Purpose: Temporary tissue expanders (TTE) with an internal magnetic metal port (IMP) have been increasingly used for breast reconstruction in post-mastectomy patients who receive radiation therapy (XRT). We evaluated XRT plans of patients with IMP to determine its effect on XRT dose distribution.Methods and Materials: Original treatment plans with CT simulation scans of 24 consecutive patients who received XRT (ORI), planned without heterogeneity corrections, to a reconstructed breast containing an IMP were used. Two additional treatment plans were then generated: one treatment plan with the IMP assigned the electron density of the rare earth magnet, nickel plated neodymium-iron-boron (HET), and a second treatment plan with the IMP assigned a CT value of 1 to simulate a homogeneous breast without an IMP (BRS). All plans were prescribed 50 Gy to the reconstructed breast (CTV).Results: CTV coverage by 50 Gy was significantly lower in the HET (mean 87.7% CTV) than in either the ORI (mean 99.7% CTV, P<.001) or BRS plans (mean 95.0% CTV, P<.001). The effect of the port was more pronounced on CT slices containing the IMP with prescription dose coverage of the CTV being less in the HET than in either ORI (mean difference 33.6%, P<.01) or BRS plans (mean difference 30.1%, P<.001). HET had a less homogeneous and conformal dose distribution than BRS or ORI.Conclusion: IMPs increase dose heterogeneity and reduce dose to the breast CTV through attenuation of the beam. For optimal XRT treatment, heterogeneity corrections should be used in XRT planning for patients with TTE with IMP, as the IMP impacts dose distribution. (c) 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Purpose The indications for upfront laryngectomy in the management of laryngeal cancer are a functionless larynx and extralaryngeal extension. Practically, clinicians rely on imaging to predict which patients will have T4 disease. Our goal was to review the accuracy of preoperative computed tomography (CT) scanning in determining the necessity for initial laryngectomy for advanced laryngeal cancer. Patients and Methods In total, 107 consecutive untreated laryngectomy specimens with high-quality, preoperative CT imaging interpreted by our neuroradiologists were reviewed. Radiographic findings, including sclerosis, invasion, penetration, extralaryngeal spread, and subglottic extension were correlated with pathologic findings. CT images were not reinterpreted, since our purpose was to assess the original interpretations. Results CT imaging reported 23 cases of thyroid cartilage penetration and 27 cases of extralaryngeal spread. Pathology reported 12 cases of thyroid cartilage invasion, 29 cases of penetration, and 45 cases of extralaryngeal disease. CT imaging identified 17 (59%) of 29 cases of pathologically documented thyroid cartilage penetration and 22 (49%) of 45 cases of pathologically documented extralaryngeal spread. Pathologically proven extralaryngeal spread without thyroid cartilage penetration occurred in 18 (40%) of 45 cases. The positive predictive values for thyroid cartilage penetration and extralaryngeal spread were 74% and 81%. Sclerosis was of limited value in predicting thyroid cartilage invasion or penetration. Cricoid or arytenoid destruction predicted for thyroid cartilage penetration at rates of 57% and 63%. Conclusion CT imaging has clear limitations when deciding whether there is thyroid cartilage penetration or extralaryngeal spread of advanced laryngeal cancer. Extralaryngeal spread without thyroid cartilage penetration was more common than expected. Alternate methods of pretreatment assessment are needed.

BACKGROUND:We present outcome data from concurrent chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the larynx and oropharyx. METHODS:Eighty patients with laryngeal (n = 15) or oropharyngeal (n = 65) SCC underwent concurrent IMRT and chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin/paclitaxel). RESULTS:The 3-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 81.2% and 78.3%, respectively, with a median follow-up of 31.2 months. There was a statistically significant correlation between OS and DFS with N classification (p = .0001), but not with disease site or T classification. Toxicities compared favorably with prior reports using conventional radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS:This retrospective analysis reveals a very good outcome and an acceptable toxicity profile for patients with locally advanced SCC of the oropharynx and larynx treated with chemotherapy and IMRT concurrently.

PURPOSE:To report our clinical experience using breast intensity-modulated radiation therapy with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB-IMRT). METHODS AND MATERIALS:Retrospective review identified 354 Stage 0 to III breast cancer patients treated with SIB-IMRT after conservative surgery between 2003 and 2006. The most common fractionation (89%) simultaneously delivered 1.8 Gy to the ipsilateral breast tissue and 2.14 Gy to the resection cavity, yielding a breast dose of 45 Gy (25 fractions) and cavity dose 59.92 Gy (28 fractions), biologically equivalent for tumor control to 45 Gy to the breast with sequential 16-Gy boost (33 fractions). RESULTS:A total of 356 breasts in 354 patients were treated: 282 with invasive breast cancer, and 74 with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). For left breast radiation, median cardiac V(15) was 2.9% and left ventricular V(15) 1.7%. Median follow-up was 33 months (range, 4-73 months). Acute toxicity was Grade 1 in 57% of cases, Grade 2 in 43%, and Grade 3 in <1%. For invasive breast cancer, the 3-year overall survival was 97.6% and risk of any locoregional recurrence was 2.8%. For ductal carcinoma in situ, 3-year overall survival was 98% and risk of locoregional recurrence 1.4%. In 142 cases at a minimum of 3 years follow-up, global breast cosmesis was judged by physicians as good or excellent in 96.5% and fair in 3.5%. CONCLUSIONS:Breast SIB-IMRT reduced treatment duration by five fractions with a favorable acute toxicity profile and low cardiac dose for left breast treatment. At 3 years, locoregional control was excellent, and initial assessment suggested good or excellent cosmesis in a high percentage of evaluable patients.

Objectives: Although intensified therapy has contributed to improved outcomes for patients with head and neck cancer, acute toxicity has increased as well. To lessen the severity of nutritional compromise in these patients, Our institutional protocol has been to routinely place feeding tubes before the initiation of therapy. This investigation details the toxicities associated with feeding tube placement and predictors for duration of tube dependence.Materials and methods: The records of the Radiation Oncology Department at Emory Clinic were reviewed for patients receiving definitive radiotherapy between 6/1/2003 and 6/1/2006. The records of the subset of patients with feeding tube placement before the initiation of therapy were then reviewed for toxicities as well as length of time of tube dependence.Results: There were 102 eligible patients. Radiotherapy was delivered with concomitant chemotherapy in all. Median time with feeding tube in place for all patients was 4.4 months (range, 0.2-28.9 months). For 82 patients with eventual tube removal, the median time of tube dependence was 3.8 months (range, 1.4-28.9 months). Risk factors for prolonged tube dependence are analyzed; on multivariate analysis, patient age, T stage, and nodal status remained significant. The most common complication was tube replacement, with 11.8% of all tubes requiring replacement. Infection and pain occurred in 8.8% and 5.9% of patients, respectively.Conclusion: Feeding tubes are required for more than 2 months after combined modality treatment of head and neck cancer. They are generally well tolerated, but toxicities are not trivial: more than 10% require replacement and more than 8% of patients develop infection at the insertion site. We are assessing their routine placement in light of these data. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND:In 1989, Emory University initiated a linear accelerator (linac) radiosurgery program using circular collimators. In 2001, the program converted to a multileaf collimator. Since then, the treatment parameters of each patient have been stored in the record-and-verify system. Three major changes have occurred in the radiosurgery program in the past 6 years: in 2002, treatment was changed from static conformal beams to dynamic conformal arc (DCA) therapy, and all patients were imaged before treatment. Beginning in 2005, a linac was used, with the opportunity to treat at higher dose rates (600-1,000 monitor units/min). The aim of this study was to analyze the time required to deliver radiosurgery and the factors affecting treatment delivery. Benchmark data are provided for centers contemplating initiating linac radiosurgery programs.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Custom software was developed to mine the record-and-verify system database and automatically perform a chart review on patients who underwent stereotactic radiosurgery from March 2001 to October 2006. The software extracted 510 patients who underwent stereotactic radiosurgery, and the following information was recorded for each patient: treatment technique, treatment time (from initiation of imaging, if done, to completion of therapy), number of isocenters, number of fields, total monitor units, and dose rate.RESULTS:Of the 510 patients, 395 were treated with DCA therapy and 115 with static conformal beams. The average number of isocenters treated was 1.06 (range, 1-4). The average times to deliver treatment were 24.1 minutes for patients who underwent DCA therapy and 19.3 minutes for those treated with static conformal beams, reflecting the lack of imaging in the latter patients. Eighty percent of patients were treated in <30 minutes. For the patients who underwent DCA therapy, the times required to treat 1, 2, 3, and 4 isocenters were 23.9, 24.8, 33.1, and 37.8 minutes, respectively. Average beam-on time for these patients was 11.4 minutes. There has been no significant reduction in treatment delivery with the use of 1,000 monitor units/min, reflecting the fact that beam-on time is not the major determinant of overall treatment time.CONCLUSIONS:Multileaf collimator-based linac radiosurgery can be delivered efficiently in <30 minutes in the vast majority of patients. Given the limited treatment room utilization required for stereotactic radiosurgery treatments, this study calls into question the need for a dedicated radiosurgery unit for even busy treatment centers.

Purpose: To evaluate long-term outcomes of adjuvant breast intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), with a comparison cohort receiving conventional radiation (cRT) during the same period.Methods and Materials: Retrospective review identified patients with Stages 0-III breast cancer who underwent irradiation after conservative surgery from January 1999 to December 2003. Computed tomography simulation was used to design standard tangential breast fields with enhanced dynamic wedges for cRT and both enhanced dynamic wedges and dynamic multileaf collimators for IMRT. Patients received 1.8-2-Gy fractions to 44-50.4 Gy to the whole breast, followed by an electron boost of 10-20 Gy.Results: A total of 245 breasts were treated in 240 patients: 121 with IMRT and 124 with cRT. Median breast dose was 50 Gy, and median total dose was 60 Gy in both groups. Patient characteristics were well balanced between groups. Median follow-ups were 6.3 years (range, 3.7-104 months) for patients treated with IMRT and 7.5 years (range, 4.9-112 months) for those treated with cRT. Treatment with IMRT decreased acute skin toxicity of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Grade 2 or 3 compared with cRT (39% vs. 52%; p = 0.047). For patients with Stages I-III (n = 199), 7-year Kaplan-Meier freedom from ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) rates were 95% for IMRT and 90% for cRT (p = 0.36). For patients with Stage 0 (ductal carcinoma in situ, n = 46), 7-year freedom from IBTR rates were 92% for IMRT and 81% for cRT (p = 0.29). Comparing IMRT with cRT, there were no statistically significant differences in overall survival, disease-specific survival, or freedom from IBTR, contralateral breast tumor recurrence, distant metastasis, late toxicity, or second malignancies.Conclusions: Patients treated with breast IMRT had decreased acute skin toxicity, and long-term follow-up shows excellent local control similar to a contemporaneous cohort treated with cRT. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc.

Interest in image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) reflects the desire to minimize interfraction positioning variability. Using a kilovoltage (kV) imaging unit mounted to a traditional LINAC allows daily matching of kV images to planning digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs). We quantify and evaluate the significance of calculated deviation from the intended isocenter. Since September 2004, 117 patients with various malignancies were treated using the On-Board Imaging (OBI) system, with 2088 treatment sessions. Patients were positioned by the treating therapist; orthogonal images were then obtained with the OBI unit. Couch shifts were made, aligning bony anatomy to the initial simulation image. Routine port films were performed weekly (after that day's OBI session). Ninety percent of all lateral, longitudinal, and vertical shifts were less than 0.8 cm, 0.6 cm, and 0.7 cm, respectively. The median vector shift for each anatomic site was: 0.42 cm for head and neck, 0.40 cm for CNS, 0.59 cm for GU/prostate, and 0.73 cm for breast; shift magnitude did not change with successive OBI sessions. The use of OBI effectively corrects setup variability. These shifts are typically small and random. The use of OBI likely can replace weekly port films for isocenter verification; however, OBI does not provide field shape verification.

BACKGROUND:Randomized data support use of chemotherapy concurrently with radiation in treatment of advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oropharynx. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is increasingly being used to deliver such radiotherapy; no published reports specifically describe results of chemotherapy with IMRT for SCC of the base of tongue (BOT). We present outcomes data using simultaneous modulated accelerated radiation therapy (SMART) combined with platinum-based chemotherapy in treatment of locally advanced SCC of the BOT METHODS: The records of the Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Department of Emory University were screened for patients undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy for SCC of the BOT. Radiation Oncology records were reviewed for dosimetry and prescription data. Hospital and clinic records were reviewed for control and toxicity data. All patients were treated definitively with platinum-based chemotherapy and once-daily RT. Median dose and dose per fraction to sites of gross primary or nodal disease, clinically involved neck, and clinically uninvolved neck were 70.29 Gy (2.13 Gy/fx), 63.03 Gy (1.91 Gy/fx), and 57.75 Gy (1.75 Gy/fx), respectively.RESULTS:Between January 2003 and August 2005, 34 patients underwent definitive therapy for SCC of the BOT using SMART and chemotherapy. Follow-up was documented in all cases (median, 20.1 months). There have been 3 distant failures and 3 locoregional failures.CONCLUSION:With moderate follow-up, chemotherapy and SMART contributes to excellent results, with 24-month actuarial overall survival and local control of 90% and 92%, respectively. Toxicity may be increased, however, with 15% of patients developing esophageal stricture or stenosis. .

16511 Background: Randomized clinical and meta-analysis data support the use of concurrent chemoradiation for treatment of locally advanced (SCCHN). IMRT is increasingly being used in treating SCCHN. We present outcome data from Emory University Winship Cancer Institute (WCI) with concurrent platinum based chemotherapy and IMRT, and analyze results according to primary site and nodal status. Methods: Between February 2003, and November 2005, 87 patients with locally advanced SCCHN underwent concurrent IMRT and platinum based chemotherapy. A total of 62 patients were treated with Cisplatin 100 mg/m2 d1,21,43, while 19 were treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin weekly for 7 weeks. Five patients were treated with other platinum based regimens. Follow up was documented in all cases with a median of 520 days (range 107 - 1269 days). Results: Patients were distributed among primary sites as follows: Hypopharynx (HP) 7 (8.0%), Larynx (L) 11(12.4%), Nasopharynx (NP) 13 (14.6%), and Oropharynx (OP) 56 (63.0%). T stage distribution was: T1: 16 patients (18.0%); lesions more advanced than T1 (>T1): 68 (76.4%). N stage distribution was, N0 :16 patients (18.0%), N1: 8 (9.0 %),nodal stage N2a or higher: 61 (68.5%). Median age was 57 years (range 32–75), and 63 patients (71.0%) were male. The median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) post-therapy was not reached. The 3 year OS rate for the entire cohort was 86% (L 82%, NP 89 %, OP 86 % HP 80%). The 3 year DFS rate for the entire cohort was 74%, (L 85%, NP 60%, and OP 75%, HP 76%). There was no correlation between OS and T or N stage (p=0.143 and 0.44 respectively), or between DFS and T-stage (p=0.4). A significant correlation was found between DFS and N stage (p=0.008). Conclusion: With moderate follow up, this retrospective analysis reveals an excellent outcome for patients with locally advanced SCCHN treated with chemotherapy and IMRT concurrently, supporting concurrent therapy as the current standard of care. The significant correlation of DFS and nodal status suggests a possible greater impact future approaches such as induction therapy may have on patients with advanced nodal disease. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Implementation of daily kilovoltage imaging for setup verification improves the reproducibility of treatment by eliminating small random setup errors. We evaluate the dosimetric consequences of such shifts, not yet evaluated, in a group of head-and-neck cancer patients (ENT) treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) at Emory University. Twelve patients with ENT malignancies were analyzed. On-Board Imaging (OBI) was used in at least 70% of each patient’s treatment sessions. An isodose distribution was generated for each fraction, with the isocenter shifted to its calculated location prior to OBI repositioning. These plans were summed and then compared to the simulation plan for coverage of target structures. For these 12 patients, there were a total of 18 planning target volumes (PTV). The mean (range) percent reduction in minimum dose was 12.1% (−1.0 to 43.3). For 10 right necks and 9 left necks treated, the mean percent reduction in minimum dose was 11.8% (−0.6 to 39.7) and 13.3% (−3.6 to 31.2), respectively. The mean reduction in mean dose to the PTV was 1.3% (0 to 5.1). The mean reduction in mean dose to the right and left necks was 1.0% (0.2 to 3.9) and 1.13% (0.4 to 3.4), respectively. From this analysis, we conclude that the shifts made were small and random, with essentially no change in mean dose delivered to target structures. There is, however, significant improvement in the minimum dose delivered. Underdosing even a small portion of the tumor potentially sacrifices the probability of local control; correcting these setup errors seems desirable.

The technical nature of radiotherapy requires different data collection strategies for outcomes reporting than those required for most other disciplines in clinical medicine. To correlate advances in radiotherapy technology with treatment outcomes, it is necessary to integrate a given radiotherapy outcomes-study database with the record-and-verify database and with the global hospital database. The authors review the recent development of each of these categories of databases from the vantage point of radiotherapy. Their goal was to integrate these 3 databases for outcomes analyses in radiotherapy at their institution; this process involved (1) the construction of an interface between the record-and-verify database and the outcomes-study database and (2) the use of a bioinformatics database linking the outcomes-study database and the global hospital database. This bioinformatics database was successfully queried in a manner that allowed streamlining data flow of relevance to radiotherapy outcomes studies. Future directions of the application of this integration are discussed.

This paper describes measurements of clinical efficiency and time requirements associated with image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). In June 2004, the authors' institution installed an integrated kilovoltage (kV) imaging system attached to a medical linear accelerator for radiographic target localization. Over the past year, 242 patients have been localized with the kV radiographic imaging system for a total of 2,700 fractions. Data were analyzed by reviewing the time required for each patient's IGRT session, broken into both image acquisition and image analysis time. Average IGRT procedure time was reviewed pertaining to months, treatment sessions, disease sites, and radiation therapists. Results showed that the average IGRT procedure time was reduced from 450 to 237 seconds from June 2004 to June 2005. Further analysis revealed that each therapist showed improvement in reducing the IGRT procedure time from the first month of use to the month of June 2005. The routine use of IGRT may ultimately be performed within 3 to 4 minutes, with minimal disruption to the clinical treatment process.

Purpose: To compare the gross tumor volume (GTV) identified on CT to that obtained from fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and determine the differences in volume and dose coverage of the PET-GTV when the CT-GTV is used for radiotherapy planning. Methods and Materials: A total of 40 patients with intact squamous cell carcinoma arising in the head-and-neck region underwent intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) at one department. All patients underwent CT simulation for treatment planning followed by PET-CT in the treatment position. CT simulation images were fused to the CT component of the PET-CT images. The GTV using the CT simulation images was contoured (CT-GTV), as was the GTV based on the PET scan (PET-GTV). The IMRT plans were obtained using the CT-GTV. Results: The PET-GTV was smaller, the same size, and larger than the CT-GTV in 30 (75%), 3 (8%), and 7 (18%) cases respectively. The median PET-GTV and CT-GTV volume was 20.3 cm 3 (range, 0.2–294) and 37.2 cm 3 (range, 2–456), respectively. The volume of PET-GTV receiving at least 95% of the prescribed dose was 100% in 20 (50%), 95–99% in 10 (25%), 90–94% in 3 (8%), 85–89% in 1 (3%), 80–84% in 2 (5%), 75–79% in 1 (3%), and <75% in 3 (8%) cases. The minimal dose received by 95% of the PET-GTV was ≥100% in 19 (48%), 95–99% in 11 (28%), 90–94% in 5 (13%), 85–89% in 2 (5%), and <75% in 3 (8%) cases. Conclusion: The PET-GTV was larger than the CT-GTV in 18% of cases. In approximately 25% of patients with intact head-and-neck cancer treated using IMRT, the volume of PET-GTV receiving at least 95% of the prescribed dose and minimal dose received by 95% of the PET-GTV were less than optimal.

Purpose Maintenance of Certification (MOC) recognizes that in addition to medical knowledge, several essential elements involved in delivering quality care must be developed and maintained throughout one’s career. The MOC process is designed to facilitate and document the professional development of each American Board of Radiology (ABR) diplomate through its focus on the essential elements of quality care in Diagnostic Radiology, its subspecialties, Radiation Oncology, and Radiologic Physics. The initial elements of the ABR MOC program have been developed in accord with guidelines of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Further details will be developed as the process evolves.

PURPOSE:To investigate the extra-target doses using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS:Thirteen children underwent multileaf collimator (MLC)-based IMRT. Treatment site was head and neck or brain in eight (Group I), trunk in two (Group II), and abdomen/pelvis in three (Group III). Thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) were placed at the thyroid gland, breast, and testis. A control group of seven children received conventional RT and TLD measurements. RESULTS:For the eight Group I children, the median dose equivalent measurements during the course of IMRT to the thyroid, breast, and testis were 348 mSv, 110 mSv, and 30 mSv, respectively. For the two Group II patients, the measurements to the thyroid ranged from 1,525 to 2,449 mSv while for the testis was 62 mSv. For the Group III patients, the median dose equivalent measurements to the thyroid, breast, and testis were 182 mSv, 406 mSv, and 159 mSv. The median dose equivalent measurements to the thyroid, breast, and testis for Group I children were 300 mSv, 120 mSv, and 75 mSv. The Group II conventional patient had a measurement of 180 mSv, 80 mSv, and 80 mSv to the thyroid, breast, and testis. For the Group III conventional cases, the median dose equivalent measurements were 192 mSv, 496 mSv, and 434 mSv. CONCLUSIONS:No significant difference was seen in the thyroid and breast doses of children receiving MLC-based IMRT compared to conventional RT for the treatment of head and neck/brain and abdominal/pelvic tumors.

3636 Background: From 03/03 to 11/03, we prospectively evaluated the impact of PET scans on radiation treatment volumes when compared to CT scans in 25 patients with Gastrointestinal (GI)tumors. Methods : 18 patients were scanned on our GE Big Bore PET-CT scanner(PET aperture 70cm) and 7 on our standard aperture GE-PET-CT scanner. CT-PET images were automatically registered with PET-CT fusion software. Primary site was esophageal in 5, rectal in 18 and anal canal in 2 patients. Patients with rectal cancer received preoperative chemoradiation and all others received definitive chemoradiation. All patients were immobilized and scanned in treatment position and received 3-D conformal radiation . We are reporting findings in 18 of the 25 patients. One physician contoured CT Gross Tumor Volume(CT-GTV) and then the PET Gross Tumor Volume(PET-GTV). The PET and CT volumes were measured in cubic centimeters and percent overlap volume (POV) was analyzed. Results : In esophageal cancer patients the POV ranged from 20%–61%(mean 42.25%). In the 12 patients with rectal cancer, POV ranged from 11%–69%(mean 40.25% ). In patients with anal canal tumors, POV was 59%–99%(mean79%) . In 4/18 patients(22%), PET resulted in a change in the treatment planning volume; 2/4(50%)esophageal, 1/2(50%) anal canal and 1/12(8%)rectal tumors. In 30% to 80% of patients, PET suggested additional volume of tumor compared to CT alone. Conclusion: The addition of PET-CT fusion to the treatment planning process in GI tumors is important. The variation in volume was significant in 22% of patients resulting in a change in the treatment fields. The wide variation in tumor volume could have important implications in IMRT treatment planning where tighter margins are often used. We have obtained post treatment PET-CT scans in patients with rectal cancer and are correlating the findings with post resection pathological specimens. The sensitivity of PET-CT after chemoradiation will be discussed. No significant financial relationships to disclose.