Technical Note: The design and function of a horizontal patient rotation system for the purposes of fixed-beam cancer radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Cancer radiation therapy treatment is performed by delivering a 3D dose distribution to the tumor via the relative rotation between beam and patient. While most modern machines rotate the radiation beam around a still patient, the treatment can also be delivered by rotating the patient relative to a fixed beam. Fixed-beam, patient rotation radiotherapy machines show promise for reducing the size, surface area footprint, and shielding requirements compared with rotating gantry machines. In this Technical Note, we describe the development of a bespoke horizontal patient rotation system for the purposes of a fixed-beam cancer radiotherapy architecture. METHODS: A horizontal Patient Rotation System was designed in accordance with the appropriate standards pertaining to performance and safety of medical electrical equipment and medical linear accelerators (ISO 9001, IEC 60601-1, IEC 60601-2-1, ISO 14971, ISO 13485, 21CFR820, IEC 62304, Machinery Directive 98/37/EC). The principal criteria for the design were safety, patient comfort, real-time control and the ability to be integrated with other radiation therapy componentry (including a linear accelerator and kV imaging systems). RESULTS: A first of its kind device for securing, immobilizing, translating, and rotating patients has been designed and built and tested against 161 different design, safety, and usability specifications. The device has real-time control for all critical applications. CONCLUSIONS: We designed and built a bespoke device which can translate and rotate patients 360° around a horizontal axis. The device meets all design and safety criteria with early usability tests indicating a high degree of comfort and utility. The system has been installed in a clinical bunker, integrated with a fixed-beam linear accelerator and is currently being commissioned for the purposes of cancer radiotherapy treatment.

Varicella-Zoster-Mediated Radiculitis Reactivation following Cervical Spine Surgery: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Varicella-zoster virus and herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 are neurotropic viruses that can be reactivated after a surgical or stressful intervention. Although such cases are uncommon, consequences can be debilitating, and variable treatment responses merit consideration. We describe a 41-year-old male with a history of varicella-mediated skin eruptions, who presented with continuing right arm pain, burning, and numbness in a C6 dermatomal distribution following a C5-6 anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and epidural steroid injections. The operative course was uncomplicated and he was discharged home on postoperative day 1. Approximately ten days after surgery, the patient presented to the emergency department complaining of severe pain in his right upper extremity and a vesicular rash from his elbow to his second digit. He was started on Acyclovir and discharged home. On outpatient follow-up, his rash had resolved though his pain continued. The patient was started on a neuromodulating agent for chronic pain. This case adds to the limited literature regarding this rare complication, brings attention to the symptoms for proper diagnosis and treatment, and emphasizes the importance of prompt antiviral therapy. We suggest adding a neuromodulating agent to prevent long-term sequelae and resolve acute symptoms.

Primary herpetic peritonitis causing intestinal perforation: case report and review of the literature.

Peritonitis of viral etiology is rarely reported in the literature; a prior report described a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis who had the disease. We report a case of primary herpetic peritonitis (the agent of which was typed by polymerase chain reaction as herpes simplex virus biotype 1), which caused intestinal perforation, and we review the current literature and provide possible pathophysiologic mechanisms.