The present study is aimed at determination of accuracy of relocation of Gill‐Thomas‐Cosman frame during fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy. The study aims to quantitatively determine the magnitudes of error in anteroposterior, mediolateral and craniocaudal directions, and determine the margin between clinical target volume to planning target volume based on systematic and random errors. Daily relocation error was measured using depth helmet and measuring probe. Based on the measurements, translational displacements in anteroposterior (z), mediolateral (x), and craniocaudal (y) directions were calculated. Based on the displacements in x, y and z directions, systematic and random error were calculated and three‐dimensional radial displacement vector was determined. Systematic and random errors were used to derive CTV to PTV margin. The errors were within ± 2 mm in 99.2% cases in anteroposterior direction (AP), in 99.6% cases in mediolateral direction (ML), and in 97.6% cases in craniocaudal direction (CC). In AP, ML and CC directions, systematic errors were 0.56, 0.38, 0.42 mm and random errors were 1.86, 1.36 and 0.73 mm, respectively. Mean radial displacement was 1.03 mm ± 0.34. CTV to PTV margins calculated by ICRU formula were 1.86, 1.45 and 0.93 mm; by Stroom's formula they were 2.42, 1.74 and 1.35 mm; by van Herk's formula they were 2.7, 1.93 and 1.56 mm (AP, ML and CC directions). Depth helmet with measuring probe provides a clinically viable way for assessing the relocation accuracy of GTC frame. The errors were within ± 2 mm in all directions. Systematic and random errors were more along the anteroposterior axes. According to the ICRU formula, a margin of 2 mm around the tumor seems to be adequate.PACS number: 87.55.‐x

Radiation dosimetry deals with the determination of absorbed dose to the medium exposed to ionizing radiation. Chemical dosimetry depends on oxidation or reduction of chemicals by ionizing radiation. A ferrous ammonium sulfate benzoic acid xyelenol orange (FBX) dosimeter based on this principle is being used as a clinical dosimeter at present. Certain modifications were carried out in the preparation and storage of the FBX dosimeter to increase its shelf life. The resulting dosimeter was called a modified FBX (MFBX) dosimeter and has been used in our department for the past few years. An extensive study of the dose, dose rate and energy response of the dosimeter was carried out and compared with a thermoluminescent (LiF7) dosimeter. The results obtained were found to be comparable to the thermoluminescent (LiF7) dosimeter. Hence it was concluded that the MFBX dosimeter could be used for phantom dosimetry, data collection and in vivo measurements. Easier preparation and availability of the reagents are added advantages of using MFBX as a clinical dosimeter in small radiotherapy departments.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a high-grade brain tumour with the most dismal prognosis. There are very few reports on second malignancies occurring in GBM patients, as the survival has been short. Second malignancies have been reported after treatment of malignancies with radiation therapy and chemotherapy especially after 5 to 10 y of treatment. Here in, we present a very unique case where a patient succumbed to sinonasal carcinoma occurring one and half years after treatment of GBM. A 17-year-old boy was diagnosed to have GBM and underwent surgery followed by chemoradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy with Temozolamide. He presented with undifferentiated sinonasal carcinoma, in the sinonasal region outside the radiation field within two years of treatment. Here we discuss the histology and possible chances of it being a second malignancy.

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AimDNA double-strand break (DSB) results in the phosphorylation of the protein, H.2AX histone. In this study, the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy on DNA DSB in cervical cancer cells is analysed by the phosphorylation of the protein.MethodsThe cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) were cultured and exposed to ionising radiation. Radiation sensitivity was measured by clonogenic survival fraction after exposing to ionising radiation. Since the phosphorylation of H.2AX declines with time, the DNA damage was quantified at different time points: 1 hour, 3 hours and 1 week after exposed to the radiation. The analysis of γ-H.2AX was done by Western-blot technique. The protein expression was observed at different dose of radiation and combination of both radiation and paclitaxel.ResultsLow-dose hypersensitivity was observed. By 1 week after radiation at 0·5, 0·8 and 2 Gy, there was no expression of phosphorylated H.2AX. Previous experiments on the expression of phosphorylated H.2AX (γ-H.2AX) in terms of foci analysis was found to peak at 1 hour and subsequently decline with time. In cells treated with the DNA damaging agents, the expression of phosphorylated H.2AX decreases in a dose-dependent manner when treated with radiation alone. However, when combined with paclitaxel, at 0·5 Gy, the expression peaked and reduces at 0·8 Gy and slightly elevated at 2 Gy.FindingsIn this study, the peak phosphorylation was observed at 3 hour post irradiation indicating that DSBs are still left unrepaired.

Plastination is the art of preserving biological tissues with curable polymers. Imaging with plastinates offers a unique opportunity for radiographic, anatomical, pathological correlation to elucidate complex anatomical relationships. The aim of this study was to make plastinates from cadavers using the standard S-10 plastination technique and to compare the radiological properties of the tissue before and afterwards to examine the suitability of plastinates as phantoms for planning radiotherapy treatment. An above-diaphragm and a below-diaphragm specimen were obtained from a male and a female cadaver, respectively, and subjected to the standard S-10 plastination technique. CT images were obtained before and after plastination and were compared using Treatment Planning System for anatomical accuracy, volume of organs, and CT numbers. The plastinated specimens obtained were dry, robust, and durable. CT imaging of the plastinated specimens showed better anatomical detail of the organs than the preplastinate. Organ volumes were estimated by contouring the organs' outline in the CT images of the preplastinated and postplastinated specimens, revealing an average shrinkage of 25%. CT numbers were higher in the plastinated specimens except in bones and air-filled cavities such as the maxillary air sinus. Although plastination by the standard S-10 technique preserves anatomical accuracy, it increases the CT numbers of the organs because of the density of silicone, making it unsuitable for radiation dosimetry. Further improvements of the technique could yield more suitable plastinated phantoms.

background:The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of MOsFeT dosimeter in measuring eye dose during 2D MV portal imaging for setup verification in radiotherapy. Materials and methods:The in-vivo dose measurements were performed by placing the dosimeters over the eyes of 30 brain patients during the acquisition of portal images in linear accelerator by delivering 1 MU with the field sizes of 10 × 10 cm 2 and 15 × 15 cm 2 . results: The mean doses received by the left and right eyes of 10 out of 30 patients when both eyes were completely inside the anterior portal field were found to be 2.56 ± 0.2 cGy and 2.75 ± 0.2, respectively. similarly, for next 10 patients out of the same 30 patients the mean doses to left and right eyes when both eyes were completely out of the anterior portal fields were found to be 0.13 ± 0.02 cGy and 0.17 ± 0.02 cGy, respectively. The mean doses to ipsilateral and contralateral eye for the last 10 patients when one eye was inside the anterior portal field were found to be 3.28 ± 0.2 cGy and 0.36 ± 0.1 cGy, respectively. conclusion:The promising results obtained during 2D MV portal imaging using MOsFeT have shown that this dosimeter is well suitable for assessing low doses during imaging thereby enabling to optimize the imaging procedure using the dosimetric data obtained. In addition, the documentation of the dose received by the patient during imaging procedure is possible with the help of an in-built software in conjunction with the MOsFeT reader module.

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