Radiation Oncology
Expert insights on radiation treatment planning, techniques, toxicity management, and multimodal cancer care.
Recent Discussions
For concurrent chemoradiation in head and neck cancers, how important is the timing of weekly radiosensitizing cisplatin early versus late in the week?
Our protocol for concurrent cisplatin-RT demands that the drug will be infused 1-2 hours before RT, usually on Mon. The assumption is that it will allow maximal drug concentration in the cancer cells at the time RT is delivered after chemo on that day, early in the week, while some radiosensitizatio...
Would you offer 12-16 Gy in a single fraction for a symptomatic, non-vertebral bone metastasis?
Yes.We have randomized, prospective studies indicating that dose-escalation with 1-2 fractions improves control of pain over conventional RT doses - here and here. We also have a meta-analysis showing higher chance of complete response of pain with SBRT. In addition, the Canadian investigators showe...
Does your practice currently use low-dose radiation in the treatment of osteoarthritis?
Yes, we do. There is a long and storied history of utilizing LD-RT for benign inflammatory conditions in Germany. Much of the literature comes from there. I have had great success and truly believe it is a valuable tool to add to our toolbox. Pearls: At this time, I am limiting treatment to osteoar...
When do you offer adjuvant radiation therapy for a glomus tumor of uncertain malignant potential of the extremity resected with negative margins?
No, unless malignancy is documented.
How would you treat a second HPV related oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer in a patient previoulsy treated and cured of a HPV related SCC of the tonsil treated with chemoradiation?
At our institution, recurrent or second primary head and neck cancers are discussed at a multidisciplinary tumor board whenever possible. We review prior radiation records, physician's notes, and pre-treatment imaging to attempt to come to a consensus whether it is truly a second primary or perhaps ...
How do you manage anticoagulation for patients with DVT/PE who have brain metastases?
Not all brain metastases pose the same risk to patients. Rapid, numerous (even if tiny), new onset metastases from RCC or melanoma (especially BRAF mutant) can go from asymptomatic to life threatening hemorrhage within 1-2 weeks and I would strongly caution anti-coagulation in these patients. If the...
When do you start a vaginal dilator after EBRT to the vaginal canal?
Although I have not reviewed the published data in a while, from my data review ~8 years ago and my own cumulative gynecologic specialty experience, I have fallen into the following paradigm: In the setting of standard EBRT or vaginal cuff brachy, for a patient, in reference to the use of a vaginal ...
What is the best advice you received as a young attending?
Actually I heard this on the interview trail in 1997 from Sam Hellman: First be a good person. Then a good doctor. Then a good oncologist. Then a good radiation oncologist. In that order.
What surrogate(s) do you use to determine toxicity/safety for a SRS plan with numerous metastases?
Before we turn to surrogates let us look at the information that a plan carries and has valuable implications on the quality of the work being done.First we record and report coverage, selectivity, conformity and gradient indices for every patient and every lesion.Second we plan in a consistent mann...
Are there any situations where you would not offer SBRT for an oligometastatic bone lesion from breast cancer?
Many things are learned "the hard way." I have zapped a LOT of bone mets from prostate, breast, and other sites in the oligometastatic setting. One patient had a solitary met from Lung CA n his R humerus. It involved 2/3 of the length and had substantial soft tissue extension. It was 2008'ish and I ...