0000000000447212
AUTHOR
Nils H. Nicolay
showing 5 related works from this author
Comparative Analyses of Two Established Scores to Assess the Stability of Spinal Bone Metastases Before and After Palliative Radiotherapy
2021
Background and PurposeTo compare two validated spinal instability scores regarding the stabilizing effects and skeletal-related events (SREs) of palliative radiotherapy (RT) in patients with spinal bone metastases (SBM).Materials and MethodsTwo hundred eighty-two osteolytic SBM of lung or breast cancer patients were analyzed for stability before and following RT based on the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) or the Taneichi score. Score concordance was quantified by absolute agreement and Cohen’s kappa coefficient. SREs were defined as fractures or local progression after RT. OS was quantified as the time between the start of RT and death from any cause.ResultsAt 3 and 6 months aft…
Dosimetric Impact of Interfractional Variations in Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy—Implications for Imaging Frequency and Treatment Adaptation
2019
Background and purpose: To analyze deviations of the applied from the planned doses on a voxel-by-voxel basis for definitive prostate cancer radiotherapy depending on anatomic variations and imaging frequency. Materials and methods: Daily in-room CT imaging was performed in treatment position for 10 patients with prostate cancer undergoing intensity-modulated radiotherapy (340 fraction CTs). Applied fraction doses were recalculated on daily images, and voxel-wise dose accumulation was performed using a deformable registration algorithm. For weekly imaging, weekly position correction vectors were derived and used to rigidly register daily scans of that week to the planning CT scan prior to d…
First German Guideline on Diagnostics and Therapy of Clinically Non-Functioning Pituitary Tumors
2021
AbstractAlthough non-functioning pituitary tumors are frequent, diagnostic and therapeutic concepts are not well standardized. We here present the first German multidisciplinary guideline on this topic. The single most important message is to manage the patients by a multidisciplinary team (consisting at least of an endocrinologist, a neurosurgeon, and a (neuro-) radiologist). The initial diagnostic work-up comprises a detailed characterization of both biochemical (focusing on hormonal excess or deficiency states) and morphological aspects (with magnetic resonance imaging of the sellar region). An ophthalmological examination is only needed in presence of symptoms or large tumors affecting …
Paravertebral Muscle Training in Patients with Unstable Spinal Metastases Receiving Palliative Radiotherapy: An Exploratory Randomized Feasibility Tr…
2019
Background: Isometric paravertebral muscle training (IPMT) may improve mobility, pain, and quality of life (QOL) in cancer patients with spinal metastases. However, this regimen remains unproven in patients with unstable spinal metastases (USM), a population at high risk for clinical exacerbation with such interventions. Thus, we conducted this exploratory, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial (NCT02847754) to evaluate the safety/feasibility of IPMT and secondarily assess pain, bone density, pathologic fracture rate, and QOL. Methods: All patients had histologically/radiologically confirmed USM (per Taneichi score) and underwent non-operative management with 5&ndash
The Role of Palliative Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Spinal Bone Metastases from Head and Neck Tumors-A Multicenter Analysis of a Rare Event.
2020
This retrospective multi-center analysis aimed to assess the clinical response and stabilizing effects of palliative radiotherapy (RT) for spinal bone metastases (SBM) in head and neck cancer (HNC), and to establish potential predictive factors for stability and overall survival (OS). Patients included in this analysis were treated at the University Hospitals of Mainz, Freiburg, and Heidelberg between 2001 and 2019. Clinical information was taken from the medical records. The stability of affected vertebral bodies was assessed according to the validated spine instability neoplastic score (SINS) based on CT-imaging before RT, as well as 3 and 6 months after RT. OS was quantified as the time …