Objectives: MRI is the preferred staging modality for rectal carcinoma patients. This work assesses the CT-MRI co-registration accuracy of four commercial rigid-body techniques for external beam radiotherapy treatment planning for patients treated in the prone position without fiducial markers. Methods: 17 patients with biopsy-proven rectal carcinoma were scanned with CT and MRI in the prone position without the use of fiducial markers. A reference co-registration was performed by consensus of a radiologist and two physicists. This was compared with two automated and two manual techniques on two separate treatment planning systems. Accuracy and reproducibility were analysed using a measure of target registration error (TRE) that was based on the average distance of the mis-registration between vertices of the clinically relevant gross tumour volume as delineated on the CT image. Results: An automated technique achieved the greatest accuracy, with a TRE of 2.3 mm. Both automated techniques demonstrated perfect reproducibility and were significantly faster than their manual counterparts. There was a significant difference in TRE between registrations performed on the two planning systems, but there were no significant differences between the manual and automated techniques. Conclusion: For patients with rectal cancer, MRI acquired in the prone treatment position without fiducial markers can be accurately registered with planning CT. An automated registration technique offered a fast and accurate solution with associated uncertainties within acceptable treatment planning limits. Randomised trials have demonstrated that adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) in patients with resectable rectal cancer offers a statistically significant reduction in the risk of local recurrence compared with surgery alone [1]. Two meta-analyses and a systematic review have confirmed this finding [2-4]: cancer-specific survival was found to be improved when RT was delivered with biological equivalent doses of .30 Gy pre-operatively. Two further trials have confirmed similar benefit when short-course pre-operative RT was combined with total mesorectal excision (TME) [5,6].Three further randomised trials have evaluated the role of pre-operative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with stage T3-T4 or node-positive disease. Two of these studies demonstrated a reduction in local recurrence when pre-operative adjuvant CRT was used rather than long-course adjuvant RT alone [7,8]. The third study demonstrated both reduced local recurrence and reduced acute and late toxicity for pre-operative CRT compared with post-operative CRT [9]. The Cochrane review [4] also examined CRT and concluded that CRT provided incremental benefit in local control, irrespective of the timing of the chemotherapy. These results have led to a significant increase in the use of pre-operative radiation for patients with rectal cancer.MRI offers increased soft-tissue contrast compared with other radiographic imaging modalities such as CT. This improvement allows the accurate...

Image-guided peritoneal core biopsy with hematoxylin-eosin analysis supplemented with immunohistochemical analysis is a simple, safe, and accurate technique for providing site-specific diagnoses in women with undiagnosed peritoneal carcinomatosis.

PURPOSE Survival in stage I seminoma is almost 100%. Computed tomography (CT) surveillance is an international standard of care, avoiding adjuvant therapy. In this young population, minimizing irradiation is vital. The Trial of Imaging and Surveillance in Seminoma Testis (TRISST) assessed whether magnetic resonance images (MRIs) or a reduced scan schedule could be used without an unacceptable increase in advanced relapses. METHODS A phase III, noninferiority, factorial trial. Eligible participants had undergone orchiectomy for stage I seminoma with no adjuvant therapy planned. Random assignment was to seven CTs (6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months); seven MRIs (same schedule); three CTs (6, 18, and 36 months); or three MRIs. The primary outcome was 6-year incidence of Royal Marsden Hospital stage ≥ IIC relapse (> 5 cm), aiming to exclude increases ≥ 5.7% (from 5.7% to 11.4%) with MRI ( v CT) or three scans ( v 7); target N = 660, all contributing to both comparisons. Secondary outcomes include relapse ≥ 3 cm, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were performed. RESULTS Six hundred sixty-nine patients enrolled (35 UK centers, 2008-2014); mean tumor size was 2.9 cm, and 358 (54%) were low risk (< 4 cm, no rete testis invasion). With a median follow-up of 72 months, 82 (12%) relapsed. Stage ≥ IIC relapse was rare (10 events). Although statistically noninferior, more events occurred with three scans (nine, 2.8%) versus seven scans (one, 0.3%): 2.5% absolute increase, 90% CI (1.0 to 4.1). Only 4/9 could have potentially been detected earlier with seven scans. Noninferiority of MRI versus CT was also shown; fewer events occurred with MRI (two [0.6%] v eight [2.6%]), 1.9% decrease (–3.5 to –0.3). Per-protocol analyses confirmed noninferiority. Five-year survival was 99%, with no tumor-related deaths. CONCLUSION Surveillance is a safe management approach—advanced relapse is rare, salvage treatment successful, and outcomes excellent, regardless of imaging frequency or modality. MRI can be recommended to reduce irradiation; and no adverse impact on long-term outcomes was seen with a reduced schedule.

The decision aid has potential to enable shared decision making between clinicians and patients in audiology. The decision aid meets consensus standards.

In order to identify patient preferences in care for tinnitus an in depth grounded theory study was conducted. This consisted of interviews with 41 patients who had sought help for tinnitus across a range of locations and tinnitus services in England. Preferences for outcomes were for both the removal of the tinnitus and for improved coping and management of the tinnitus. Preferences for treatment were for individualized care, tailored information and for treatment to assist with psychological adjustment and auditory distraction. Adoption of treatments to manage tinnitus were based on a trial and error approach. Patients' preferences for individual treatments varied but were informed by the information they received. Information plays an important role in care for people with tinnitus. Patients hold individual preferences and require engagement in shared decision making.