Biomedical subjects

Nicola Dinapoli

Publications and source records attributed to Nicola Dinapoli.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

An application of visible human database in radiotherapy: tutorial for image guided external radiotherapy (TIGER).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity modulated radiotherapy allow accurate dose delivery on target volumes. Due to the different background among specialists involved in target volume definition, the contouring emerges as one of the most questionable steps in treatment planning procedures. A software tool devoted to contouring training, named tutorial for image guided external radiotherapy ('TIGER'), based on the Visible Human Project images data-set, is described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TIGER is addressed to facilitate the learning of axial anatomical images, to promote the training and reproducibility in contouring process, to allow the availability of a tool to enhance the 'drill and practice' approach in training programs. TIGER includes three different environments: Anatomic tutorial devoted to facilitate a self-learning approach to axial body sections; Contouring tutorial addressed to practice contouring process of anatomical structures and to undergo a test program prepared by tutors; Teacher's tools to offer to tutors the opportunity to insert new outlines in TIGER-database, according to local needs or conventions, and to use them in tutorial programs. TIGER-database is grouped in six main anatomical sections: head and neck, male thorax, female thorax, abdomen, male pelvis, and female pelvis. Overall 432 corresponding CT-VH images and 1189 contours of 134 different anatomical structures and lymphatic drainage areas are available. The access to the TIGER software is allowed by ESTRO web site (http://www.estro.be). CONCLUSIONS: TIGER provides an interactive human anatomy cross-sectional oriented source to facilitate the interpretation of CT scan images usually contoured in daily practice. It offers a drill tool to facilitate the learning of a reproducible contouring procedure.

Databases as Topic↗

PubMed2002

Analysis of intraprostatic failures in patients treated with hormonal therapy and radiotherapy: implications for conformal therapy planning.

PURPOSE: Conformal therapy of prostate cancer is based on high-dose irradiation to the entire prostate gland. The aim of this study was to analyze the pattern of intraprostatic recurrence in patients undergoing external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) at a dose of 65-70 Gy to evaluate whether conventional radiotherapy doses are adequate to control microscopic disease outside the primary tumor and therefore whether high-dose irradiation can be exclusively focused on the macroscopic disease. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The clinical and radiologic reports of 118 patients with prostate cancer undergoing EBRT (64.8-70.2 Gy) combined with hormonal therapy were evaluated. In all patients, before and after therapy, the size and site of the primary neoplasm within the prostate were assessed by clinical examination and imaging studies. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 45 months (range 14-119), the 5-year actuarial local control rate was 83.9%. Twelve patients had an intraprostatic recurrence, with the appearance of a new nodule (in 5 patients with a complete response after therapy) or increased nodular size compared with the minimal size (in the 7 other patients). In all patients, on the basis of a semiquantitative evaluation of the site of recurrence, this was shown to originate within the initial tumor volume. CONCLUSION: The results of this analysis seem to confirm some histologic findings observed in patients undergoing prostatectomy for local recurrence after radiotherapy that suggest that local recurrence usually originates in the primary tumor rather than in focal prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. This observation might justify the application of conformal therapy procedures aimed at identifying the gross tumor volume, in the phase of boost, exclusively with the primary tumor.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Virtual simulation: fifteen years later.

In the last two decades there was a radical change in radiotherapy setup. The growing availability of CT equipment and console for computer-aided treatment planning setup enabled the use of advanced technologies as conformal 3D radiation therapy in most centers. In particular in 1987 virtual simulation was proposed for setup. During its use a number of application modalities appeared. Virtual simulation in some centers is applied alone while in others it is associated with conventional simulation. However, from numerous reports published in last years it seems that virtual simulation significantly improves treatment quality independently of radical or palliative intent and of the size of treated volumes (high doses to small volumes or wide shaped fields). Some studies stressed that virtual simulation could significantly shorten treatment planning times with consequent cost reduction. The use of virtual simulation evidenced associated problems and in particular setup limitations due to the CT gantry size, the need to up-date the conventional modalities of setup verification according to the new technologies and more generally to up-date quality assurance procedures in an advanced technological setting. Finally there was the self-evident need of a better knowledge of the anatomy on axial sections, of tumor spread routes in particular.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Underlying anatomy for CTV contouring and lymphatic drainage in rectal cancer radiation therapy.

Despite the low local recurrence rate that can be achieved by adequate surgery (total mesorectal excision--TME), radiation therapy was shown to play a significant role in reducing this risk. The widespread use of TME in many European Centers has introduced a new terminology and the need to identify the area at major risk for local failure using this surgical procedure. In the surgical series where extended extra-mesorectal surgery was performed, the role of lymphatic spread was evidenced, especially for low rectal cancer, through the pelvic parietal fascia and lateral pelvic spaces. The aim of this study was to better define some anatomic concepts and the main risk factors which impact on CTV contouring and field conformation in rectal cancer treatment. This information helps formulating guidelines for CTV contouring in daily radiotherapy practice, in order to define the best therapy, according to the tumor stage and location.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical target volume definition in the elderly patient.

Elderly age is one of the main risk factors to be associated with the onset of different tumors. The tumor in the elderly almost always appears at a late, advanced stage for the lack of an accurate attention to symptoms-signs, as well as for the absence of involvement in mass screening campaigns. In the choice of a radiotherapy treatment in the elderly, the healthy tissues adjacent to the tumor may show a different ability for repair; this should be kept in mind in the definition of the target volume together with the possible presence of comorbidities specific to the elderly age.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Compensation for gaps in radiotherapy: suggested teaching approach to its calculation.

Unplanned gaps in radiotherapy can impact on its clinical effect, especially in tumors with accelerated repopulation. In the literature, several technical solutions have been proposed. According to the situation, compensation for the effect on the tumor to the detriment of normal tissue tolerance can be achieved. An approach, modulated according to the gap duration and timing is proposed aimed at constant tumor control with no significant increased risk of side-effects. The decisional algorithm and calculation formulae are used in our center in teaching addressed to residents to make them familiar with the possible clinical applications of radiobiological knowledge.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Radiation-induced cardiovascular disease: impact of dose and volume.

The radiation-induced cardiovascular pathology represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing therapeutic chest irradiation. There is a broad range of clinical manifestations probably associated with dose, volume and technique of irradiation. From the assumption that prevention is the best way to manage radiation-induced cardiotoxicity, based on the pathophysiogenesis of heart structures, a number of reports of the literature are reviewed. They consider the incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients affected by Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer. The dosimetric prevention is takled in terms of therapeutic procedures and doses (IMRT, 3DCRT) with particular reference to the impact on cardiotoxicity of parameters as maximum heart distance (MHD), mean lung dose (MLD), normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) and V30. The different evaluation criteria of cardiotoxicity are reported, based on the review of the major scoring scales of acute and late complications, which have been worked out in the course of time (LENT-SOMA, RTOG, CTC v.2.0 and CTC v.3.0). The monitoring system of late toxicity used by the authors is presented.

Breast Neoplasms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Impact of dose and volume on the tolerance of central nervous system.

Radiotherapy still plays a major role in the treatment of brain lesions. Its end-points are not only better survival but especially better disease control that positively impacts on better quality of life. However radiotherapy is not free of both acute and late side-effects. Data on late toxicity are disappointing, for inadequate follow-up time and the absence of cards for collecting information shared by the scientific community in an attempt to acheive a common, universal language. While these treatments should be considered for palliation, the main goal is always the patient with his/her quality of life, and their toxicity should be monitored to optimize therapeutic outcomes and lower the incidence of complications. The monitoring system of late toxicity used by the authors is presented.

Central Nervous System↗