Radiation Oncology
Expert insights on radiation treatment planning, techniques, toxicity management, and multimodal cancer care.
Recent Discussions
What imaging workup should be completed in patients with a detectable PSA following prostatectomy?
The imaging work-up of recurrent prostate cancer is a topic of considerable interest. Our approach at UCLA has been to recommend, at the very least, a multiparametric MRI to evaluate for locoregional recurrence, and we regularly recommend a technetium bone scan as well. That being stated, we have be...
How do you define involved field radiotherapy for lung cancer?
Although, there is no consensus definition for “involved field” for the mediastinal nodes, my practice is to target mediastinal lymph nodes with involved field radiotherapy using the following algorithm: We start by contouring the lymph node GTV using a PET/CT with IV contrast. All FDG-avid and/or s...
When should SBRT be offered to oligometastatic bone disease in a patient with prostate cancer?
Recently a multi-institutional analysis set standards for use in prospective assessment of SBRT for use in men with > 1 bone metastasis and up to 3 (data shown below). The Rx was well tolerated and local control was significantly improved if a BED > 100 Gy was utilized. At this time this approach re...
Do you consider APBI a reasonable alternative to mastectomy for women with early stage breast cancer and collagen vascular diseases?
As to the appropriateness of using APBI via a balloon catheter system for patients with CVD, data are limited to just small case series and individual case reports (e.g., Brachytherapy 10:121-127,2011; Brachytherapy 10:486-490,2011). Further, most patients reported in these series have been classifi...
Is it safe to treat patients who have thermal burn scars in the field?
All what I can say is that I have treated 2 patients with thermal burn scars, big ones, and I was very worried. The indication for RT was very strong. It went fine without a problem and with the routine expected skin reaction.
For 5 fraction lung SBRT, is 11 Gy per fraction superior to 10 Gy per fraction?
I will make this brief. Until the results of the prospective dose escalation study RTOG 0813, I would not make any definitive statements on the appropriateness of dose escalation in the setting of lung SBRT. This not only has to do with establishing whether there truly is a dose response phenomenon ...
How would you treat a pediatric patient with Stage IVB Hodkin lymphoma who still has persistent PET+ disease after dose-escalated chemotherapy?
ISRT per Hodgson et al PRO 2015 to 21 Gy then boost the PETavid disease to 30Gy (Deauville 3) perhaps 36 Gy (Deauville 4).
Should whole brain radiation therapy and orbital radiation therapy be administered in situations of ocular B-cell lymphoma recurrence 2 years after primary CNS lymphoma treated with intrathecal methotrexate and no prior cranial irradiation?
There are multiple small series showing good a salvage rate with radiation therapy with acceptable morbidity for patients who have failed prior MTX. The outcome is dictated by age and extent of disease and accordingly one can plan for a palliative or definitive dose.
What is the clinical significance of R50 in lung SBRT?
Small lesions are the hardest to plan and meet the constraints like the R50%. You are right that those parameters have not been associated with symptomatic pneumonitis. The only reliable predictor in retrospective studies has been increased PTV size. The R50, conformality index, and dose spillage va...
In what setting do you omit adjuvant radiation therapy in a T3N0 rectal cancer?
The 1990 NCI consensus guidelines recommend postop chemoradiation for patients with pT3N0M0 rectal cancer. However, that was before TME was routine. In patients with pT3N0M0 disease who undergo a TME and have at least 12 nodes examined, I do not recommend radiation. The benefit of radiation is a 3-4...