PURPOSE To describe early results of two cohorts of patients with low and intermediate risk of early breast cancer treated with accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) using different schedules of multicatheter brachytherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with early stage breast cancer after breast conserving surgery were enrolled for a prospective analysis. The APBI, using multicathete...

To compare the radiation dose to normal cardiac tissue for 3Dimensional (3D) conformal external beam partial breast irradiation (PBI) and standard whole breast irradiation (WBI), and examine the effect of tumor bed location. For 14 patients with left breast tumors randomized on the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-39 protocol, computer-generated radiotherapy treatment plans...

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 ...

Early puberty in 28 children (23 girls, five boys) treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) at a mean age of 4.0 years (range 1.4-7.8) is described. All but one had received prophylactic cranial irradiation (1800-2400 cGy) and three children had received additional cranial or craniospinal irradiation as treatment for relapse of their leukaemia. Mean age for the onset of puberty was 8.8 (...

Background and Objectives. Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) has been proposed as an alternative to salvage mastectomy for patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) after prior breast conservation. We studied factors that are associated with a more favorable local recurrence profile that could make certain patients eligible for APBI. Methods. Between 1980 and 2005, 15...

PURPOSE Balloon brachytherapy is a widely accepted modality for delivery of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). Our hypothesis was that inter-fraction seroma collection around the balloon surface would have an adverse effect on dosimetry of the target. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a dosimetric re-planning study using two volumetric models (30 cc and 45 cc) in a Contura(®) multi-lum...

Accelerated partial breast irradiation is commonly done with the MammoSite applicator, which requires symmetry to treat the patient. This paper describes three cases that were asymmetric when initially placed and became symmetric over time, without manipulation.

Re-irradiation of painful bony metastases is increasingly performed since patients are receiving better systemic treatments and having longer life expectancy, and may also be due to the increase use of initial single fraction radiotherapy. However, randomized control trial on the efficacy of re-irradiation is lacking. A recent meta-analysis concluded with a 58% response rate for pain relief by ...