A pilot study to determine if the use of a virtual reality education module reduces anxiety and increases comprehension in patients receiving radiation therapy
ConclusionDecreased anxiety and improved comprehension influence patient-reported satisfaction and can contribute to quality assurance. Implementation of virtual simulation was successful in improving comprehension and reducing anxiety. Development of personalized, site-specific, clinic-based virtual modules is a long-term goal of this pilot study. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - March 22, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Familial trigeminal neuralgia treated with stereotactic radiosurgery: a case report and literature review
ConclusionsThis is the first reported case of familial TN treated with SRS. Patients with familial TN are more likely to have bilateral disease, to present with earlier onset, and to become refractory to medical therapy and may require more aggressive approaches. We propose that SRS is a good treatment approach for these patients. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - March 19, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Radiation therapy for localized malignant pleural mesothelioma: a propensity score-matched analysis of the National Cancer Data Base
ConclusionsThe rate of RT utilization for non-metastatic MPM has remained low over the past decade. Patients who received RT had improved OS. Combined modality therapy was associated with a greater improvement in survival than single modality treatment. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - March 10, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The Emami paper 25 years later
(Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - March 1, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Multilesion glioblastoma multiforme in the modern chemo-radiotherapy era: an analysis of pattern of failure and overall survival
ConclusionsWe identified unifocal, multifocal, and multicentric GBM entities with differing overall survival following modern chemo-radiotherapy techniques despite similar pattern of disease progression. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - February 28, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Therapeutic approach to brain metastasis in high-grade neuroendocrine carcinomas of the lung: where do we stand?
ConclusionThe development of brain metastasis is associated with poor prognosis and shortened survival in patients with HGNECs. Conventional cytotoxic agents display limited efficacy against HGNECs-derived brain metastasis. Patient with limited or extensive SCLC who respond to chemotherapy benefits from PCI. In LCNECs, the use of PCI is not well defined and might potentially improve the outcome of these patients. Prospective clinical trials addressing this issue are urgently needed. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - February 9, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Effectiveness of intensity-modulated radiation therapy with simultaneous integrated boost in cervical cancer patients with PET positive lymph nodes
ConclusionsIn patients with PET-positive nodes, IMRT is well tolerated and provides good local control and overall survival. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - February 9, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Brain and hippocampal doses in patients with repeated stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastasis
ConclusionsRepeat SRS delivered low cumulative doses to the brain and hippocampus with the lowest normal brain volumes irradiated in highly conformal plans. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - February 6, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Early adoption of concurrent chemotherapy with both standard and hypofractionated radiation regimens in elderly patients with glioblastoma
ConclusionsConcurrent chemotherapy was adopted early in the USA for elderly patients with GBM receiving both radiation fraction schemes. Concurrent chemotherapy was associated with improved OS for elderly patients with GBM, irrespective of radiotherapy schedule. Patient-specific variations in the use of chemotherapy exist that may be targeted to improve access to care. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - January 17, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Prospective evaluation of weekly concomitant tumor bed boost with three-week hypofractionated whole breast irradiation in early breast cancer
ConclusionsWhole breast irradiation with concomitant weekly boost appears feasible and safe. Further investigation is required to fully evaluate this schedule as an alternative to conventional whole breast irradiation with a sequential boost. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - January 12, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Regional nodal irradiation following pathologic complete response in the axilla to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: patterns of treatment
ConclusionsIn this large cancer database study, we observed substantial variation in the use of RNI in clinically node-positive patients with pathologic CR following neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - December 25, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Strategies for bilateral breast and comprehensive nodal irradiation in breast cancer —a comparison of IMRT and 3D conformal radiation therapy
ConclusionThis is the first study of bilateral breast with total regional nodal irradiation. Radiotherapy for bilateral breast and regional lymph nodes is best achieved using IMRT due to its superior ability to cover the target volumes, while minimizing dose to organs at risk. Further studies will reveal if higher integral lung dose translates into clinically significant chronic toxicity given the excellent long-term survival in these patients. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - December 25, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The effect of whole-brain radiation (WBI) and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) on survival of patients receiving stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for second brain metastatic event
ConclusionsThe outcomes of SRS for SBME are most favorable for patients who have not received previous WBI or who have maintained higher performance status despite previous WBI. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - December 5, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for centrally located primary and recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): analysis of toxicity and local control
ConclusionsModerate prescription dosing, treated once weekly, offers acceptable local control rates for centrally located tumors including recurrent mediastinal and hilar lymph nodes. Toxicity was minimal with the majority of patients experiencing no treatment-related adverse events. (Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology)
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - November 25, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Clinical outcomes of fungating breast cancer treated with palliative radiotherapy
ConclusionRadiotherapy is effective palliative treatment for patients with fungating breast cancer. High response rates of up to 90 % can be expected, with a median local progression-free survival of 10 months. With the advent of dose escalation techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), it is now technically possible to deliver high radiation doses to patients with low toxicity and risk to the adjacent normal organs. Nevertheless, whether higher doses or longer courses of radiotherapy confer better local control is a potential subject for further study. ...
Source: Journal of Radiation Oncology - November 13, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
