A dosimetric study to evaluate the inverse planning simulated annealing (IPSA) and hybrid inverse planning optimization (HIPO) algorithms in HDR brachytherapy of cervical cancer.

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of the inverse planning simulated annealing (IPSA) and hybrid inverse planning optimization (HIPO) algorithms in interstitial HDR brachytherapy for treatment of cervical cancer.

Methods And Materials: A dosimetric study was conducted on 46 cervical cancer patients who underwent multi catheter interstitial cervical HDR brachytherapy using the Martinez Universal Perineal Interstitial Template (MUPIT). Dosimetric parameters, plan evaluation indices, and mean treatment time were assessed for each algorithm.

Feasibility of the 3D printer to design an intracavitary applicator for the treatment of cervical cancer patients with high dose rate brachytherapy system.

Designing an intracavitary brachytherapy applicator with a 3D printer using Polyamide12 for Tandem-Ovoid configuration. Further, to evaluate its feasibility and initial clinical use for the treatment of cervical cancer patients with a High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy system. SolidWorks, Computer Aided design software was used for the design of the intracavitary brachytherapy applicator.

A comparison of TG-43 and TG-186 dose calculation algorithms for treatment planning of intra-cavitary brachytherapy using tandem and ovoid applicator.

Purpose: The present study evaluated the dosimetric impact and compared the dose variations between the advanced collapsed cone engine (Task Group 186) and Task Group 43 plans for cervical cancer using tandem and ovoid applicators.

Material And Methods: Thirty cervical cancer patients underwent iridium-192 (Ir) high-dose-rate (HDR) intra-cavitary brachytherapy using tandem and ovoid applicator. Original treatment plans for all patients were created using TG-43 dose calculation formalism.

Evolution of Bioelectric Membrane Potentials: Implications in Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies.

Electrophysiology typically deals with the electrical properties of excitable cells like neurons and muscles. However, all other cells (non-excitable) also possess bioelectric membrane potentials for intracellular and extracellular communications. These membrane potentials are generated by different ions present in fluids available in and outside the cell, playing a vital role in communication and coordination between the cell and its organelles.

Carbon-based brilliance: a novel approach to renewable energy in radiotherapy centers.

The energy produced from other sources which does neither come from fossil fuels nor contribute in the production of any greenhouse effects that causes climate changes is called as 'Alternative Energy'. Since our world's primary energy sources such as coal, oil and natural gases are exploited to a greater extent, we are in an urge to switch to an alternative energy. Scattered radiation, a common byproduct in radiation therapy and diagnostic radiology, presents a unique opportunity in the realm of alternative energy.

Body Composition Analysis Techniques and Its Application in Oncology: A Review.

The oncology community has shown growing interest to understand how body composition measures can be utilized to improve cancer treatment and survivorship care for about 20 million individuals diagnosed with cancer annually. Recent observational studies demonstrate that muscle and adipose tissue distribution are risk factors for clinical outcomes such as postoperative complications, and worse overall survival. There is an emergent recognition that body mass index (BMI) is neither adequate to identify patients with adverse health outcomes due to poor muscle health or excess adiposity, nor does BMI accurately classify the distribution of adiposity.

A mathematical model to predict the different isodose volumes using TRAK value in HDR intracavitary brachytherapy for revised Manchester and ICRU-89 based Point A plans using computer tomography images.

Purpose: To find out the simple relationship between Total Reference Air Kerma (TRAK) and various isodose volumes. Calculated isodose volumes were compared with experimental data for revised Manchester and International Commission on Radiation Units and measurements (ICRU)-89 Point A-based treatment plans. The accuracy of the formula was compared with the results of other relationships available in the literature.

Feasibility of using polytetrafluoroethylene flexible implant tube for interstitial brachytherapy patients.

Purpose: To design the different Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based flexible implant tubes using an in-house developed device and to evaluate them for High dose rate (HDR) interstitial brachytherapy using computer tomography images.

Methods And Materials: PTFE hollow tube having a 2 mm (6 French) outer diameter (OD) and 1.4 mm inner diameter (ID) was used to design in-house single and/or double leader flexible catheters for interstitial brachytherapy implant.

Evolution of Brachytherapy Applicators for the Treatment of Cervical Cancer.

Brachytherapy applicators have come a long way since Danlos developed early intracavitary applicators to treat cervical cancer patients. Therefore, this review will help in the neoteric designs of intracavitary applicators. A detailed literature survey of the gynecological brachytherapy applicators from the era of preloading to conceptual intensity-modulated brachytherapy applicators has been carried out.

Influence of adjuvant therapy on pattern of failure and survival in curatively resected gallbladder carcinoma.

Purpose: The study was done to evaluate the role of adjuvant therapy in curatively resected Stage II and III gallbladder carcinoma (GBC).

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients of GBC registered between 2008 and 2017 in outpatient department of a tertiary cancer hospital in India. Patients who had any of the following adjuvant treatment after radical surgery: (a) external beam radiotherapy (RT) alone, (b) chemotherapy (CT) alone, and (c) RT with CT (CRT) were considered for the study.

Dose optimization comparison study of inverse planning simulated annealing [IPSA] and hybrid inverse planning optimization [HIPO] in interstitial brachytherapy of head and neck cancer.

Purpose: This study was a retrospective dose optimization comparison of two commercially available inverse planning algorithms, the inverse planning simulated annealing (IPSA) and hybrid inverse planning optimization (HIPO) for head and neck cancer interstitial brachytherapy.

Materials And Methods: Seven patients with head and neck cancer were selected (4 with tongue cancer, 2 with buccal mucosa cancer and 1 with carcinoma lip) who were previously treated with interstitial brachytherapy using a flexible nylon tube catheter and graphical optimization/geometric optimization technique. All seven patients were retrospectively re-planned using both IPSA as well as HIPO algorithms available in the Oncentra Brachytherapy Treatment Planning System (TPS) version V4.

An assessment of serum oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters in patients undergoing treatment for cervical cancer.

Objectives: Oxidative stress and antioxidants are involved in all aspects of cervical cancer. The present study evaluated serum levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarkers in cervical cancer patients and healthy controls. Moreover, the effect of Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) on these biomarkers and their association with treatment outcome was investigated.

Diagnostic and prognostic application of Raman spectroscopy in carcinoma cervix: A biomolecular approach.

Blood serum samples from 63 cervical cancer patients and 30 controls were collected at three different phases of the treatment (i.e. before, during, and at follow up).

Comparison of two hypofractionated radiotherapy schedules in locally advanced postmastectomy breast cancer patients.

Introduction: The role of hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) in postmastectomy breast cancer patients is not well established. This study was done to establish the role of two different HFRT schedules in the treatment of chest wall and regional lymph nodes after mastectomy.

Materials And Methods: Between 2012 and 2016, consecutively registered patients of locally advanced breast cancer patients having undergone mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) at a tertiary cancer center were analyzed.

A comparison between revised Manchester Point A and ICRU-89-recommended Point A definition absorbed-dose reporting using CT images in intracavitary brachytherapy for patients with cervical carcinoma.

Purpose: This study is a comparison between revised Manchester Point A and International Commission on Radiation Units and measurements (ICRU) 89 report-recommended Point A absorbed-dose reporting in intracavitary brachytherapy for patients with cervical carcinoma.

Methods And Materials: The retrospective dosimetric study is based on the data of 32 patients with cervical carcinoma treated with high-dose-rate brachytherapy. Patients received 21 Gy in three fractions (7.

Radiation dosimetry and repair kinetics of DNA damage foci in mouse pachytene spermatocyte and round spermatid stages.

Accurate quantification of DNA double strand breaks (DSB) in testicular germ cells is difficult because of cellular heterogeneity and the presence of endogenous γH2AX. Here, we used confocal microscopy to quantify DNA damage and repair kinetics following γ-irradiation (0.5-4 Gy) in three major mouse male germ cell stages, early and late pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids (RSs), following a defined post irradiation time course.

Evaluation of single-photon emission computed tomography images obtained with and without copper filter by segmentation.

Background: Measurement of accurate attenuation of photon flux in tissue is important to obtain reconstructed images using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Computed tomography (CT) scanner provides attenuation correction data for SPECT as well as anatomic information for diagnostic purposes. Segmentation is a process of dividing an image into regions having similar properties such as gray level, color, texture, brightness, and contrast.

A new method to correct the attenuation map in simultaneous transmission/emission tomography using Gd/Ga radioisotopes.

Reconstruction of the tomographic images without attenuation correction can cause erroneously high count densities and reduced image contrast in low attenuation regions. In order to solve the problem of photon attenuation, one needs to know the attenuation coefficient for the individual patient being studied. Therefore, we made an attempt to correct the attenuation map in simultaneous transmission/emission tomography with (153)Gd/(67)Ga using maximum likelihood method using the expectation maximization (ML-EM) algorithm to correct the transmission window for both the spillover and downscatter.

An investigation of a sinogram discontinuity artifact on myocardial perfusion imaging.

Unlabelled: Our purpose was to find out the cause of an unusual distinct break seen on a patient's sinogram despite within-tolerance results on all quality assurance tests during myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and corrective measures.

Methods: SPECT quality control is a prerequisite to obtaining high-quality diagnostic images. Daily uniformity and energy-peaking tests and weekly center-of-rotation (COR) tests are run to check the performance of the SPECT system.

Experience of wireless local area network in a radiation oncology department.

The aim of this work is to develop a wireless local area network (LAN) between different types of users (Radiation Oncologists, Radiological Physicists, Radiation Technologists, etc) for efficient patient data management and to made easy the availability of information (chair side) to improve the quality of patient care in Radiation Oncology department. We have used mobile workstations (Laptops) and stationary workstations, all equipped with wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi) access. Wireless standard 802.

Workload modeling for teletherapy unit.

Aims: This study aims to derive a radiotherapy workload model using a prospectively collected dataset of patient and treatment information from a teletherapy treatment unit.

Materials And Methods: Information about all individual radiotherapy treatment was collected for two weeks from the Phoenix unit in our department. This information included diagnosis, treatment site, treatment time, fields per fraction, technique, use of blocks and wedges.

Development of an electronic radiation oncology patient information management system.

The quality of patient care is critically influenced by the availability of accurate information and its efficient management. Radiation oncology consists of many information components, for example there may be information related to the patient (e.g.