OBJECTIVE A new dosimetric variable, dose-dropping speed (DDS), was proposed and used to evaluate normal tissue sparing among stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) plans with different prescription isodose lines. METHODS 40 plans were generated for 8 intracranial SRS cases, prescribing to isodose levels (IDLs) ranging from 50% to 90% in 10% increments. Whilst maintaining similar coverage and confor...

BACKGROUND Testis-sparing surgery is not popular in South China. This study aimed to investigate this procedure for pediatric testicular tumors. METHODS Children with testicular benign tumors were retrospectively analyzed from January 2001 to June 2015 in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC) and the First Affiliated Hospital (SYSU-1st). Follow-up was performed until June 2016, an...

We set out to present potency results after bilateral, unilateral, and semi-sparing of the neurovascular bundles after robotic prostatectomy. Two hundred and twenty-five consecutive robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomies were performed by one surgeon (NPW) from the start of our robotic program in January 2002 until December 2005. Patient demographics, operative, and postoperative...

BACKGROUND Injury to the prostatic plexus may occur during radical prostatectomy even with the use of minimally invasive techniques. Reconstruction of these nerves by interpositional nerve grafting can be performed to reduce morbidity. Although the feasibility of nerve reconstruction has been shown, long-term functional outcomes are mixed, and the role of nerve grafting in these patients remain...

BACKGROUND To compare volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with conventional step and shoot intensity modulated radiation therapy (s-IMRT) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients, and identify which T category patient gains the maximum benefit from VMAT. METHODS Fifty-two patients that randomly selected from 205 patients received VMAT at a single center were retrospectively replanned wi...

The second of two targets (T2) embedded in a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVSVP) is often missed even though the first (T1) is correctly reported (attentional blink). The rate of correct T2 identification is quite high, however, when T2 comes immediately after T1 (lag-1 sparing). This study investigated whether and how non-target items induce lag-1 sparing. One T1 and two T2s comprising l...

The management of hereditary pheochromocytoma has drastically evolved in the last 20 years. Bilateral pheochromocytoma does not increase mortality in MEN2 or von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) mutation carriers who are followed regularly, but these mutations induce major morbidities if total bilateral adrenalectomy is performed. Cortical sparing adrenal surgery may be proposed to avoid definitive adrenal ...

The conversion of natural habitats to farmland is a major driver of the global extinction crisis. Two strategies are promoted to mitigate the impacts of agricultural expansion on biodiversity: land sharing integrates wildlife-friendly habitats within farmland landscapes, and land sparing intensifies farming to allow the offset of natural reserves. A key question is which strategy would protect ...

PURPOSE The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of fertility-sparing surgery as the treatment for patients with primary mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study of patients with mucinous ovarian cancer between 1991 and 2010 was performed. The demographics and survival outcomes were compared between patients who underwent fertility-sparing surgery...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the recent results of pneumonectomy (Pn) for primary lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-four patients undergoing Pn and 26 patients undergoing broncho-or angioplastic lobectomy (namely, parenchyma-sparing lung resection) from January 1993 to December 2004 were reviewed. The oncological outcome of Pn was analyzed by disease-free surviv...