Radiation Oncology
Expert insights on radiation treatment planning, techniques, toxicity management, and multimodal cancer care.
Recent Discussions
How do you manage bothersome diplopia due to metastatic disease affecting occipital lobe?
An isolated occipital lobe lesion should not result in strabismic diplopia (relating to misalignment of the eyes) unless a resulting loss of peripheral field reduces the drive for fusion and decompensates an underlying strabismus. The fact that it does not go away with monocular occlusion suggests i...
Would you ever consider stopping immunotherapy in a patient with metastatic melanoma after achieving a good response?
Yes, I would consider stopping immunotherapy in a patient with metastatic melanoma after achieving a good response.Data of 655 melanoma patients treated in pembrolizumab phase 1 KEYNOTE-001 study has shown 95 patients (14.5%) achieved CR after a median follow-up of 32 months. Treatment was discontin...
Has the recent SBRT vs HDR monotherapy analysis changed your use of HDR monotherapy for intermediate-risk prostate cancer?
With excellent outcomes with SBRT in this group (PACE-B), the additional advantage of brachy is limited. The predominant use of HDR brachy is either as a boost for high-risk or as salvage after previous EBRT.
How do you approach treatment of a glioblastoma in pregnancy?
Glioblastoma during pregnancy could be treated safely (to mother and fetus) with certain precautions and modifications. Collaboration and consultation with the patient’s obstetrician are essential. External shielding over the patient’s abdomen during treatment will decrease the external scatter radi...
Are there any trials currently studying low-dose RT for confirmed COVID-19 infections with associated pneumonia?
This is a joint reply from a team developing a prospective trial to answer this question:Minesh Mehta, Arnab Chakravarti, Walter Curran Jr, James Fontanesi, Vinai Gondi, Michael Kasper, Deepak Khuntia, Rupesh Kotecha, Ramesh Rengan, Leland Rogers, Charles B. Simone II, James Welsh, George WilsonThis...
How do you manage moderate chest wall pain after breast radiation if imaging studies are normal?
Pain in the breast or chest wall due to RT-induced myositis or fibrosis is generally mild and responds to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents and stretching exercises. However, one should first determine whether there is a cause of pain separate from RT effects. One of the common sources of such c...
Do you get DEXA scans routinely before starting ADT for prostate cancer or endocrine therapy for breast cancer?
When initiating long-term ADT, I order a DEXA scan, check vitamin D level, ensure adequate dietary calcium intake, and discuss weight-bearing exercise/refer to PT when appropriate. I also continue check DEXAs every 2 years unless they otherwise meet criteria for a bone-modifying agent (mCRPC with bo...
What is your radiotherapy fractionation recommendation for favorable intermediate risk prostate cancer who has ~70 cc prostate?
This may seem controversial in 2026 and seems to contradict evidence, but I just wanted to relay what I've seen. I was a fairly early adopter of moderate hypo-fractionation, not the first, but not the last - probably around 2012-2013. I pretty much changed to that for all patients for around 11-12 y...
How do you sequence Pluvicto vs docetaxel in a fit, chemotherapy-naïve patient with high-volume PSMA-avid mCRPC progressing on an ARPI?
I generally favor starting with docetaxel, though both are reasonable options. CCTG Study PR21 did not show a difference in radiographic progression-free survival between starting with docetaxel versus starting with Pluvicto in this setting. However, OS favored patients who started with docetaxel, a...
How do you approach hormone replacement therapy for premenopausal patients following pelvic radiation therapy?
Most patients who undergo pelvic radiation will become menopausal. Physiologically, the outcome is similar to surgical menopause because sufficient doses of radiation result in complete loss of ovarian function. In contrast, after natural menopause, the ovaries continue some types of endocrine funct...