International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Nov 2001
The influence of interpatient and intrapatient rectum variation on external beam treatment of prostate cancer.
The rectal dose/volume relationship and inherent variations thereof are fundamental parameters to guide dose escalation in prostate cancer treatment. This study evaluates the effect of rectal dose/volume variation on the risk of rectal complication for different planning target volume (PTV) constructions. ⋯ Shape and position variation of rectum has less influence on treatment planning in the conventional 2D treatment of prostate cancer. However, this influence is quickly growing with high treatment dose or small CTV-to-PTV margins. To reduce the variation and uncertainties in the treatment planning evaluation associated with the inter- and intrapatient rectal dose/volume variation, the iso-NTCP model and treatment image feedback technique can be applied in dose escalation trials of prostate cancer treatment.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Nov 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialThe effect of oral sucralfate on the acute proctitis associated with prostate radiotherapy: a double-blind, randomized trial.
Acute rectal complications occur in the majority of patients receiving external-beam radiotherapy for carcinoma of the prostate. Sucralfate has been proposed to reduce radiation-induced mucosal injury by forming a protective barrier on ulcer bases, binding local growth factors, and stimulating angiogenesis. However, there is conflicting clinical evidence as to whether sucralfate, taken prophylactically during radiotherapy, can ameliorate the symptoms of acute radiation proctitis. ⋯ This study suggests that oral sucralfate taken prophylactically during radiotherapy does not ameliorate the symptoms of acute radiation proctitis and may increase acute bleeding. The cause of the increased bleeding in the sucralfate group is unclear. As the pathogenesis of acute and late reactions are different, late follow-up, which includes sigmoidoscopic evaluation, is currently being performed on this cohort of patients.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Nov 2001
Relationship of sentinel and axillary level I-II lymph nodes to tangential fields used in breast irradiation.
To evaluate the volume of nodal irradiation associated with breast-conserving therapy, we defined the anatomic relationship of sentinel lymph nodes and axillary level I and II lymph nodes in patients receiving tangential breast irradiation. ⋯ By extending the cranial border to 2 cm below the humeral head and 2 cm deep to the chest wall-lung interface, the radiotherapy fields used to treat the breast can include the sentinel lymph node region and most of axillary levels I and II.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Nov 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialNeurocognitive outcome in brain metastases patients treated with accelerated-fractionation vs. accelerated-hyperfractionated radiotherapy: an analysis from Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Study 91-04.
To evaluate neurocognitive outcome as measured by the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) among patients with unresectable brain metastases randomly assigned to accelerated fractionation (AF) vs. accelerated hyperfractionated (AH) whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT). ⋯ Use of AH as compared to AF-WBRT was not associated with a significant difference in neurocognitive function as measured by MMSE in this patient population with unresectable brain metastases and limited survival. However, control of brain metastases had a significant impact on MMSE.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Nov 2001
A prospective quality-of-life study in men with clinically localized prostate carcinoma treated with radical prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy, or interstitial brachytherapy.
To prospectively assess the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and changes in HRQOL during the first year after 3 different treatments for clinically localized prostate cancer. ⋯ The results of this analysis suggest that significant decreases in HRQOL, as measured by the FACT-P instrument, are evident in the first month after IB or RP, but not after EBRT. One year after treatment, however, the FACT-P scores were not statistically different from the baseline measures for any group. For all treatment groups, most of the HRQOL decreases were observed in the physical, functional, and prostate cancer-specific domains. These results suggest that the HRQOL changes are likely to be treatment-specific, further emphasizing the importance of a randomized trial comparing the different treatment options in this population of men.