International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2013
Differences in brainstem fiber tract response to radiation: a longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging study.
To determine whether radiation-induced changes in white matter tracts are uniform across the brainstem. ⋯ Changes in the structural integrity of white matter tracts, assessed by DTI, were not uniform across the brainstem after radiation therapy. These results support a role for tract-based assessment in radiation treatment planning and determination of brainstem tolerance.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2013
A comprehensive quality assurance program for personnel and procedures in radiation oncology: value of voluntary error reporting and checklists.
This report describes the value of a voluntary error reporting system and the impact of a series of quality assurance (QA) measures including checklists and timeouts on reported error rates in patients receiving radiation therapy. ⋯ A comprehensive QA program that regularly monitors staff compliance together with a robust voluntary error reporting system can reduce or eliminate errors that could result in serious patient injury. We recommend the adoption of these relatively simple QA initiatives including the use of checklists and timeouts for all staff to improve the safety of patients undergoing radiation therapy in the modern era.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2013
Comparative StudyProton beam craniospinal irradiation reduces acute toxicity for adults with medulloblastoma.
Efficacy and acute toxicity of proton craniospinal irradiation (p-CSI) were compared with conventional photon CSI (x-CSI) for adults with medulloblastoma. ⋯ This report is the first analysis of clinical outcomes for adult medulloblastoma patients treated with p-CSI. Patients treated with p-CSI experienced less treatment-related morbidity including fewer acute gastrointestinal and hematologic toxicities.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2013
Stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy for octogenarians with non-small cell lung cancer.
To retrospectively investigate treatment outcomes of stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy (SABR) for octogenarians with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ⋯ Stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy for octogenarians was feasible, with excellent OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that operability was one of the predictors for OS. For medically operable octogenarians with early-stage NSCLC, SABR should be prospectively compared with resection.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Jun 2013
Health-related quality of life in elderly patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma treated with short-course radiation therapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide.
To describe the quality of life (QOL) in elderly patients with glioblastoma (GBM) treated with an abbreviated course of radiation therapy (RT; 40 Gy in 15 fractions) plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ). ⋯ A short course of RT in combination with TMZ in elderly patients with GBM was associated with survival benefit without a negative effect on HRQOL until the time of disease progression.