Feasibility of abdominal fat quantification on MRI and impact on effectiveness of abdominal compression for radiotherapy motion management.

The impact of fat on abdominal compression effectiveness in abdominal cancers was determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Visceral and subcutaneous fat were delineated on T2W 3D MRI, and motion change with compression was measured on 2D cine MRI. Results from 16 participants showed no correlation between fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), and motion change. Median BMI was 28.7 (SD, 4.9). Mean motion reduction was 7.8 mm (IQR, 5.0; p = 0.001) with compression. While no direct link was found between fat, BMI, and compression effectiveness, abdominal compression remains crucial for motion management in radiotherapy planning, providing dosimetric benefits.

Adaptive Radiotherapy in the Management of Cervical Cancer: Review of Strategies and Clinical Implementation.

The complex and varied motion of the cervix-uterus target during external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) underscores the clinical benefits afforded by adaptive radiotherapy (ART) techniques. These gains have already been realised in the implementation of image-guided adaptive brachytherapy, where adapting to anatomy at each fraction has seen improvements in clinical outcomes and a reduction in treatment toxicity. With regards to EBRT, multiple adaptive strategies have been implemented, including a personalised internal target volume, offline replanning and a plan of the day approach. With technological advances, there is now the ability for real-time online ART using both magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography-guided imaging. However, multiple challenges remain in the widespread dissemination of ART. This review investigates the ART strategies and their clinical implementation in EBRT delivery for cervical cancer.

Comparison of three non-culture techniques for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in genital tract specimens.

A direct immunofluorescence (DIF) technique (Imagen) and two enzyme immunoassay (EIA) techniques (Chlamydiazyme and IDEIA) were compared for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in genital specimens from 502 attenders at a genitourinary medicine clinic. Eighty-two attenders were regarded as infected: 67 with positive results by at least two of the three techniques and 15 by virtue of elementary bodies detected in stored EIA buffer samples. With a positivity criterion of greater than or equal to 6 bodies Imagen was 76% sensitive for men and 61% sensitive for women. The sensitivity of Chlamydiazyme was 73% for men and 90% for women; comparative values for IDEIA were 80% and 71%, respectively. All three techniques were over 98% specific. Sampling order appeared to influence the sensitivity of IDEIA for specimens from men. All three techniques were less sensitive in the absence of cervicitis. The performances of the EIA techniques compared favourably with that of the more established technique of DIF.