Publications have reported the benefits of using high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRB) for the treatment of prostate cancer, since it provides similar biochemical control as other treatments while showing lowest long-term complications to the organs at risk (OAR). With the inclusion of anatomy-based inverse planning opti- mizers, HDRB has the advantage of potentially allowing dose escalation. Amo...

BACKGROUND Cranial reirradiation is clinically appropriate in some cases but cumulative radiation dose to critical normal structures remains a practical concern. The authors developed a simple technique in 3D conformal proton craniospinal irradiation (CSI) to block organs at risk (OAR) while minimizing underdosing of adjacent target brain tissue. METHODS Two clinical cases illustrate the use ...

PURPOSE Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment plan quality depends on the planner's level of experience and the amount of time the planner invests in developing the plan. Planners often unwittingly accept plans when further sparing of the organs at risk (OARs) is possible. The authors propose a method of IMRT treatment plan quality control that helps planners to evaluate the do...

BACKGROUND Modern intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) mostly uses iterative optimisation methods. The integration of machine parameters into the optimisation process of step and shoot leaf positions has been shown to be successful. For IMRT segmentation algorithms based on the analysis of the geometrical structure of the planning target volumes (PTV) and the organs at risk (OAR), the potent...

BACKGROUND Optimal applicator insertion is a precondition for the success of cervix cancer brachytherapy (BT). We aimed to assess feasibility and efficacy of MRI-assisted pre-planning, based on applicator insertion in para-cervical anaesthesia (PCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS Five days prior to BT, the pre-planning procedure was performed in 18 cervix cancer patients: tandem-ring applicator was in...

PURPOSE To report the results of dosimetric comparison between intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using Tomotherapy and four-box field conformal radiotherapy (CRT) for pelvic irradiation of locally advanced rectal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who received a short course preoperative chemoradiotherapy (25 Gy in 5 fractions) on the pelvi...

Removing a flattening filter or replacing it with a thinner filter alters the characteristics of a photon beam, creating a forward peaked intensity profile to make the photon beam nonflat. This study is to investigate the feasibility of applying nonflat photon beams to the whole-breast irradiation with breath holds for a potential of delivery time reduction during the gated treatment. Photon be...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To compare conventional lateral photon-electron, fixed-beam intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), coplanar and non-coplanar RapidArc for the treatment of a diffuse sebaceous gland carcinoma of the scalp. METHODS Comprehensive dosimetry comparisons were performed among 3D-CRT, IMRT and various RapidArc plans. Target coverage, conformity index (CI), homogeneity in...

BACKGROUND Recent studies suggest that radiation-induced injuries to the hippocampus play important roles in compromising neurocognitive functioning for patients with brain tumors and it could be important to spare the hippocampus using modern planning methods for patients with craniopharyngiomas. As bilateral hippocampus are located on the same level as the planning target volume (PTV) in pati...

Definitive treatment for cervical cancer most often consists of fractionated external beam radiotherapy combined with multi-fraction intracavitary brachytherapy. CT imaging in gynaecological brachytherapy treatment planning has been widely used in the past decade. With the advantages of image-based treatment planning and the commercial treatment planning software tools available, it is possible...