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- Armbrecht, Gabriele, et al.
(author)
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Degenerative inter-vertebral disc disease osteochondrosis intervertebralis in Europe : Prevalence, geographic variation and radiological correlates in men and women aged 50 and over
- 2017
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In: Rheumatology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1462-0324 .- 1462-0332. ; 56:7, s. 1189-1199
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives. To assess the prevalences across Europe of radiological indices of degenerative inter-vertebral disc disease (DDD); and to quantify their associations with, age, sex, physical anthropometry, areal BMD (aBMD) and change in aBMD with time. Methods. In the population-based European Prospective Osteoporosis Study, 27 age-stratified samples of men and women from across the continent aged 50+ years had standardized lateral radiographs of the lumbar and thoracic spine to evaluate the severity of DDD, using the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) scale. Measurements of anterior, mid-body and posterior vertebral heights on all assessed vertebrae from T4 to L4 were used to generate indices of end-plate curvature. Results. Images from 10 132 participants (56% female, mean age 63.9 years) passed quality checks. Overall, 47% of men and women had DDD grade 3 or more in the lumbar spine and 36% in both thoracic and lumbar spine. Risk ratios for DDD grades 3 and 4, adjusted for age and anthropometric determinants, varied across a three-fold range between centres, yet prevalences were highly correlated in men and women. DDD was associated with flattened, non-ovoid inter-vertebral disc spaces. KL grade 4 and loss of inter-vertebral disc space were associated with higher spine aBMD. Conclusion. KL grades 3 and 4 are often used clinically to categorize radiological DDD. Highly variable European prevalences of radiologically defined DDD grades 3+ along with the large effects of age may have growing and geographically unequal health and economic impacts as the population ages. These data encourage further studies of potential genetic and environmental causes.
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| 2. |
- Stock, M., et al.
(author)
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Harmonization of proton treatment planning for head and neck cancer using pencil beam scanning: first report of the IPACS collaboration group
- 2019
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In: Acta Oncologica. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 58:12, s. 1720-1730
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and purpose: A collaborative network between proton therapy (PT) centres in Trento in Italy, Poland, Austria, Czech Republic and Sweden (IPACS) was founded to implement trials and harmonize PT. This is the first report of IPACS with the aim to show the level of harmonization that can be achieved for proton therapy planning of head and neck (sino-nasal) cancer. Methods: CT-data sets of five patients were included. During several face-to-face and online meetings, a common treatment planning protocol was developed. Each centre used its own treatment planning system (TPS) and planning approach with some restrictions specified in the treatment planning protocol. In addition, volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) photon plans were created. Results: For CTV1, the average D-median was 59.3 +/- 2.4 Gy(RBE) for protons and 58.8 +/- 2.0 Gy(RBE) for VMAT (aim was 56 Gy(RBE)). For CTV2, the average D-median was 71.2 +/- 1.0 Gy(RBE) for protons and 70.6 +/- 0.4 Gy(RBE) for VMAT (aim was 70 Gy(RBE)). The average D-2% for the spinal cord was 25.1 +/- 8.5 Gy(RBE) for protons and 47.6 +/- 1.4 Gy(RBE) for VMAT. The average D-2% for chiasm was 46.5 +/- 4.4 Gy(RBE) for protons and 50.8 +/- 1.4 Gy(RBE) for VMAT, respectively. Robust evaluation was performed and showed the least robust plans for plans with a low number of beams. Discussion: In conclusion, several influences on harmonization were identified: adherence/interpretation to/of the protocol, available technology, experience in treatment planning and use of different beam arrangements. In future, all OARs that should be included in the optimization need to be specified in order to further harmonize treatment planning.
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