Modern radiotherapy relies on accurate dose delivery to the prescribed target volume. The ICRU has recommended an overall accuracy in tumour dose delivery of ±5%, based on an analysis of dose response data and on an evaluation of errors in dose delivery in a clinical setting. Considering all uncertainties involved in the dose delivery to the patient, the ±5% accuracy recommendation is by no mea...

A rapidly increasing number of teletherapy treatment modalities, e.g. intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), is capable of applying small irradiation fields. Field sizes can be as small as 1 cm x 1 cm or below. The main physical and measurement related effects to consider when performing dose measurements in small fields w...

PURPOSE Active matrix flat-panel imagers (AMFPIs) incorporating thick, segmented scintillators have demonstrated order-of-magnitude improvements in detective quantum efficiency (DQE) at radiotherapy energies compared to systems based on conventional phosphor screens. Such improved DQE values facilitate megavoltage cone-beam CT (MV CBCT) imaging at clinically practical doses. However, the MV CBC...

A 77-year-old male patient presented with a 2-year history of recurrent angiosarcoma (AS) of the face and scalp. At the time of initial diagnosis, multifocal growth of the tumor was visible. On the left side of the scalp and forehead, several 1to 5-cm reddish-brown nodules were noticed, one of which was ulcerated and hemorrhagic. Another 5-cm plaquelike lesion was seen on the left cheek. The pr...

The design concept and dosimetric characteristics of a new applicator system for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) are presented in this work. A new hard-docking commercial system includes polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) applicators with different diameters and applicator end angles and a set of secondary lead collimators. A telescopic device allows changing of source-to-surface distance (S...

BACKGROUND Combination of permanent interstitial brachytherapy based on radioactive iodine with external beam radiotherapy is an alternative to other treatment modalities, such as radical prostatectomy or external beam radiotherapy alone in patients with intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer. In this article we report our experience with this combination modality. METHODS Among patients...

BACKGROUND Hypothyroidism is a known consequence of external beam radiotherapy to the neck encompassing part or whole of the thyroid gland for over 40 years. Still thyroid function tests are not a part of routine follow up of head - neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy with or without surgery and / or chemotherapy. AIM Aim of this study was to find out the incidence of hypothyroidis...

Background: Subependymomas are slow-growing, benign ependymal neoplasms histologically characterized as grade I tumors. On the other hand, ependymomas are higher-grade tumors of neuroectodermal origin that share a predilection for the fourth ventricle. Given that these tumors can occur simultaneously as mixed lesions, features that raise clinical suspicion of a combined pathology warrant surgic...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence of physical symptoms that were 'ever' and 'currently' experienced by survivors of prostate cancer at a population level, to assess burden and thus inform policy to support survivors. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 3 348 men surviving prostate cancer for 2-18 years after diagnosis. A cross-sectional, postal survey of 6 559 survivors diagnosed 2-...

The surgical treatment of early breast cancer has evolved from the removal of the entire breast and surrounding tissues (mastectomy) to the removal of the tumour together with a margin of healthy tissue (lumpectomy). Adjuvant radiotherapy, however, is still mainly given to the whole breast. Furthermore, external beam radiotherapy is often given several months after initial surgery and requires ...