotherapy (hypo-RT) in GBM poor prognosis patients.

Current trends and perspectives in interventional radiology for gastrointestinal cancers.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers often require a multidisciplinary approach involving surgeons, endoscopists, oncologists, and interventional radiologists to diagnose and treat primitive cancers, metastases, and related complications. In this context, interventional radiology (IR) represents a useful minimally-invasive tool allowing to reach lesions that are not easily approachable with other techniques. In the last years, through the development of new devices, IR has become increasingly relevant in the context of a more comprehensive management of the oncologic patient.

Worldwide management of hepatocellular carcinoma during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted hospital organization, with the necessity to quickly react to face the pandemic. The management of the oncological patient has been modified by necessity due to different allocation of nurses and doctors, requiring new strategies to guarantee the correct assistance to the patients. Hepatocellular carcinoma, considered as one of the most aggressive types of liver cancer, has also required a different management during this period in order to optimize the management of patients at risk for and with this cancer.

Bowel intussusception in adult: Prevalence, diagnostic tools and therapy.

Intussusception is defined as invagination of one segment of the bowel into an immediately adjacent segment. The intussusception refers to the proximal segment that invaginates into the distal segment, or the intussusception (recipient segment). Intussusception, more common occur in the small bowel and rarely involve only the large bowel.

Radiofrequency ablation surgical resection in elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Milan criteria.

Background: Surgical resection and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) represent two possible strategy in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Milan criteria.

Aim: To evaluate short- and long-term outcome in elderly patients (> 70 years) with HCC in Milan criteria, which underwent liver resection (LR) or RFA.

Methods: The study included 594 patients with HCC in Milan criteria (429 in LR group and 165 in RFA group) managed in 10 European centers.

IOERT versus external beam electrons for boost radiotherapy in stage I/II breast cancer: 10-year results of a phase III randomized study.

Background: Intraoperative radiotherapy with electrons (IOERT) boost could be not inferior to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) boost in terms of local control and tissue tolerance. The aim of the study is to present the long-term follow-up results on local control, esthetic evaluation, and toxicity of a prospective study on early-stage breast cancer patients treated with breast-conserving surgery with an IOERT boost of 10 Gy (experimental group) versus 5 × 2 Gy EBRT boost (standard arm). Both arms received whole-breast irradiation (WBI) with 50 Gy (2 Gy single dose).

Radiation treatment for adult rare cancers: Oldest and newest indication.

Aim: Aim of this analysis is to review the role of RT in the management of several rare tumors for adult patients.

Methods: Collection data regarding RT and rare tumors was made by Pubmed.

Results: For mucosal melanomas, RT is prescribed, being associated with lower local recurrence rate.

Minimally Invasive Approaches in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients Undergoing Radical Surgery After Chemoradiotherapy: A Propensity Score Analysis.

Purpose: Chemoradiation (CT/RT) followed by radical surgery (RS) may play a role in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients with suboptimal response to CT/RT or in low-income countries with limited access to radiotherapy. Our aim is to evaluate oncological and surgical outcomes of minimally invasive radical surgery (MI-RS) compared with open radical surgery (O-RS).

Patients And Methods: Data for stage IB2-IVA cervical cancer patients managed by CT/RT and RS were retrospectively analyzed.

Role of minimally invasive surgery versus open approach in patients with early-stage uterine carcinosarcomas: a retrospective multicentric study.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare surgical and survival outcome in only patients with early-stage UCSs managed by laparotomic surgery (LPT) versus minimally invasive surgery (MIS).

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected in four Italian different institutions. Inclusion criteria were UCS diagnosis confirmed by the definitive histological examination, and stage I or II according to the FIGO staging system.

Present clinical practice of breast cancer radiotherapy in Italy: a nationwide survey by the Italian Society of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) Breast Group.

Aims: To investigate the present attitude of the Italian Radiation Oncologists in the management of breast cancer (BC) concerning hypofractionated radiotherapy (hRT), partial-breast irradiation (PBI), re-irradiation (rRT) and radiotherapy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (post-NAC RT).

Methods: A nationwide, 21-point questionnaire was distributed online via SurveyMonkey.

Results: Seventy-four Italian Radiotherapy Centers answered to the survey.

Clinical outcome of recurrent endometrial cancer: analysis of post-relapse survival by pattern of recurrence and secondary treatment.

Introduction: Recurrence of endometrial cancer is an important clinical challenge, with median survival rarely exceeding 12 months. The aim of this study was to analyze patterns of endometrial cancer recurrence and associations of these patterns with clinical outcome.

Methods: The study included patients with endometrial cancer who underwent primary surgical treatment with or without adjuvant treatment between July 2004 and June 2017 at the Gynaecologic Oncology Unit of one of three tertiary hospitals of the Catholic University Network in Italy with complete follow-up data available.

Patients' osteometabolic control improves the management of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Objectives: Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a concern in patients taking anti-resorptive drugs. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that preoperative individualized pharmacologic control of the patient's osteometabolic profile could lead to predictable healing of the surgically treated region and minimize the incidence of complications.

Study Design: This prospective study included 95 test patients (53 with osteoporosis and 42 with cancer), and 94 control patients (49 with osteoporosis and 45 with cancer) who were on anti-resorptive therapy and were candidates for ONJ treatment.

Simultaneous Integrated Boost Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy in the Postoperative Treatment of High-Risk to Intermediate-Risk Endometrial Cancer: Results of ADA II Phase 1-2 Trial.

Purpose: A prospective phase 1-2 clinical trial aimed at determining the recommended postoperative dose of simultaneous integrated boost volumetric modulated arc therapy (SIB-VMAT) in a large series of patients with high-risk and intermediate-risk endometrial cancer (HIR-EC) is presented. The study also evaluated the association between rate and severity of toxicity and comorbidities and the clinical outcomes.

Methods And Materials: Two SIB-VMAT dose levels were investigated for boost to the vaginal vault, whereas the pelvic lymph nodes were always treated with 45 Gy.

Laparoscopic En Bloc Right Diaphragmatic Peritonectomy for Diaphragmatic Endometriosis According to the Sugarbaker Technique.

Study Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a novel laparoscopic procedure for complete eradication of diaphragmatic endometriosis (DE).

Design: A retrospective multicenter study (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2).

Setting: University tertiary referral centre.

Inguino-scrotal herniation of the ureter containing stones.

Background: Inguino-scrotal herniation of the ureter is a rare and difficult situation for a surgeon, especially if only recognized during inguinal hernia repair.

Methods: An 83-year-old gentleman, with a previous history of radiation treatment for squamous anal cancer, presented with a large left inguinoscrotal hernia causing occasional pain at the base of the scrotum. Follow-up, post-radiation therapy CT scan showed a hernia sac containing the bladder and large bowel.

Clinical outcome of recurrent locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) submitted to primary multimodality therapies.

Objectives: Recurrence of disease represents a clinical challenge in cervical cancer patients, especially when all available treatment modalities have been used in the primary setting. The aim of this study was to analyze the patterns of recurrence and their association with clinical outcome in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) patients submitted to primary chemoradiation (CTRT) followed by radical surgery (RS).

Methods: This study was conducted on 364 LACC patients treated with CTRT plus RS since January 1996 to July 2012.

Assessing access to MRI of patients with magnetic resonance-conditional pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator systems: the Really ProMRI study design.

Background: Despite the fact that magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional pacemaker and lead systems have been introduced more than 5 years ago, it is still not clear whether they have actually facilitated the access of pacemaker patients to this important diagnostic tool. Factors limiting MR scans in daily practice in patients with MR-conditional cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) systems may be related to organizational, cultural and sometimes legal aspects. The Really ProMRI registry is an ongoing survey designed to assess the annual rate of MR examinations in patients with MR-conditional implants, with either pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and to detect the main factors limiting MRI.