International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
ReviewIdentification of prognostic factors in patients with brain metastases: a review of 1292 patients.
Prognostic factors in 1292 patients with brain metastases, treated in a single institution were identified in order to determine subgroups of patients suitable for selection in future trials. ⋯ In this large database, the value of established prognostic factors was confirmed and, furthermore, some less well-recognized parameters such as response to steroid treatment, serum lactate dehydrogenase, age, sex in lung primaries, and site of primary tumor were established. From the three strongest prognostic factors--performance status, response to steroids, and evidence of systemic disease--simple identification of favorable and unfavorable subgroups of patients with brain metastases can be constructed.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
Comparative StudyA comparison of daily CT localization to a daily ultrasound-based system in prostate cancer.
Daily CT localization has been demonstrated to be a precise method of correcting radiation field placement by reducing setup and organ motion variations to facilitate dose escalation in prostate carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of daily ultrasound-guided localization utilizing daily CT as a standard. The relatively simple computer-assisted ultrasound-based system is designed to be an efficient means of achieving daily accuracy. ⋯ Daily CT localization is a precise method to improve daily target localization in prostate carcinoma. However, it requires significant human and technical resources that limit its widespread applicability. Conversely, localization with the BAT ultrasound system is simple and expeditious by virtue of its ability to image the prostate at the treatment machine in the treatment position. Our initial evaluation revealed ultrasound targeting to be functionally equivalent to CT. This ultrasound technology is promising and warrants further investigation in more patients and at other anatomical sites.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialNo serious late cardiac effects after adjuvant radiotherapy following mastectomy in premenopausal women with early breast cancer.
To assess cardiac mortality, coronary artery disease, myocardial dysfunction, and valvular heart disease in women younger than 65 years of age, at least 10 years after adjuvant radiotherapy following mastectomy in early breast cancer. ⋯ Women younger than 50 years of age at the time of adjuvant radiotherapy following mastectomy in early breast cancer, had no serious cardiac sequelae 13 years (median) later, despite partly old-fashioned radiation techniques.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
Long-term morbidity and quality of life in patients with localized prostate cancer undergoing definitive radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy.
To assess morbidity, side effects, and quality of life (QoL) in patients treated for localized prostate cancer with curative aim. ⋯ In spite of considerable malignancy and/or treatment-related morbidity QoL was good or only slightly impaired in the majority of patients with localized prostate cancer who presented with stable disease > 1 year after definitive radiotherapy or radical prostatectomy with no difference as compared to the age-matched normal population. Clinicians should be aware of the fact that general QoL dimensions (physical function, emotional function, fatigue) are as a rule of greater significance for QoL than sexuality and lower urinary tract symptoms.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 1999
Inclusion of geometrical uncertainties in radiotherapy treatment planning by means of coverage probability.
Following the ICRU-50 recommendations, geometrical uncertainties in tumor position during radiotherapy treatments are generally included in the treatment planning by adding a margin to the clinical target volume (CTV) to yield the planning target volume (PTV). We have developed a method for automatic calculation of this margin. ⋯ A method has been developed for calculation of CTV-to-PTV margins based on the assumption that the CTV should be adequately irradiated with a high probability.