Purpose: Conventionally fractionated radiation therapy for large, bulky (≥8 cm), unresectable tumors has been hampered by radiation-induced morbidity, but application of spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT) for both palliative and curative intent has been increasingly accepted. We report our clinical use of novel 3-dimensional conformal multileaf collimator (MLC)-based SFRT with same-day computed tomography simulation and forward-planning method, providing a safe, rapidly efficacious reduction in disease burden and pain, with minimal normal-tissue toxicity.
Methods And Materials: Patients with large, unresectable bulky tumors received 15 Gy in 1 fraction to the gross tumor volume (GTV) within an hour of computed tomography simulation, using a forward-planned MLC-based SFRT technique.
Central nervous system (CNS) metastases of atypical carcinoid tumors are exceptionally rare. Isolated studies suggest a survival benefit in patients who receive whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT); however, it has been known to have detrimental effects on long-term memory and executive function. Here, we present a case of a patient initially diagnosed with stage IIB bronchopulmonary carcinoid who later developed hepatic and intracranial metastases despite receiving adjuvant systemic therapy over a two-year period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose We sought to explore the feasibility of using the current co-planar Halcyon ring delivery system (RDS) with a novel multileaf collimator (MLC) aperture shape controller in delivering a single high dose of 30 Gy to solitary lung lesions via stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Materials and methods Thirteen non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients previously treated with a single dose of 30 Gy to lung lesions via SBRT on the TrueBeam (6MV-FFF) using non-coplanar volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) arcs were anonymized and replanned onto the Halcyon RDS (6MV-FFF) following RTOG-0915 single-fraction criteria. The Halcyon plans utilized a novel dynamic conformal arc (DCA)-based MLC-fitting approach before VMAT optimization with a user-defined aperture shape controller option.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Neuropathic pain is undertreated in children. Neurosurgical treatments of pediatric chronic pain are limited by the absence of both US Food and Drug Administration approval and pediatric-specific hardware, as well as weak referral patterns due to a lack of physician education. This study presents a single-institution retrospective case series of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in children ≤ 19 years of age and a systematic review of SCS in children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cerebral vasospasm following clipping of an unruptured aneurysm is a rare phenomenon. When it does occur, cerebral vasospasm usually occurs on the side ipsilateral to the surgical intervention.
Case Description: A 68-year-old man underwent right-sided pterional craniotomy for clipping of an unruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm and experienced contralateral vasospasm 5 days later.