Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
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Comparative Study
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy improves target coverage, spinal cord sparing and allows dose escalation in patients with locally advanced cancer of the larynx.
An investigation has been carried out into the potential of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to improve the coverage of the targets and the sparing of the spinal cord (SC) in radiotherapy treatment of the larynx and bilateral cervical lymph nodes, in patients with advanced larynx cancer. ⋯ IMRT offers improved target homogeneity and reduces irradiation of the SC. This sparing of normal tissue structures is sufficient that significant dose escalation of both the larynx and lymph nodes may be possible.
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Comparative Study
Accelerated postoperative radiotherapy with weekly concomitant boost in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer.
To assess the feasibility and efficacy of accelerated 66-Gy postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) using a single-fraction regimen from Mondays to Thursdays and a concomitant boost on Friday afternoon sessions in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNC). ⋯ We conclude that reducing the overall treatment time using an accelerated PORT schedule including a once-weekly concomitant boost (six fractions per week) is easily feasible with excellent local control. Acute and late RT-related morbidity is acceptable. Given the disease progression pattern (distant metastases), adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
A randomized trial of supine vs. prone positioning in patients undergoing escalated dose conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
The optimal treatment position for patients receiving radical radiation therapy for prostate cancer has been a source of controversy. To resolve this issue, we conducted a randomized trial to evaluate the effects of supine and prone positioning on organ motion, positioning errors, and dose to critical organs during escalated dose conformal irradiation for localized prostate cancer and patient and therapist satisfaction with setup technique. ⋯ We demonstrated significantly less PM in the supine treatment position. There was no difference for either treatment position in IPE or TPE, however, more pre-treatment corrections were required in the prone position. Prone position required a larger PTV with resulting increased dose to critical organs. There were statistically significant improvements at all dose levels for small bowel, rectal wall and bladder wall doses in the supine position once corrections were made for differences in organ motion. Linear analogue scores of patient comfort and radiation therapist convenience demonstrated statistically significant improvement in favour of the supine position. Supine positioning has been adopted as the standard for conformal prostatic irradiation at our centre.
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Comparative Study
Comparative dosimetric evaluation of the simultaneous integrated boost with photon intensity modulation in head and neck cancer patients.
The objective of this study is to evaluate, at planning and dosimetric level, the potential benefits of the simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) concept with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), using a comparative analysis on physical dose distributions corrected for radiobiological models. The concept of SIB at the end of the treatment has been analysed as an alternative acceleration scheme. ⋯ Feasibility of SIB techniques and in particular of the modified SIB appears to be dosimetrically proven and the results reported here justify the activation of a phase I protocol to verify clinically their impact using IMRT photon-based techniques.
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The rectum is known to display a dose-volume effect following high-dose 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). The aim of the study is to search for significant dose-volume combinations with the specific treatment technique and patient set-up currently used in our institution. ⋯ The present analysis confirms the role of the rectal DVH as a tool to discriminate patients undergoing high-dose 3D-CRT into a low and a high risk of developing late rectal bleeding. Based on our own results and taking into account the data published in the literature, we have been able to establish new dose-volume constraints for treatment planning: if possible, the percentage of rectal volume exposed to 40, 50, 60, 72 and 76 Gy should be limited to 60, 50, 25, 15 and 5%, respectively.