International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · May 2004
Special report: results of the 2000-2002 Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO) surveys.
Between 2000 and 2002, the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO) conducted its 18th, 19th, and 20th annual surveys of all residents training in radiation oncology in the United States. This report summarizes these results. The demographic characteristics of residents in training between 2000 and 2002 are detailed, as are issues regarding the quality of training and career choices of residents entering practice.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Apr 2004
ReviewSalvage radiotherapy for palpable, locally recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.
A retrospective study to evaluate the outcome of salvage radiotherapy (RT) for clinically apparent, palpable prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP). ⋯ Salvage prostate bed RT for clinically apparent locally recurrent prostate cancer after RP provides effective local tumor control with modest durable biochemical control. Patients irradiated with a better simulation technique were found to have a more favorable outcome. A consensus on a definition of biochemical disease-free survival after salvage RT is critical for meaningful comparison of the available data and to future progress in treating this disease process.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Apr 2004
Significance of plasma transforming growth factor-beta levels in radiotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer.
In dose-escalation studies of radiotherapy (RT) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), radiation pneumonitis (RP) is the most important dose-limiting complication. Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) has been reported to be associated with the incidence of RP. It has been proposed that serial measurements of plasma TGF-beta1 can be valuable to estimate the risk of RP and to decide whether additional dose-escalation can be safely applied. The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively the time course of TGF-beta1 levels in patients irradiated for NSCLC in relation to the development of RP and dose-volume parameters. ⋯ The MLD correlated significantly with the incidence of both radiographic and symptomatic RP. The results of our study did not confirm the reports that increased levels of TGF-beta1 at the end of RT are an independent additional risk factor for developing symptomatic RP. However, the TGF-beta1 level at the end of a RT was significantly associated with the MLD and the pre-RT level.
-
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Apr 2004
Preliminary report of using FDG-PET to detect extrapelvic lesions in cervical cancer patients with enlarged pelvic lymph nodes on MRI/CT.
To evaluate, in a prospective study, the effects of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) on the detection of extrapelvic lesions, the design of whole pelvis or extended field radiotherapy, and subsequent failure patterns for patients with cervical cancer and enlarged pelvic lymph nodes (LNs) shown on MRI or CT. ⋯ FDG-PET is a useful tool to detect paraaortic LN metastasis and determine the appropriate treatment field for cervical cancer with enlarged pelvic LNs on MRI/CT. The preliminary data suggest that pretreatment FDG-PET can supplement conventional imaging studies, but still has limitations in the detection of microscopic disease.