[en] The effect of environmental factors, such as irradiation temperature and relative humidity, on the PVG dosifilm irradiated by EB was tested. Experiments show that the temperature coefficient of irradiated PVG dosifilm was 0.008 deg. C^-1 from 20 deg. C to 55 deg. C, and the humidity coefficient was 0.006 per r.h. (%) from r.h. 0% to 76%. The PVG dosifilm can be used as a routine dosimeter for dose measurement for low-energy EB processing. The absorbed dose values for various irradiation temperature and humidity can be corrected based on experimental data. (author)

[en] Objective: To discuss the safety and curative effect of CT-guided percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation in treating leiomyosarcoma. Methods: A total of 25 patients with leiomyosarcoma, who were treated at authors' hospital during the period from January 2012 to January 2016, were included in this study. CT-guided percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation was performed in all patients. The local changes of target lesions, the progression-free survival (PFS) and the survival rate were dynamically checked, and the complications were recorded. Results: CT examination performed immediately after argon-helium cryoablation indicated that radical frozen ablation was achieved in 13 patients (52%), significant tumor-reductive frozen ablation in 11 patients (44%), effective tumor-reductive frozen ablation in one patient (4%), and invalid tumor-reductive frozen ablation in 0 patient. Follow-up CT examination performed at 3 months after argon-helium cryoablation showed that, based on solid tumor evaluation criteria, complete remission (CR) was obtained in 14 patients, partial remission (PR) in 8 patients and stable disease (SD) in one patient, the total remission rate (CR + PR) was 88%. The local PFS time was (9.4 ± 6.2) months. The one-, 2- and 3- year survival rates were 64%, 48% and 32% respectively. In this group of cases, neither serious complications such as haemorrhage or tumor lysis syndrome nor procedure-related death occurred. Postoperative mild and moderate complications included fever, skin frostbite, immediate postoperative local pain exacerbation, nerve damage, etc., all of which disappeared or became relived after symptomatic treatment. Conclusion: For the treatment of leiomyosarcoma, CT-guided percutaneous targeted argon-helium cryoablation has certain and definite short-term curative effect. CT-guided argon-helium cryoablation is a safe, reliable and minimally-invasive treatment, this technique is worth popularizing in clinical practice. (authors)

[en] Objective: To investigate the safety and short-term efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous argon-helium knife cryoablation for the treatment of synovial sarcomas. Methods: A total of 20 patients with pathologically-proved synovial sarcoma were collected. CT-guided percutaneous argon-helium knife cryoablation was carried out in all patients, and the objective curative effect was evaluated according to RECIST standard. Results: Based on the coverage of ice hockey determined by intraoperative CT scan, the radical freezing of lesion was achieved in 65% of patients (13/20), significant reduction of tumor volume in 20% of patients (4/20), effective reduction of tumor volume in 10% of patients (2/20), and invalid reduction of tumor volume in 5% of patients (1/20). Evaluation of curative effect conducted at 3 months after the cryoablation showed that complete remission (CR) was obtained in 12 patients, partial remission (PR) in 2 patients, stable disease (SD) in 3 patients and progressive disease (PD) in 3 patients. The reduction rate of tumor diameter was 27% - 43%, with the tumor remission rate (CR + PR) being 70%. Besides, the 3- and 6- month tumor recurrence rates were 15% and 35% respectively, the pain relief rate was 85% (17/20). The median follow-up time was 6 months, and the longest follow-up time was 41 months. Postoperative complications included temporary pain, skin frostbite, mild nerve injury, pleural effusion and bladder fistula. Conclusion: For the treatment of synovial sarcomas, CT-guided argon-helium knife cryoablation has certain advantages such as mild adverse reactions, high safety, obvious short-term efficacy, etc. Therefore, this technique is worth popularizing in clinical practice. (authors)

[en] To identify patterns of local failure in patients with pancreatic cancer receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy plus chemotherapy as initial treatment, for the optimal design of target volumes encompassing a majority of local recurrences.

[en] Highlights: • This study focuses on the re-irradiation for pancreatic cancer, which is rarely investigated, yet an important treatment option for recurrence of pancreatic cancer. Besides, it is the largest series of two courses of stereotactic body radiation therapy for pancreatic cancer. • To the best of our knowledge, a novel prognostic score was firstly developed for selecting patients amenable to re-irradiation for pancreatic cancer. • This scoring system may provide insights for individualized treatment. To develop a predictive model for stratification of patients with pancreatic cancer who may achieve survival benefits from re-irradiation with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).