Longer time to testosterone recovery impacts favorably on outcomes for prostate cancer following androgen deprivation and radiotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of sustained hypogonadism after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) associated with radiotherapy in prostate cancer (PCa) patients with biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS).

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis of 213 consecutive PCa patients referred for radiotherapy plus ADT was carried out. Follow-up times including time to testosterone recovery (TTR) and bRFS were calculated from the end of ADT.

Pilot Study for the Assessment of the Best Radiomic Features for Bosniak Cyst Classification Using Phantom and Radiologist Inter-Observer Selection.

Since the Bosniak cysts classification is highly reader-dependent, automated tools based on radiomics could help in the diagnosis of the lesion. This study is an initial step in the search for radiomic features that may be good classifiers of benign-malignant Bosniak cysts in machine learning models. A CCR phantom was used through five CT scanners.

Does postoperative irradiation improve survival in early-stage endometrial cancer?

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in developed countries. Postoperative irradiation has been shown to lower locoregional relapses among high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer patients. In addition, vaginal cuff brachytherapy has demonstrated similar control to external beam radiotherapy but with lower toxicity.

Radiomics of CT Features May Be Nonreproducible and Redundant: Influence of CT Acquisition Parameters.

Purpose To identify the reproducible and nonredundant radiomics features (RFs) for computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods Two phantoms were used to test RF reproducibility by using test-retest analysis, by changing the CT acquisition parameters (hereafter, intra-CT analysis), and by comparing five different scanners with the same CT parameters (hereafter, inter-CT analysis). Reproducible RFs were selected by using the concordance correlation coefficient (as a measure of the agreement between variables) and the coefficient of variation (defined as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean).

The influence of the image registration method on the adaptive radiotherapy. A proof of the principle in a selected case of prostate IMRT.

Purpose: To analyse the influence of the image registration method on the adaptive radiotherapy of an IMRT prostate treatment, and to compare the dose accumulation according to 3 different image registration methods with the planned dose.

Material And Methods: The IMRT prostate patient was CT imaged 3 times throughout his treatment. The prostate, PTV, rectum and bladder were segmented on each CT.

Influence of body habitus on dose parameters of nodal levels III to IV irradiation for breast cancer: comparison of 3 techniques.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of body habitus on supraclavicular (SC) dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters among breast cancer patients according to 3 different techniques. Three SC irradiation plans were generated for 24 postoperative breast cancer patients: (1) direct antero-posterior field only (1fieldP), with dose prescribed to a 3-cm depth; (2) 3-cm depth plan (3cmP) using an antero-posterior field plus a posterior boost with the dose prescription defined to 3 cm; and (3) optimized plan (OptP) similar to 3cmP, with dose prescribed depending on the anatomy. The OptP plans had the least variation in DVH parameters with body habitus; 3cmP plans were the most varied.

Vaginal cuff brachytherapy in endometrial cancer - a technically easy treatment?

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers among women in the developed countries. Vaginal cuff is the main location of relapses after a curative surgical procedure and postoperative radiation therapy have proven to diminish it. Nevertheless, these results have not translated into better survival results.

The usefulness of fleet rectal enemas on high-dose-rate intracavitary cervical cancer brachytherapy. A prospective trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of rectal enemas on rectal doses during radical high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary cervical brachytherapy (BT).

Material And Methods: Twenty patients suffering from cervical cancer and treated with external beam radiotherapy and HDR-BT were included in a prospective trial. The first brachytherapy fraction was considered the basal status, and patients were instructed to self-administer two rectal cleansing enemas before the second fraction.

Analysing the integration of MR images acquired in a non-radiotherapy treatment position into the radiotherapy workflow using deformable and rigid registration.

Aim: Our aim was to analyse the feasibility of integrating an MRI acquired in a non-radiotherapy set-up into the prostate cancer radiotherapy workflow.

Material And Methods: The MRIs of 15 prostate cancer patients, acquired with a flat table-top (MRI-flat), and with a curved tabletop (MRI-curve) were analysed. MRIs were rigidly (RIR) and non-rigidly registered (DIR) with CT images.

Effect of rectal enemas on rectal dosimetric parameters during high-dose-rate vaginal cuff brachytherapy: A prospective trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of rectal enemas on rectal doses during postoperative high-dose-rate (HDR) vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VCB).

Patients And Methods: This prospective trial included 59 patients. Two rectal cleansing enemas were self-administered before the second fraction, and fraction 1 was considered the basal status.

Rectal contrast increases rectal dose during vaginal cuff brachytherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of rectal dose on rectal contrast use during vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VCB).

Methods And Materials: A retrospective review of gynecology patients who received some brachytherapy fractions with and without rectal contrast was carried out. Rectal contrast was instilled at the clinician's discretion to increase rectal visibility.

Dosimetric analysis of rectal filling on rectal doses during vaginal cuff brachytherapy.

Purpose: Several studies have analyzed the effect of bladder filling during vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VCB), but the effect of rectum filling has not been studied. We sought to evaluate the effects of rectal volume on rectal doses during postoperative VCB.

Methods And Materials: Brachytherapy planning CT scans (334 sets) obtained from 92 consecutive patients treated with VCB were resegmented (bladder and rectum) and replanned retrospectively using the same parameters to homogenize data and improve analysis.

Body Mass Index and Doses at Organs at Risk in a Mediterranean Population Treated with Postoperative Vaginal Cuff Brachytherapy.

Purpose: Association between body mass index (BMI) and doses in organs at risk during postoperative vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VCB) treatment has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of BMI on the dose delivered to bladder and rectum during high-dose-rate VCB using computed tomography (CT) scans at every fraction.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 220 planning CT sets derived from 59 patients was conducted.

How air influences radiation dose deposition in multiwell culture plates: a Monte Carlo simulation of radiation geometry.

Radiation of experimental culture cells on plates with various wells can cause a risk of underdosage as a result of the existence of multiple air-water interfaces. The objective of our study was to quantify this error in culture plates with multiple wells. Radiation conditions were simulated with the GAMOS code, based on the GEANT4 code, and this was compared with a simulation performed with PENELOPE and measured data.

Do breast cups improve breast cancer dosimetry? A comparative study for patients with large or pendulous breasts.

Purpose: Treating patients with large or pendulous breasts is challenging. Although brassiere cups are currently in use, no study has yet been carried out to assess their dosimetric impact. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible dosimetric advantages of the use of breast cups on patients with large or pendulous breasts.

Dose accumulation during vaginal cuff brachytherapy based on rigid/deformable registration vs. single plan addition.

Purpose: To compare dose summation using a single plan (SP) approach for vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VBT) against dose summation after a rigid or deformable registration for each VBT fraction, in women with early stage endometrial cancer receiving postoperative VBT.

Methods And Materials: A retrospective analysis of 19 patients who received VBT as the sole adjuvant treatment was undertaken. For the purposes of the study, every VBT fraction was re-segmented and re-planned under the same conditions.