BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Relative to X-ray beams, proton [(1)H] and carbon ion [(12)C] beams provide superior distributions due primarily to their finite range. The principal differences are LET, low for (1)H and high for (12)C, and a narrower penumbra of (12)C beams. Were (12)C to yield a higher TCP for a defined NTCP than (1)H therapy, would LET, fractionation or penumbra width be the basis? ...

Context Daily variations in bladder size and position can negatively impact the ability to accurately deliver radiation. Aims We attempted to quantify how bladder volumes and positions change over the course of radiotherapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer and the planning target volume (PTV) margins required to account for such changes. Methods and material Cone-beam computed tomography (CT)...

PURPOSE To compare planning target volume (PTV) defined by PET combined with 4DCT to 3DCT and 4DCT. METHODS Eighteen (18/30) esophageal cancer patients who underwent 3DCT, 4DCT and (18)F-FDG PET-CT thoracic simulation with SUVmax≥2.0 of the primary volume were enrolled. CTV3D was formed on 3DCT by adding a margin of 30 mm in cranial-caudal direction and 5 mm in transversal direction. PTV3D wa...

The objectives of this study were to estimate global uncertainty for patients with thoracic tumors treated in our center using the CyberKnife VSI after placement of fiducial markers and to compare our findings with the standard CTV to PTV margins used to date. Datasets for 16 patients (54 fractions) treated with the CyberKnife and the Synchrony Respiratory Tracking System were analyzed retrospe...

TomoDirect (TD) is an intensity-modulated radiotherapy system that uses a fixed gantry angle instead of rotational beam delivery. Here, we investigated the effect of the multiple beam technique of TomoDirect on dose distribution compared with commonly-used tangential beams. We included 45 consecutive patients with right breast cancer who underwent postoperative radiotherapy in our institute in ...

Radiotherapy is a tumor treatment process using high dose of radiation. Hence, it is essential that radiotherapy is carefully planned with a Treatment Planning System (TPS). The first step in TPS is delineation that aims to get a better picture of the tumor and the target volume value. This research investigated volume target delineation for brain tumor against the MRI image of the head in axia...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to quantify the variability in spinal radiosurgery (SRS) planning practices between five international institutions, all member of the Elekta Spine Radiosurgery Research Consortium. METHODS Four institutions provided one representative patient case each consisting of the medical history, CT and MR imaging. A step-wise planning approach was used where, afte...

The name “Brachytherapy” is derived from ancient Greek words for short distance (brachios) and treatment (therapy) and refers to the therapeutic use of encapsulated radionuclides placed within or close to the tumor. Brachytherapy (BT), used as an integral part of cancer treatment for almost a century, developed in last three decades a rapid growth with the development of afterloading devices an...

AIMS To review the Batra Hospital and Medical Research Centre experience of using compensator-based intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to treat head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between October 2003 and August 2004, 18 patients underwent IMRT for head and neck cancer at our institution. IMRT was delivered using partial transmission high-resolution compensator blocks. RESULTS ...