Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
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Controlled Clinical Trial
Sparing of the submandibular glands by intensity modulated radiotherapy in the treatment of head and neck cancer.
The submandibular glands produce most of the unstimulated saliva output and are the key in prevention of radiation-related xerostomia. We investigated whether sparing of the submandibular function is feasible with intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). ⋯ Submandibular gland sparing with IMRT is safe in selected patients treated for head and neck cancer. It is effective in prevention of radiation-associated xerostomia.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of linac based fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and tomotherapy treatment plans for skull-base tumors.
To compare and evaluate helical tomotherapy and linac based fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) techniques in the treatment of skull-base tumors. ⋯ Results show a distinct advantage in using non-coplanar beam arrangements for treatment of skull-base tumors. In the case where disease spreads far inferiorly, limiting the ability to use non-coplanar arrangements, helical tomotherapy can be used to generate a comparable treatment plan, with potentially superior homogeneity.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Analysis of interfractional set-up errors and intrafractional organ motions during IMRT for head and neck tumors to define an appropriate planning target volume (PTV)- and planning organs at risk volume (PRV)-margins.
To analyze the interfractional set-up errors and intrafractional organ motions and to define appropriate planning target volume (PTV)- and planning organs at risk volume (PRV)-margins in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for head and neck tumors. ⋯ We have adopted a PTV-margin of 5mm and a PRV-margin of 3mm for head and neck IMRT at our department.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Patients with a favourable prognosis are equally palliated with single and multiple fraction radiotherapy: results on survival in the Dutch Bone Metastasis Study.
In the prospectively, randomized Dutch Bone Metastasis Study on the effect of a single fraction of 8 Gy versus 24 Gy in six fractions on painful bone metastases, 28% of the patients survived for more than 1 year. Purpose of the present study was to analyze the palliative effect of radiotherapy in long-term surviving patients, and to identify prognostic factors for survival. ⋯ Single fraction radiotherapy should be the standard dose schedule for all patients with painful bone metastases, including patients with an expected favourable survival. General prognosticators as the Karnofsky Performance Score and metastatic tumour load are useful in predicting survival.
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Comparative Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Significant improvement in normal tissue sparing and target coverage for head and neck cancer by means of helical tomotherapy.
In order to explore the potential of helical Tomotherapy in the treatment of head and neck cancers (HNC), a planning study comparing our routinely delivered IMRT technique (dynamic MLC Varian 600CD Linac, inversely optimised by the Helios/Eclipse system) against two different Tomotherapy planning approaches was performed. ⋯ Preliminary findings obtained in a sequential approach for HNC suggest that Tomotherapy has the potential to significantly improve the therapeutic ratio with respect to a conventional IMRT delivery method.