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Background The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term treatment results of combined superselective intraarterial chemotherapy and radiation therapy for advanced maxillary sinus cancer (MSC) and the incidence of regional lymph node failure, and to reveal the clinical and anatomical predictive factors for metastasis. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 55 consecutive patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus who were treated with external radiotherapy and superselective intraarterial chemotherapy. Elective nodal irradiation (ENI) was performed only in the clinical node-positive (cN+) cases and not in the clinical node-negative (cN0) cases. Results: Thirty-eight patients were cN0, and 17 were cN+ at diagnosis. Regional lymph node metastases occurred in 7 of 38 patients with cN0, and 2 of 17 with cN+ during the median follow-up period of 36 months. There were more cases of high-grade (3 or 4) late adverse events in the ENI group than in the non-ENI group (13% vs. 41%, respectively; p = 0.03). In cN0 cases without ENI, invasion of the pterygoid plates (57% vs. 90%; p p = 0.02) was significantly correlated with a low 5-year regional recurrence-free rate. Conclusions Patients with MCS and invasion of the pterygoid plates and oral cavity can be considered appropriate candidates for ENI.

We conducted a prospective study to quantitatively evaluate the movement of the chest wall to establish the simple and reproducible deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) method. The left nipple position was monitored to confirm the inspiratory state. Planning computed tomography (CT) was performed under DIBH and free-breath. We conducted radiation plans with DIBH and free-breath CT and evaluated organ at risk (OAR) and target doses according to two different plans. The relationship between positioning errors of the chest wall and patient factors was evaluated using univariate analysis and fixed-effects models. Twenty-three patients aged ≤ 60 years were enrolled during January–August 2021; 358 daily radiation treatments were evaluated. The median time of treatment room occupancy was 16 minutes (interquartile range, 14–20). The area of the planning target volume (PTV) surrounded by the 95% isodose line was more extensive in DIBH than in free breathing (71.6% vs 69.5%, P

Purpose To prospectively investigate the efficacy and feasibility of focal low-dose-rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Material and methods Between October 2014 and May 2019, nineteen low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients who presented with abnormality on both diffusion-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) underwent focal LDR brachytherapy at our institution. Focal gross tumor volume (F-GTV) was delineated on transrectal ultrasound, based on abnormality seen on fused T2-weighted MRI. F-GTV was expanded by 5 mm, as a safety margin, to create focal clinical target volume (F-CTV). Prescribed dose to F-CTV was 145 Gy. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was determined using Phoenix criterion (prostate specific antigen nadir + 2 ng/ml). Pre- and post-implant dosimetry data were compared using non-parametric Wilcoxon's rank sum test. Treatment-related toxicities were evaluated using common terminology criteria for adverse events. Results Mean F-CTV D90% was significantly lower in the post-implant evaluation than in intraoperative planning (p = 0.004). On post-implant dosimetry, the mean D90% for F-GTV and mean V100% for the entire prostate were 222 Gy and 35%, respectively. Median follow-up time for all patients was 31 months. BCR occurred in one patient after 23 months. Kaplan-Meier 2-year BCR-free rate was 92.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 79.4-100%). No patients had grade 1 or greater gastrointestinal toxicity. Three patients who were taking α-blockers to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (present before brachytherapy), experienced no treatment-related genitourinary toxicities. Two patients suffered from temporary grade 2 urinary frequency. None of the remaining patients experienced grade 2 or higher genitourinary toxicity. Conclusions Focal LDR prostate brachytherapy appears acceptable for MRI-based index tumors, with a low cumulative incidence of BCR. Such brachytherapy might offer a feasible minimally invasive therapeutic option for localized prostate cancer.

Objective To determine the most appropriate radiologic criteria of metastatic retropharyngeal lymph nodes (RLNs) in patients with maxillary sinus cancer (MSC). Materials and methods We retrospectively evaluated 16 consecutive patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus. The minimal and maximal diameters of all RLNS were recorded. RLNs were classified as metastatic on the basis of the MRI follow-up (f/u). RLNs were considered non-metastatic if stable disease continued until the final MRI f/u and metastatic in cases with different evaluations (complete response, partial response, progressive disease) determined using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) ver. 1.1. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess the accuracy of various criteria in the diagnosis of metastatic RLNs. Results Of the 34 RLNs in 16 cases observed on pretreatment MRI, 7 were classified as metastatic RLNs and 27 as non-metastatic RLNs. Using the radiologic criteria, metastatic RLNs tended to be diagnosed more accurately with the minimal axial diameter than with the maximal axial diameter (AUC; 0.97 vs. 0.73, p = 0.06). The most accurate size criterion of metastatic RLNs was a minimal axial diameter of 5 mm or larger, with an accuracy of 94.1% (32 of 34). Conclusions The most appropriate radiologic criterion of metastatic RLNs in MSC is a minimal axial diameter of 5 mm or longer.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term treatment results of combined superselective intraarterial chemotherapy and radiation therapy for advanced maxillary sinus cancer (MSC) and the incidence of regional lymph node failure, and to reveal the clinical and anatomical predictive factors for metastasis.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 55 consecutive patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus who were treated with external radiotherapy and superselective intraarterial chemotherapy. Elective nodal irradiation (ENI) was performed only in the clinical node-positive (cN+) cases and not in the clinical node-negative (cN0) cases.Results: Thirty-eight patients were cN0, and 17 were cN+ at diagnosis. Regional lymph node metastases occurred in 7 of 38 patients with cN0, and 2 of 17 with cN+ during the median follow-up period of 36 months. There were more cases of high-grade (3 or 4) late adverse events in the ENI group than in the non-ENI group (13% vs. 41%, respectively; p = 0.03). In cN0 cases without ENI, invasion of the pterygoid plates (57% vs. 90%; p < 0.01) and oral cavity (35% vs. 92%, with invasion vs without invasion, respectively; p = 0.02) was significantly correlated with a low 5-year regional recurrence-free rate.Conclusions: Patients with MCS and invasion of the pterygoid plates and oral cavity can be considered appropriate candidates for ENI.

There remains wide variation in the use of chest wall boluses for postmastectomy radiotherapy, which may result from the need for 2 treatment plans with the commonly used half-time tissue-equivalent 5-mm-thick bolus to achieve a full surface dose. To establish a bolus method requiring one treatment plan, we assessed the surface dose of a thinner daily bolus for all treatment fractions and compared it against the half-time 5-mm-thick bolus. In this basic study, we specifically investigated dosage achieved when using the following: (1) the existing bolus protocol, a half-time 5-mm-thick tissue-equivalent Clearfit bolus (Fujidenolo Inc., Aichi, JP); (2) no bolus; and (3) daily 1-, 2-, and 3-mm-thick Clearfit boluses at 4 and 6 MV photons. Dosimetric measurements were then taken in an anthropomorphic phantom to study the effect of each regimen on the surface doses, and the mean surface doses of the daily thinner boluses were compared with the existing bolus protocol by the Welch 2-sample t test. The mean surface doses for the existing bolus protocol, no bolus, and daily 1-, 2-, and 3-mm-thick boluses were 68% (range, 59% to 77%), 53% (41% to 66%), 73% (60% to 83%), 77% (66% to 87%), and 82% (75% to 91%) of the prescription dose at 4 MV, respectively; the corresponding values at 6 MV were 71% (63% to 79%), 50% (39% to 60%), 72% (56% to 83%), 81% (68% to 90%), and 89% (80 to 97%) of the prescription dose. The mean surface doses were comparable between the existing bolus protocol and the 1-mm-thick daily bolus at 4 and 6 MV. In conclusion, the mean surface dose of a 1-mm-thick bolus approximate that of a half-time 5-mm-thick bolus at 4 and 6 MV. As such, we have started a prospective clinical study on the safety and efficacy of a 1-mm-thick bolus for postmastectomy radiotherapy.

Objectives Considering that therapeutic strategies for older adult patients with esophageal cancer (EC) remain controversial, we aimed to assess the safety of radiotherapy with concurrent docetaxel (DOC-RT) among older adult patients with EC. Materials and Methods Eligible patients included those aged ≥76 years who were diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients received radiotherapy (60 Gy in 30 fractions) and concurrent docetaxel (10 mg/m2 weekly for six cycles). Survival, toxicity, and treatment completion rates were retrospectively evaluated. Results Among 84 older adult patients receiving radical radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, 73 receiving DOC-RT were studied. Median follow-up duration was 14 months (range, 2–101 months). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 63%, 33%, and 13%, respectively, with a median survival time of 21 months. Grade 3 acute toxicities included esophagitis (7%), esophageal fistula (3%), pneumonitis (1%), leukopenia (10%), and anemia (8%). Grade 3 late toxicities included esophageal stenosis (4%), pleural effusion (3%), pericardial effusion (1%), and pneumonitis (1%). Grade 4 and 5 toxicities were not observed. DOC-RT was discontinued due to deterioration in the general condition (6%), esophageal fistula (3%), pneumonia (1%), and pain (1%), resulting in a DOC-RT completion rate of 89% (65/73 patients). The non-completion group comprised a higher proportion of older adults (age ≥ 80 years) and undernourished [geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI Conclusion DOC-RT can be a safe regimen for older adult patients with EC. Nonetheless, old age (≥80 years) and undernourishment (GNRI

During radiotherapy sessions to treat brain tumors or head-and-neck cancers, some patients experience unusual visual and/or olfactory perceptions. This prospective study sought to answer two questions: (i) what proportion of patients experience these unpleasant sensations?, and (ii) which organs are responsible? Eligible patients had brain or near-orbital tumors treated by helical tomotherapy. All were aged 10 years or older, able to communicate, and interviewed by a radiation oncologist at least once weekly during radiation therapy. If they had experienced such sensations, they were encouraged to join the second phase of the study. The patients were asked to indicate, using a button, when a sensation commenced and ended. The recorded data were collated with the treatment log. Thirty-eight consecutive patients were eligible. Twenty-six experienced visual and 13 olfactory sensations. The radiation doses to the organs related to the visual or olfactory sensations did not differ between patients who reported sensations and those who did not. Seventeen patients were enrolled in the second phase of the study. All 14 with visual sensations reported that the sensations occurred when the X-rays passed at eye level. Olfactory sensations were reported by eight out of nine patients when the X-rays passed through the olfactory epithelium and/or ethmoid sinus level. In conclusion, 68% of patients experienced visual sensations caused by X-rays passing through the level of the eyes, and 34% complained of olfactory sensations. With the exception of one patient, olfactory sensations occurred when the X-rays passed through the levels of the olfactory epithelium and/or ethmoid sinus.

In thermohydraulic safety analysis for heating pipe in boilers and nuclear reactors, inverted-churn flow is commonly formulated due to high-temperature wall. In such flow, liquid ligaments fly upward and downward in the gas core flow and the cooling liquid cannot contact with the wall so that severe wall damage might occur by its low heat transfer. In this study, an inverted-churn flow was formulated in vertical 20-mm diameter pipe coated with water-shedding material. The basic flow characteristics of ligaments in the floww were measured and discussed using the stereo image-processing method and the optical flow method.

Range finding based on the projected light method is superior as a highly reliable means of obtaining dense three-dimensional (3-D) information about scenes. The use of this method, however, demands the development of an accurate calibration method. This paper proposes a method in which the optical system of the range finder is divided into the region surrounding the video camera and the region surrounding the light sources and rotational mirror, and calibration is by the method of least squares. The optical system is modeled in three dimensions and includes geometrical parameters not taken into account in earlier methods such as the torsion of the rotational axis of the mirror. Therefore, this method can be used with the camera and the light source located in any positions. In addition, only a calibration board with a reference pattern is used as a jig. Therefore, highly reliable results are obtained easily because no components other than those of the range finder intervene. This calibration method was applied to the multilight-sources range finder developed by the authors to evaluate its accuracy and to verify its validity.

In this paper, wavelet transform based on dyadic scales and spatial location have been used for internal wave detection in SAR image. It performed by using multi resolution analysis of image for feature detection and image enhancement. Wavelet transform uses local analysis to analyze a shorter region in image in time and scale data allows precise information than time and frequency region analysis such as Fourier analysis. Internal wave is observed in SAR image by effect of Bragg scattering process in sea surface that represents the meso-scale feature of sea processes. SAR image data is used considering to the effectiveness of large scales area monitoring on near real time data. Internal waves were observed in ERS-1 per 2 SAR images data over Lombok Strait during 1996-2001 period using 2D Symlet analysis for the symmetric extension of data at the image boundaries, to prevent discontinuities by a periodic wrapping of data in fast algorithm and space-saving code. Lombok Strait is chosen as study area because this strait is a major passage of the flow from Pacific Ocean to Indonesian seas (ARLINDO) and passage of Indian Ocean Kelvin wave to Makassar Strait. Keyword: SAR image, internal wave, wavelet analysis.

This paper describes a new range finder system which projects multi light planes. The purpose of the system is to get 3-D data of objects at high speed and with high accuracy. To realize the purpose two new techniques are introduced. One of the techniques is its optical system: each light source is composed of a laser diode and a cylindrical lens, and projects a light plane on the object. Fifteen light sources are located on a circle around a rotating mirror so that light planes are converged on the axis of rotation. A CCD camera takes the image of the light planes projected via the mirror. For each rotation angle, the light sources are turned on and off according to a specified code so that the light sources can be identified from the image data. Then, the mirror rotates to project light planes to other parts of the object. Another technique is the pre-processing circuit: it converts, in real time, video data from camera into reliable 2-D information of light planes appearing in the image. Due to the result that essential information is extracted with the circuit, size of output is drastically reduced. In this process, the 1/10 pixel accuracy of detected position data is achieved with a special interpolation scheme by a hard-wired computing circuit.

Wavelet transform has been applied for multi resolution analysis of oceanic feature in ERS1/2 SAR and ASTER image data over the Tsushima Strait. Various wavelet transforms, e.g. Haar, Daubechies, Symlet, Coif, Biorthogonal, and Meyer wavelet, have been tested comparably with different level of synthesized image on horizontal, diagonal, and vertical detail, and approximation to study the internal wave characteristic in image. The results show that higher scale processing of image and higher number of vanishing moments of wavelet function such as Coiflet wavelet, coif5, Daubechies wavelet, db5, Symlet wavelet, sym8, and Discrete Meyer wavelet, are proposed for smoother wave crest. The best result of detection is performed by Discrete Meyer wavelet transform, which adapts FIR filter, orthogonal and biorthogonal basis. Thus, it liable for smoothness of feature, space save coding and avoid dephasing in image.

This paper studies the effect of internal wave in the Lombok Strait to chlorophyll distribution in the surrounded areas using ERS SAR, ASTER, SeaWiFS and AVHRR-NOAA images data during 1996-2004 periods. The observation results shows that the internal waves were propagated to the south and the north of strait and mostly occurred during transitional season from dry to wet and wet season (rainy season) between September to December when the layers are strongly stratified. Wavelet transform of image using Meyer wavelet analysis is applied for internal wave detection in ERS SAR and ASTER images, for symmetric extension of data at the image boundaries, to prevent discontinuities by a periodic wrapping of data in fast algorithm and space-saving code. Internal wave created elongated pattern in detail and approximation of image from level 2 to 5 and retained value between 2-4.59 times compared to sea surface, provided accuracy in classification over than 80%. In segmentation process, the Canny edge detector is applied on the approximation image at level two to derive internal wave signature in image. The proposed method can extract the internal wave signature, maintain the continuity of crest line while reduce small strikes from noise. The segmentation result, i.e. the length between crest and trough, is used to compute the internal wave induced current using Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) equation. On ERS SAR data contains surface signature of internal wave (2001/8/20), we calculated that internal wave propagation speed was 1.2 m/s and internal wave induced current was 0.56 m/s, respectively. From the observation of ERS SAR and SeaWiFS images data, we found out that the distribution of maximum chlorophyll area at southern coastline off Bali Island when strong internal wave induced current occurred in south of the Lombok Strait was distributed further to westward, i.e. from 9.25°-10.25°LS, 115°-116.25°SE to 8.8°-10.7°LS, 114.5°-116°SE, and surface chlorophyll concentration near coastal area, i.e. area 8.8°-9.25° LS, 114.5°-115°SE, increased. The preliminary result of this study concludes that the internal waves presumably affect chlorophyll distribution to westward (from 9.25°-10.25°LS, 115°-116.25°SE to 8.8°-10.7°LS, 114.5°-116°SE) in the south coast off Bali Island and increase surface chlorophyll concentration near coastal area (8.8°-9.25° LS, 114.5°-115°SE).

We observed sea surface signature of internal waves in ERS SAR and ASTER image over southwest of Japan during 193-2004 period. Wavelet transform has been applied for multi resolution of internal wave detection in image. Proposed method based on Meyer wavelet and Canny edge detector has been useful to delineate internal wave feature in ERS SAR and ASTER image, maintain the continuity of crest line while reduce small strikes from noise. Internal wave features were detected as elongated pattern in image with higher wavelet coefficient (>36) than sea surface (