International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2004
Localization of neurovascular bundles on pelvic CT and evaluation of radiation dose to structures putatively involved in erectile dysfunction after prostate brachytherapy.
To (a) locate neurovascular bundles (NVB) on pelvic CT and (b) retrospectively evaluate relationships between radiation dose to structures putatively involved in prostate brachytherapy-induced erectile dysfunction (ED) and incidence of postbrachytherapy ED. ⋯ A reliable method for localizing NVB on CT is demonstrated. There is no increased risk of prostate brachytherapy-induced ED with increasing dose to crus or NVB at the doses given in this study. There is a possible dose-response relationship between dose to the bulb and risk of ED.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2004
Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the CNS treated with CHOD/BVAM or BVAM chemotherapy before radiotherapy: long-term survival and prognostic factors.
To assess the long-term survival and prognostic factors associated with the cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and dexamethasone (CHOD)/carmustine, vincristine, methotrexate, and cytarabine (BVAM) and BVAM chemotherapy regimens followed by cranial radiotherapy in the treatment of primary central nervous system (CNS) non-Hodgkin lymphoma. ⋯ The Nottingham/Barcelona prediction score, which is similar to the International Prognostic Index, may be useful in comparing survival with different regimens studied in Phase II trials. Patients with primary CNS non-Hodgkin's lymphoma aged <60 years treated with CHOD/BVAM or BVAM followed by radiotherapy have a similar long-term survival to that of patients with large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at other extranodal sites.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2004
The use of linked seeds eliminates lung embolization following permanent seed implantation for prostate cancer.
A number of reports of (125)I seed migration to the lungs after prostate brachytherapy have been published. There are, however, very limited data available on how to reduce the risk of this event. The purpose of the present report is to determine whether seed embolization to the lungs can be minimized by using stranded seeds alone for brachytherapy. ⋯ No evidence of seed embolization was observed with the use of stranded (125)I seeds as used for prostate brachytherapy.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2004
A preliminary study of the role of modulated electron beams in intensity modulated radiotherapy, using automated beam orientation and modality selection.
To develop an algorithm for optimal beam arrangement selection in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) of mixed photon and electron beams. To apply this algorithm to study the utility of modulated electron beams in the context of IMRT planning. ⋯ In the two cases analyzed using the selection algorithm, the primary role of modulated electrons differs based on treatment site-normal tissue dose reduction in breast and target homogeneity improvement in head and neck. Although this preliminary study with two cases appears to suggest that the role of intensity-modulated electrons differs based on treatment site, further investigation of large numbers of cases and varied treatment sites are required to establish a definitive conclusion.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2004
Evaluation of a contour-alignment technique for CT-guided prostate radiotherapy: an intra- and interobserver study.
The recent introduction of integrated CT/linear accelerator systems may mean that daily CT localization can become a reality in the clinic, possibly allowing further dose escalation to the prostate while limiting unwanted doses to the rectum and bladder. However, the implementation of CT localization is currently impeded by the lack of precise and robust techniques to align the treatment plan with the daily CT images. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a manual alignment technique, in which the gross target volume contours are overlaid on the daily CT images and then shifted to match the structures visible in the images. ⋯ The interobserver uncertainties associated with aligning the gross target volume contours with daily CT images were sufficiently small that this method may be used for daily CT localization of the prostate. The use of a reference image is important to improve the consistency among different users in this technique.