Radiation Therapy

Proton Beam Radiotherapy for Craniospinal Radiation – pro

Proton beam therapy is similar to 3-Dimensional and cofnromal readiatherapy but it uses  proton beams that are directed to the tumor. Protons are positive parts of atoms. Unlike x-rays, which are what conventional radiation emplys, protons release energy both before and after they hit their target. If interst to physicians,  protons cause little damage to tissues they pass through and release their energy after traveling a certain distance. The

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Radiofrequency Ablation of chest wall tumor – pro

Radiofrequency Ablation(RFA)  is a tool used primarily for liver cancer and liver metastases. Percutaneous radiofrequency coagulation is performed by using an electrode placed in the lesion, coupled with a radiofrequency generator that produces local tissue destruction by converting radiofrequency into heat. After the liver, most reports are of lung, breast and kidney cancers. There are is very little literature to guide its use for recurrent chest

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IMRT for prostate cancer – pro

IMRT is a rapidly evolving technique, which affords a more precise radiation dose delivery of escalated doses, in appropriate cases, to targeted tumors, while sparing nearby healthy tissue structures.  The FDA clearance of numerous devices for the technical delivery of IMRT is based on the capability of this technology to incorporate accurate dose calculation algorithms, associated with a verifiable dose distribution, as managed by the treating

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Zevalin and Rituxan for relapsed large cell lymphoma or for consolidation – pro

Zevalin, 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan, is a novel radioimmunotherapeutic agent approved forthe treatment of relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Zevalin is also indicated for the treatment of previously untreated follicular NHL in patients who achieve a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy. 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan consists of a murine monoclonal antibody covalently attached to a metal

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Motefaxin gadollinium for brain metstases and gliblastoma – pro

Motexafin gadolinium is a member of a class of rationally designed porphyrin-like molecules called texaphyrins. The rationale for its use in cancer therapy is that, like naturally occurring porphyrins, it tends to concentrate selectively in cancer cells and it has a novel mechanism of action as it induces redox stress, triggering apoptosis in a broad range of cancers. RECENT FINDINGS: In vitro studies have shown that motexafin gadolinium is synergistic

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Hyperthermia – current status – pro

Hyperthermia was first described in a radiation text in 1935, in a paper that was titled, "Preliminary study of the effect of artificial fever upon hopeless tumor cases." I think "hopeless tumor cases" is the key here. There were a number of well-designed trials in the 1970s and 1980s looking at the use of heat or hyperthermia and radiation, but by the late 1980s, most hyperthermia trials were abandoned because of technical issues. 1989 was the last

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Radiation for Dupuytren – pro

Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) is a non-surgical treatment that can stop or slow down Dupuytren's disease in its early stage. In radiation therapy, the nodules and cords associated with Dupuytren's are irradiated from a distance of .5 - 1 cm either with X-Rays (e.g. 120 kV = soft X-Rays that do not penetrate deeply into the body) or with electrons (3 - 10 MeV). This is typically done over five days in a row applying an efficient dose (single dose

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IMRT for rectal cancer – pro

IMRT is a rapidly evolving technique, which affords a more precise radiation dose delivery of escalated doses, in appropriate cases, to targeted tumors, while sparing nearby healthy tissue structures. The FDA clearance of numerous devices for the technical delivery of IMRT is based on the capability of this technology to incorporate accurate dose calculation algorithms, associated with a verifiable dose distribution, as managed by the treating physician,

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Neutron Beam Radiotherapy – pro

Neutron beam therapy is a specialized form of external beam radiation therapy. It is often used to treat inoperable tumors or tumors that are radioresistant, meaning that they are very resistant to conventional X-ray radiation therapy. Neutrons have a greater biologic impact on cells than other types of radiation. Used carefully, this added impact can be an advantage in certain situations. Neutron therapy is available at only a few specialized centers.

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Hyperbaric oxygen for late radiation tissue toxicity – pro

Radiation therapy can have proximal as well as delayed(late) radiation tissue injury(LRTI). LRTI affecting the head, neck and lower end of the bowel can be improved with HBOT. There is little evidence for or against benefit in other tissues affected by LRTI and this conclusion is based on eight randomised trials with a limited number of patients. Cochrane guideline recommends more study. There is an ongoing trial: Study to Determine if Hyperbaric

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