Radiation Oncology
Expert insights on radiation treatment planning, techniques, toxicity management, and multimodal cancer care.
Recent Discussions
Do you modify your treatment for a patient with ulcerative colitis needing vaginal brachytherapy?
For adjuvant treatment, I switch to 6 Gy x 5 to surface to reduce total dose to rectum instead of 7 Gy x 3 at 5 mm. Also, sometimes I have used a multichannel cylinder to off load Isodose line from rectum based on anatomy. By doing as above d2cc of rectum is usually in the 10 Gy range which is way l...
Do PORTEC-3 and GOG-258 change your approach to managing patients with high-risk or node positive endometrial cancer?
The ambiguous answer is "yes and no." The positive impact of RT on vaginal and nodal failure rates cannot be ignored and argues for a continued role for RT, probably external RT. There are a number of caveats relative to the interpretations of GOG 258. These include (but may not be limited to) high...
Would you consider BID treatment for a patient with a pelvic SCC (e.g. cervix or anal) if a significant amount of treatment days have been missed?
We frequently bid patients for up to 3 fractions to make up for holidays or other breaks in treatment--we have not found this to be a problem, particularly if the bid treatments are space out a bit. We generally require a 6 hour interfraction minimum interval. The maximum number of days we are willi...
How do you counsel a cervical cancer patient s/p definitive chemoRT who is not sexually active and refuses to use vaginal dilators to improve compliance?
There isn't much you can do except talk with them about the reasons for non-compliance (has it been painful, embarrassing, discuss rationale and encourage them. Are they unsure how to use it?- having them insert it during their clinic exam may help. If the dilator is causing pain, lubricants or vagi...
How do you manage bladder fullness during cervical T&O brachytherapy to minimize OAR dose?
We usually treat with empty bladder as it is reproducible. But if at first fraction any loop of small bowel close by then for remaining fractions we simulate and treat with full bladder to decrease dose to small bowel (usually 120-180 cc fluid).
What dose is needed for salvage RT for recurrent endometrial cancer in untreated PA region (who has received pelvic RT) after good PET response to systemic therapy?
I usually treat 45 Gy in 25 fraction to chain, and 55 in 25 to residual normalized node.
How would you manage a patient with 1B2 adenocarcinoma of the endocervix s/p TAH/BSO who was found to have bilateral metastasis to Fallopian tube, a 1 cm pelvic side wall metastasis, and no LN metastasis?
We treat these patients like high-risk post op cervical cancer with concurrent chemo RT with weekly cisplatinum. We also discuss the option of adding adjuvant chemo after chemo RT with taxol and carboplatinum.
What are your image guidance instructions for post-op endometrial cancer EBRT?
We treat all these patients with IMRT now and they are simulated with full and empty bladder. We do not place any fiducials as they tend not to stay in place. Patients are always treated with full bladder and empty rectum (as much as possible). Daily CBCT is used for matching bladder and rectum an...
What dose and target volume do you use for neoadjuvant chemoRT in a patient with a locally advanced uterine/endometrial cancer involving parametria, cervix, and the uterine fundus (no side wall involvement) requiring downstage to be eligible for surgery?
Presuming that this is an endometrioid cancer - I would start with RT +/- chemo. There is potential for there to be sufficient shrinkage to facilitate brachytherapy boost. I do appreciate the link Dr. @Dr. First Last published, and would consider doing SBRT with a neoadjuvant dose how we would as pe...
How would you manage a patient with FIGO 2018 IA G3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma with substantial LVSI, and was N- with adequate nodal staging?
I continue to treat based on the 2018 group staging system, although I acknowledge the valuable prognostic insights gained from histology and molecular features incorporated into the 2023 system.When discussing treatment options with the patient, I avoid framing them as 'more aggressive' or 'less ag...