International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
The employment status of 1995 graduates from radiation oncology training programs in the United States.
To quantify the employment status of 1995 graduates of radiation oncology training programs in the United States. ⋯ This is the only employment survey for any specialty in which a 100% response rate was achieved. Upon graduation, a significant number of residents and fellows were either unemployed or involuntarily underemployed. The job market absorbed only a fraction of them at 6-8 months. Most graduates, including those employed full-time, were not satisfied with the practice opportunities available to them during their job search. Many private-sector jobs did not offer a partnership track, and those that did required an increased employment period. A higher rate of involuntary part-time employment was seen for female graduates. Geographic restrictions in job search alone could not account for graduates being unemployed or underemployed, and could not account for gender differences. An overwhelming majority of 1995 radiation oncology graduates believed that the job market had deteriorated and that there was an oversupply of radiation oncologists. As one of two major studies tracking the employment status of radiation oncology graduates, we believe this study to be superior in methodology. We also believe this study presents data in a manner useful to medical students, training program directors, and healthcare policymakers.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
Radiation therapy in the treatment of giant cell tumor of bone.
To assess the local control rate and potential complications of radiotherapy, and the factors influencing response to radiotherapy for primary and locally recurrent giant cell tumor of bone. ⋯ Radiotherapy is effective in producing local control in primary as well as recurrent giant cell tumor of bone. There are no major complications and no significant risk of malignant transformation. Radiotherapy could be considered as the primary treatment modality in patients where surgery would produce functional deficits.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
Rectal dosimetric analysis following prostate brachytherapy.
To retrospectively assess the rectal tolerance dose in transperineal ultrasound-guided prostate brachytherapy using easily measured point doses. ⋯ Our results indicate that in an implant program which maintains the anterior rectal mucosa point dose averages to about 85% of the prescribed dose (regardless of the choice of isotope or the treatment approach), the average maximum to 120% of mPD, and the length of the anterior rectal mucosa receiving 100% and 120% of the prescribed dose at approximately 10 mm and 5 mm, respectively, the incidence of mild self-limited proctitis will be in the range of approximately 9%, without incidence of rectal ulceration and/or fistula formation.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
Outcomes in breast cancer patients relative to margin status after treatment with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy: the University of Pennsylvania experience.
To evaluate the significance of final microscopic resection margin status on treatment outcomes in women with early breast cancer who are treated with breast-conserving surgery and definitive breast irradiation. ⋯ These results demonstrate that selected patients with focally positive or focally close microscopic resection margins can be treated with breast-conserving surgery and definitive breast irradiation with 8-year local control rates and survival rates that are similar to those seen in breast-conservation patients with negative or unknown final resection margins.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
Iridium-192 transperineal interstitial brachytherapy for locally advanced or recurrent gynecological malignancies.
To assess treatment outcome for patients with locally advanced or recurrent gynecological malignancies treated with continuous low-dose-rate (LDR) remote afterloading brachytherapy using the Martinez Universal Perineal Interstitial Template (MUPIT). ⋯ Patients with locally advanced or recurrent gynecological malignancies treated with the remote afterloader LDR MUPIT applicator can expect reasonable rates of local control that are not operator-dependent. Complication rates with this approach are acceptable and appear to be related to the dose rate.