International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Apr 2005
Initial clinical experience with frameless radiosurgery for patients with intracranial metastases.
To review the initial clinical experience with frameless stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for treating intracranial metastatic disease. ⋯ Frameless optically guided radiosurgery is less invasive, can be performed as a standard radiotherapy-based simulation procedure, and maintains submillimetric accuracy. Our initial results with frameless SRS for metastatic disease suggest survival times and local control (88%) eqiuvalent to frame-based methodologies. Practical noninvasive delivery makes treatment and potential retreatment to avoid WBRT more feasible.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Apr 2005
Error in the delivery of radiation therapy: results of a quality assurance review.
To examine error rates in the delivery of radiation therapy (RT), technical factors associated with RT errors, and the influence of a quality improvement intervention on the RT error rate. ⋯ Errors in the delivery of RT are uncommon and usually of little clinical significance. Patient subgroups and technical factors associated with errors can be identified. The introduction of new technology can produce new ways for errors to occur, necessitating ongoing evaluation of RT errors for quality assurance. Modifications to processes of care can produce important reductions in error rates.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Apr 2005
Treatment of bone metastases with palliative radiotherapy: patients' treatment preferences.
To determine the proportion of patients undergoing palliative radiotherapy (RT) for bone pain who would like to participate in the decision-making process, and to determine their choice of palliative RT regimen (2000 cGy in five fractions vs. 800 cGy in one fraction) for painful bone metastases. ⋯ Most participating patients preferred to decide either by themselves or with the radiation oncologists which treatment option they preferred. An 800-cGy-in-one-fraction regimen was favored, independent of the treated site. The convenience of the treatment plan and the likelihood of bone fracture were the most important factors influencing patients' choice.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Apr 2005
Prospective study of inner ear radiation dose and hearing loss in head-and-neck cancer patients.
To determine the relationship between the radiation dose to the inner ear and long-term hearing loss. ⋯ High-frequency (>/=2000 Hz) hearing acuity worsens significantly after RT in a dose-dependent fashion. A larger number of patients needs to be studied to validate these results. This knowledge can be applied to create guidelines regarding future dose limits to the auditory apparatus for patients undergoing head-and-neck RT.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Apr 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialAndrogen suppression adjuvant to definitive radiotherapy in prostate carcinoma--long-term results of phase III RTOG 85-31.
Radiation Therapy Oncology Group protocol 85-31 was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant androgen suppression, using goserelin, in unfavorable prognosis carcinoma of the prostate treated with definitive radiotherapy (RT). ⋯ In a population of patients with unfavorable prognosis carcinoma of the prostate, androgen suppression applied as an adjuvant after definitive RT was associated not only with a reduction in disease progression but in a statistically significant improvement in absolute survival. The improvement in survival appeared preferentially in patients with a Gleason score of 7-10.