ABSTRACT
The authors represent the results of the treatment of 20 children with Itsenko-Cushing disease (ICD) by proton-beam irradiation of the pituitary body. The use of the medical proton beam of the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics was found to be effective for the treatment of children with mild and average forms of ICD. Irradiation of the pituitary gland at a dose of 70-100 Gy is accompanied by general and local radiation reactions which are not dangerous for children. The time of development of remission after irradiation depends on a degree of severity and features of a course of disease.
Subject(s)
Cushing Syndrome/radiotherapy , Pituitary Irradiation/methods , Protons , Adolescent , Anthropometry , Child , Cushing Syndrome/diagnosis , Cushing Syndrome/epidemiology , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Pituitary Gland, Anterior/metabolism , Pituitary Gland, Anterior/radiation effects , Pituitary Irradiation/adverse effects , Radiotherapy Dosage , Remission InductionABSTRACT
Two techniques are employed for proton irradiation: one--to pass a proton beam through a target, the other one--to stop in it. The advantage of the first technique is a very small angular divergence of the beam penetrating tissues or, consequently, a very high lateral edge field gradient. The second technique has two additional advantages: the absence of radiation lesions behind the target and an increase in the stopping power (dose) at the end of the beam range localized in the target. The authors present their considerations concerning the applicability of each technique and certain characteristic problems of the second technique. Dose field deformations as a result of topometric uncertainties are also estimated. A method of dose design aimed at minimizing the above mentioned effect is proposed.
Subject(s)
Protons , Radiotherapy Dosage , Radiotherapy, High-Energy/methods , HumansABSTRACT
A proton beam with the energy of 100-130 Mev, the range up to 40-100 mm and diameter up to 6 cm was used for radiation therapy of breast cancer metastases to the bones adjoining the vital organs or normal tissues with low tolerance (the skull, sternum, ribs, jaw, etc.). Medium fractionation regimens were used for the single doses of 4-10 Gy. The number of fractions was from 1 to 7, the summary dose 17-28 Gy that corresponded to 35-46 Gy of classic fractionation designed by the TDF factor. The first experience of the irradiation of bone metastases has shown that general and local reactions to proton irradiation correspond to a dose delivered and irradiation regimen and do not differ from those in conventional radiation. A marked therapeutic effect was obtained in all the patients. The formation of bigger diameter proton beams and of a deeper range is required for the irradiation of large zones of bone metastases.
