BACKGROUND Recent studies provide evidence of improved clinical benefits associated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) optimization. Our analysis explores the cost-effectiveness of systematically optimized (SO, 3 times a year) vs. non-systematically optimized (NSO, less than 3 times a year) CRT, whatever the echo optimization method used (manual or SonR® automatic). A longitudinal coh...

We report on our initial experience with daily image guidance for the treatment of a patient with a basal cell carcinoma of the nasal dorsum using bolus electron conformal therapy. We describe our approach to daily alignment using treatment machine-integrated megavoltage (MV) planar imaging in conjunction with cone beam CT (CBCT) volumetric imaging to ensure the best possible setup reproducibil...

This issue of the journal highlights some of the significant advances that have taken place in radiotherapy in recent years. The use of ionising radiation has a venerable history in cancer treatment. The first recorded radiobiology ‘experiment’ occurred in 1898 when Henri Becquerel developed a skin reaction to a vial of radium kept in his shirt pocket. Skin cancers were successfully treated in ...

0377-2217/$ see front matter 2011 Elsevier B.V. A doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2011.10.039 ⇑ Corresponding author. Address: Department of Ra of Washington, Box 356043, Seattle, WA 98195-6043 598 8133; fax: +1 206 598 6218. E-mail address: [email protected] (M. Kim State-of-the-art methods for optimizing cancer treatment over several weeks of external beam radiotherapy take a static–deterministic vie...

AIMS AND BACKGROUND The etiology of laryngeal granulomas is often multifactorial and the benefit of pharmacological therapy remains unclear. Anti-reflux treatment is only effective in granulomas definitely induced by gastroesophageal reflux. Steroid inhalation has shown favorable results but it is unclear whether it shortens the healing process. Surgical excision is associated with high recurre...

Recently the compensator has been shown to be an in expensive and reliable dose delivery device for photon beam intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The goal of IMRT compensator design is to produce an optimized primary fluence profile at the patient's surface obtained from the optimization procedure. In this paper some of the problems associated with IMRT compensator design, specifica...

Introduction:   The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of respiratory motion during radiation therapy in patient with lung cancer and comparison of dosimetric parameters between Intensity modulation radiation therapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy in lung cancer.   Materials and Methods:   Two CT scan was performred for each pati...

Introduction: Radiotherapy is a common treatment modality for patients with head and neck malignancies. As the nose lies within the field of radiotherapy of the head and neck, the olfactory fibers and olfactory receptors may be affected by radiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in olfactory threshold in patients with head and neck malignancies who have received radiation to th...