• Stereotactic radiotherapy is a very precise form of image guided radiotherapy (IGRT) where strictly defined target volumes - benign and malignant tumors - are treated with high radiation doses. (uniklinik-freiburg.de)
  • Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) combines imaging and radiotherapy in the same irradiation unit. (uniklinik-freiburg.de)
  • Radiotherapy for acute metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) involves conventional techniques and dose fractionation schemes, as it needs to be initiated quickly. (hindawi.com)
  • Image-guided three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (IG-3DCRT) was started with 25 Gy in 5 fractions followed by a boost of 12 Gy in 3 fractions, for which a field-in-field (FIF) technique was used to optimize the dose distribution. (hindawi.com)
  • This case demonstrates that image-guided FIF radiotherapy with a dose-escalated hypofractionated regimen can potentially improve functional outcome and local control. (hindawi.com)
  • Furthermore, a field-in-field (FIF) technique has been applied to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) for various indications to amend dose distribution [ 5 , 6 ]. (hindawi.com)
  • In selected cases of refractory disease or presence of side effects or even comorbidities that limit systemic therapies, radiotherapy could play a role in the management because it has been demonstrated that irradiation is effective in suppressing the inflammatory process. (unicatt.it)
  • Dose-volume data for myelopathy in humans treated with radiotherapy to the spine was reviewed by Kirkpatrick et al. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Purpose: To determine the safety and outcome profile of five-fraction stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) for brain metastases (BM), either as a definitive or adjuvant treatment. (mdpi.com)
  • Multiple studies have examined the issue of the optimal dose of radiotherapy in NSCLC but are complicated by the heterogeneity of the disease itself in terms of size and location of the primary tumor, number and size of involved lymph nodes, and the patient's comorbidities, all of which limit the treatment tolerability and risks. (frontiersin.org)
  • The era of orthovoltage radiotherapy (RT) and the Ralston Paterson "school of radiation dose delivery" [1] lasted for over 6 0 year s. (viamedica.pl)
  • During these years radiotherapy planning was relatively simple: based on X - ray radiographs and 2D - coplanar, geometrically regular, well - shaped 2 - 6 beams focused on the tumor (fig. 1), whilst dose distribution was calculated based on diagrams of the percentage depth isodose s. (viamedica.pl)
  • The time interval between amifostine administration and the end of daily irradiation was less than 60 minutes, and no cytoprotectant was given on days of radiotherapy alone. (cancernetwork.com)
  • The next 31 patients received carboplatin at the same dose on days 1 to 5, 15 to 19, 29 to 33, and 43 to 47 of radiotherapy. (cancernetwork.com)
  • Dose escalation has been proposed to improve local control [2] -[5] and capitalize on the therapeutic ratio of thoracic radiotherapy, which is mainly limited by the potential toxicity to organs at risk (OARs). (scirp.org)
  • We updated our previous report of a phase 2 trial using proton beam radiation therapy to deliver partial breast irradiation (PBI) in patients with early stage breast cancer. (nih.gov)
  • The same fractionation scheme of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) with brachytherapy is usually applied to APBI patients without considering the radiaton effect on the planning target and organs at risk (OARs) for an individual patient. (researchain.net)
  • IOERT Boost: The largest evidence for boost IOERT preceding WBI comes from pooled analyses performed by the European Group of the International Society of Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (ISIORT Europe), where single boost doses (mostly around 10 Gy) preceded whole-breast irradiation (WBI) with 50 Gy (conventional fractionation). (unav.edu)
  • Metastatic RCC has been treated with higher doses and more hypofractioned radiation including stereotactic radiosurgery, whereas curative cases have used lower total doses and conventional fractionations. (cancernetwork.com)
  • More recently, phase I/II studies using SBRT for dose escalation after conventional chemoradiation in locally advanced NSCLC have been promising with good apparent safety. (frontiersin.org)
  • By building on the proven concept of conventional chemoradiation for patients with locally advanced NSCLC with a subsequent radiation dose intensification to residual disease with SBRT concurrent with immunotherapy, we hope address the issues of metastatic and local failures. (frontiersin.org)
  • All patients had definitive radiochemotherapy with a conventional fractionation, linear accelerator using single doses of 2 Gy to a whole dose of 60 Gy to the primary tumor and cervical nodes, with a boost to 70 Gy for sites of tumor. (cancernetwork.com)
  • Retrospective research and clinical trial efforts have been spent to best understand merits and demerits of hypofractionated, high-dose (≥8 Gy) radiation treatments that are intended to safely shorten weeks of conventional radiation therapy to as few as 3 days. (radiologykey.com)
  • Anecdotal gynecologic SBRT indications include medically inoperable disease ( 15 , 16 ) or as a dose boost when conventional radiation therapy and brachytherapy are conceded ( 10 , 11 , 17 , 18 ). (radiologykey.com)
  • We present the case of a patient undergoing reirradiation for a T4 nasopharyngeal tumor 1 year after his initial radiation, treated with SBRT to a moderate dose with twice weekly fractionation. (oldcitypublishing.com)
  • This suggests that spacing apart fractions of SBRT alone may not be sufficient to obviate the risk of carotid blowout syndrome and other risk factors and interventions should be considered. (oldcitypublishing.com)
  • Gynecologic SBRT demands sophisticated planning features critical to maximizing radiation dose delivery performance. (radiologykey.com)
  • Cancer care delivery research and clinical trials have studied (a) motion management of the patient on the tabletop, (b) motion management of the internal SBRT target because of physiologic motion, (c) high-level SBRT treatment planning and software performance, and (d) challenges of "real-time" beam-on on-board image capture for quality radiation dose delivery. (radiologykey.com)
  • Gynecologic SBRT has not yet been limited by prior chemotherapy exposure or by prior radiation therapy dose ( 1 , 2 ). (radiologykey.com)
  • A rationale for gynecologic SBRT arises out of the notion that gynecologic tumors are particularly sensitive to radiation therapy-related nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage, demonstrating steep drop-off of the radiation dose-cell survival curve at an ablative dose of 8 Gy ( 19 ). (radiologykey.com)
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a technique that can attain a high cumulative biologically effective dose (BED) inside the tumor with a steep gradient outside the tumor, preventing dose to OARs. (scirp.org)
  • However, SBRT confronts several issues including patient positioning, breathing patterns, and high dose escalation. (scirp.org)
  • Several authors have carried out studies on lung SBRT, examining the impacts of beam arrangement, image guidance, radiation dose constraints, dose prescription, and treatment planning algorithm on patient outcomes. (scirp.org)
  • Hypofractionation is a treatment regimen that delivers higher doses of radiation in fewer visits. (wikipedia.org)
  • RCC may be more responsive to radiation at higher doses or in a hypofractionated form (including stereotactic radiosurgery). (cancernetwork.com)
  • The biological features of prostate cancer as a tumor with a low alpha beta ratio have led clinicians to consider the use of higher doses per fraction, thus gaining an advantage both in terms of clinical outcomes and of logistic opportunities. (encyclopedia.pub)
  • Single versus multiple fractions of repeat radiation for painful bone metastases: a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. (omeka.net)
  • A single fraction for all, or an argument for fractionation tailored to fit the needs of each individual patient with bone metastases? (mcmaster.ca)
  • BACKGROUND: Although repeat radiation treatment has been shown to palliate pain in patients with bone metastases from multiple primary origin sites, data for the best possible dose fractionation schedules are lacking. (omeka.net)
  • Gender and age make no difference in the re-irradiation of painful bone metastases: A secondary analysis of the NCIC CTG SC.20 randomized trial. (omeka.net)
  • PURPOSE: To establish a survival prediction model in the setting of a randomized trial of re-irradiation for painful bone metastases. (omeka.net)
  • Minimal clinically important differences in the EORTC QLQ-C30 and brief pain inventory in patients undergoing re-irradiation for painful bone metastases. (omeka.net)
  • The median total dose of 60.2 Gy in the 2 Gy per fraction-equivalent dose (EQD2) was delivered to cervical tumors of all patients. (iiarjournals.org)
  • For patients who are expected to survive for more than 1 year, almost curative-dose irradiation to primary tumors is recommended. (iiarjournals.org)
  • We calculate dose volume histograms (DVHs) of targeted tumors and organs at risk for 39 patients. (scirp.org)
  • A typical fractionation scheme divides the dose into 30 units delivered every weekday over six weeks. (wikipedia.org)
  • This patient was treated with image-guided 3DCRT (IG-3DCRT) alone using a FIF technique and a unique hypofractionated dose fractionation scheme, which resulted in good tumor control and sufficient cord decompression, which in turn allowed a delayed but gradual improvement in her severe neurological dysfunction. (hindawi.com)
  • The purpose of this study is to report the results of optimization of the fractionation scheme by evaluating the radiation effect on target and OARs with a modified linear-quadratic model, universal survival curve (USC), based on dose-volume histograms (DVHs). (researchain.net)
  • Almost all subjects (98%) received BED 30Gy with irradiation scheme of three 6Gy SRT treatments on Days 1, 2 and 3 following surgery. (jcadonline.com)
  • Since approximately 30% of leukemia patients relapse after allogeneic BMT using total body irradiation (TBI)-based preparative regimens, treatment intensity may be suboptimal. (nature.com)
  • We designed the following two fractionation regimens with equal BED: A549-HRT (10 Gy/1 fraction) and A549-CRT (16 Gy/8 fractions) as well as H460-HRT (10 Gy/1 fraction) and H460-CRT (26 Gy/13 fractions). (bioone.org)
  • Optimization of the accelerated partial breast brachytherapy fractionation considering radiation effect on planning target and organs at risk. (researchain.net)
  • Optimal fractionation can be achieved for an individual patient by evaluating the radiation effect on tumor and OARs with the USC model based on the patient specific DVHs with APBI brachytherapy. (researchain.net)
  • We conclude that TBI dose escalation above the previously used 13.5 Gy dose is feasible using a high-energy source and high-dose etoposide. (nature.com)
  • Local and distant failure remains high in this group of patients, so dose escalation has been studied in both single institution and national clinical trials. (frontiersin.org)
  • Though initial studies showed a benefit to dose escalation, phase III studies examining dose escalation using standard fractionation or hyperfractionation have failed to show a benefit. (frontiersin.org)
  • If reoxygenation is applied efficiently between dose fractions, the presence of hypoxic cells does not have a significant impact on the outcome of a multifraction regimen [ 16 - 18 ]. (biomedcentral.com)
  • When the statin and fibrate use is determined based on self-reports, patient adherence to the prescribed statin dose regimen remains unknown. (cdc.gov)
  • The same volumes are used as in neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with the addition of elective lymph node irradiation (ENI) (1) as described below. (cancercentrum.se)
  • Methods: We assessed clinical data of patients receiving five fractions of 7 Gy each (cumulative physical dose of 35 Gy) to BM or surgical cavities. (mdpi.com)
  • This underlines the importance of more accurately describing the irradiation technique used in forthcoming preclinical studies: although RT dose, fractionation and the type of particles used are often found in the methods section, the precise ballistics and dose-volume histograms for organs at risk are often missing although they probably largely impact the outcomes as highlighted here. (biomedcentral.com)
  • For this study we used biologically equivalent dose (BED), the dose required to give the same log cell kill as the schedule being studied. (bioone.org)
  • In the graph to the right, called a cell survival curve, the dose vs. surviving fraction have been drawn for a hypothetical group of cells with and without a rest time for the cells to recover. (wikipedia.org)
  • CIRT reduced the survival fraction of pancreatic cancer cells and induced apoptotic and necrotic alterations, along with autophagy. (cellphysiolbiochem.com)
  • They first showed that CRT was more effective than SRT at delaying tumor growth and improved survival in a dose and fractionation independent manner due to a more effective acute CD8 + TIL-mediated immune response. (biomedcentral.com)
  • For patients at low risk for in-breast recurrence (ASTRO/ESTRO recommendations), full dose IOERT was isoeffective with standard WBI. (unav.edu)
  • Measurements in an Alderson phantom and in-vivo dosimetry of the first patients match the calculated dose. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Sixteen evaluable patients with advanced hematologic malignancies were treated with twice daily TBI using a high-energy source (18-24 MV). The first patient cohort ( n = 11) received a total dose of 14.4 Gy in nine fractions, and the second cohort ( n = 5) received doses escalated to 15.3 Gy. (nature.com)
  • All patients received high-dose etoposide (60 mg/kg) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation following the TBI. (nature.com)
  • However, three patients had primary tumor progression at 7, 9, and 15 months after irradiation with total doses of 56.8, 58.4, and 68.3 Gy in EQD2, respectively. (iiarjournals.org)
  • We evaluated the feasibility and toxicity of APBR delivered using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in elderly patients with stage I BC, using a novel fractionation schedule. (e-roj.org)
  • Forty eligible patients received 40 Gy in 4 Gy daily fractions. (e-roj.org)
  • The determined unique optimal N for treatment delivery was found to vary from 1 to 20 among these 10 patients resulted from balancing the different damage effects considering the spatial dose for a given patient geometry. (researchain.net)
  • The pilot trial was a controlled phase II study involving 14 patients randomized to receive standard radiochemotherapy, with radiation administered in 2-Gy fractions to a total dose of 60 Gy plus carboplatin (Paraplatin) 70 mg/m² as a radiosensitizer weeks 1 and 5. (cancernetwork.com)
  • 1 - 3 ] In addition, with the simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technique, different doses can be applied to multiple targets simultaneously with high conformity in IMRT/VMAT plans. (onkder.org)
  • An early dose-finding study by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 7301 study was conducted from 1973 to 1978 and studied four different doses and schedules: 40 Gy split course, 40 Gy continuously, 50 Gy, and 60 Gy. (frontiersin.org)
  • The term radiosurgery is used when only one fraction is applied. (uniklinik-freiburg.de)
  • Radiosurgery using single-session doses of 12 or more Gy or radiation therapy with fractionated doses of 45 to 54 Gy is recommended for greater local tumor control rate of 90% or higher at 5 years after treatment. (cns.org)
  • These advantages could significantly reduce the inter-fraction variability, which is a major problem in extreme hypofractionated schedules [ 21 ] [ 22 ] . (encyclopedia.pub)
  • These encouraging results are interpreted as being attributable to utmost precision in dose delivery (by avoiding a 'geographic and/or temporal miss'), and the possible radiobiological superiority of a single high dose fraction, compared to the conventionally fractionated boost. (unav.edu)
  • BED has been widely accepted to transform its dose to conventionally fractionated ones. (bioone.org)
  • Hyperfractionation is dividing the same total dose into more deliveries. (wikipedia.org)
  • A steep dose gradient to the surrounding normal tissue guarantees optimal protection of healthy cells. (uniklinik-freiburg.de)
  • If ET is set at a certain value, the fractionation that results in a minimum EOAR value corresponds to the optimal fractionation. (researchain.net)
  • The results show that the optimal fractionation is different for different OAR damage effects. (researchain.net)
  • Delivery of tumoricidal doses to the primary tumor and involved lymph nodes is balanced by treatment-related toxicities, namely esophagitis, pneumonitis, and cardiac injury. (frontiersin.org)
  • When only the boost plans were compared, the results were 11.8% lower at the D1 dose and 12.01% higher at the D99 dose with the SP. (onkder.org)
  • However, in the SIB technique, the fraction doses in the target and boost volumes may be lower or higher than the normal fractionation, and the critical organ fraction doses may be higher. (onkder.org)
  • The optimization of the boost plan would be adjusted based on dose distributions of the phase1 VMAT/IMRT plan. (onkder.org)
  • With these two approaches, different results can be found only in boost plans and total dose distributions. (onkder.org)
  • We studied the feasibility and toxicity of escalating the doses of fractionated TBI above our previous prescription of 13.5 Gy. (nature.com)
  • established the threshold point dose for Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity at 58 Gy [ 9 ]. (biomedcentral.com)
  • These results demonstrate that the RT technique and ballistics not only affect the toxicity linked to unintentional healthy tissue irradiation, but also extensively impact the radio-induced immune response and eventually RT efficacy. (biomedcentral.com)
  • The DVHs for the PTV and organs at risk were analyzed using a Biosuite algorithm to calculate the equivalent uniform dose (EUD), tumor control probability (TCP) via a Poisson model, and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) via an LKB model. (scirp.org)
  • Therefore, it has been hypothesized that irradiating a smaller breast volume may be as efficacious as WBR, and, if less tissue is radiated, a shorter course of irradiation may potentially be offered using larger fraction sizes. (e-roj.org)
  • In contrast, the longer duration of the treatment session can potentially affect intra-fraction motion, although cine-MR sequences allow clinicians to constantly monitor organ motion during the beam-on-time and apply automated beam gating features, where available [ 23 ] . (encyclopedia.pub)
  • When the total dose of radiation is divided into several, smaller doses over a period of several days, there are fewer toxic effects on healthy cells. (wikipedia.org)
  • A sweeping beam technique for total body irradiation in standard treatment rooms and for standard linear accelerators (linacs) is introduced, which does not require any accessory attached to the linac. (biomedcentral.com)
  • The median total dose was 20 Gy whereas the mean total dose was 21 Gy with a range from 4 to 36 Gy. (unicatt.it)
  • When the phase1+phase2 total dose distribution was evaluated, better results were obtained with CP. (onkder.org)
  • Even if the defined dose is applied in total, hot or cold dose volumes can directly affect the radiobiological gain and the result of the treatment. (onkder.org)
  • It has been proven that 1.8-2.0 Gy fraction doses and 76?80 Gy total doses reduce the biochemical failure rates. (onkder.org)
  • Then, the plans of the two phases are directly summed to obtain the total dose distribution. (onkder.org)
  • Dose calculations were performed with a commercial RTPS and should enable individual dose optimization. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Cosmetic results may be improved over those reported with photon-based techniques due to reduced breast tissue exposure with proton beam, skin-sparing techniques, and the dose fractionation schedule used in this trial. (nih.gov)
  • Linear Absorption Coefficient -- A factor expressing the fraction of a beam of x or gamma radiation absorbed in a unit thickness of material. (cdc.gov)
  • Irregular beam shapes made it possible to tailor the radiation dose which was focused both on the tumor and its margins, with a sharp decrease of radiation beyond this area (fig. 1). (viamedica.pl)
  • The development of high-resolution imaging for precise SRS treatment planning, paired with computing technology interacting with medical robots, has accelerated, increasing the accuracy of beam delivery techniques, helping to apply treatment doses with sub-millimeter accuracy. (mdpi.com)
  • For example, Papiez and Timmerman [10] discussed dose shaping and dose delivery techniques using standard beam arrangements with coplanar and noncoplanar beams. (scirp.org)
  • On the one hand, conformal techniques offer a substantial decrease in the dose deposited in the surrounding healthy tissues, and therefore reduce the risk of serious late complications. (viamedica.pl)
  • 41.4 Gy will be given in 23 fractions of 1.8 Gy, 5 fractions a week (once daily), starting the first day of the first cycle of chemotherapy. (cancercentrum.se)
  • One important advantage of the IMRT/VMAT techniques is the ability to shape dose distributions, thus avoiding nearby critical structures such as bladder and rectum. (onkder.org)
  • Therefore, consecutive-IMRT/VMAT may be more appropriate than SIB-IMRT/VMAT when the fraction doses to the critical organs or target volumes are the major concern. (onkder.org)
  • Experiments in radiation biology have found that as the absorbed dose of radiation increases, the number of cells which survive decreases. (wikipedia.org)
  • They have also found that if the radiation is fractionated into smaller doses, with one or more rest periods in between, fewer cells die. (wikipedia.org)
  • Other than the recovery time partway through the irradiation, the cells would have been treated identically. (wikipedia.org)
  • The killing of leukemia cells is proportional to the radiation absorbed dose. (nature.com)
  • Because of their pin-point dose distribution owing to the Bragg peak, carbon ion beams provide cancer cells with a peak dose radiation without exerting any adverse effects on normal tissues in the vicinity [11]. (cellphysiolbiochem.com)
  • Histopathological studies indicated that the mitotic activity of tumor cells was reduced following treatment with four fraction and four repetition protocols. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Reoxygenation is a phenomenon in which hypoxic (and thus radioresistant) tumor cells become more exposed to oxygen (and thus more radiosensitive) by coming into closer proximity to capillaries after death of other tumor cells from previous irradiation. (biomedcentral.com)
  • However the larger daily doses may result in increased side effect and treating only part of the breast tissue in higher recurrent rate. (e-roj.org)
  • Dose fractionation effects are utilised in the treatment of cancer with radiation therapy. (wikipedia.org)
  • A treatment technique with clinically good dose distributions has been introduced, which can be applied with each standard linac and in standard treatment rooms. (biomedcentral.com)
  • It is used for the treatment of spontaneous breast adenocarcinoma of Balb/c mice with a variety of dose repetition and fractionation regimes. (biomedcentral.com)
  • and the fractional treatment group treated by dual-frequency sonication and Hp injection at the first, third, sixth, and ninth days (7.5 min/fraction) ( H ). For each group, the tumor growth delay was calculated during 30 days after treatment. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Moreover, MR-Linacs allow a daily online treatment plan adaptation based on the ability to recalculate the plan prior to each fraction, taking into account changes in shape and size of the target and surrounding healthy structures [ 20 ] . (encyclopedia.pub)
  • Boundary dose Dt was 6 Gy for both target and OARs. (researchain.net)
  • The relation between radiation effects on the target (ET) and OARs (EOAR) were plotted for fraction numbers (N) from 1 to 20. (researchain.net)
  • Absorbed Fraction -- A term used in internal dosimetry. (cdc.gov)
  • The absorbed fraction depends on the source distribution, the photon energy, and the size, shape and composition of the volume. (cdc.gov)
  • The organs of the abdomen including the liver and small bowel have a relatively low tolerance for radiation, and thus the curative and adjuvant trials have generally been restricted to moderate radiation doses of 30 to 55 Gy. (cancernetwork.com)
  • However, if there is a heterogeneous dose distribution in phase1 planning, there may be very low or very high fraction doses within the target volume only in phase2 planning. (onkder.org)
  • The ultrasound dose fractionation and repetition technique with dual-frequency sonication can have a useful therapeutic effect in sonodynamic therapy with the possibility of use in future clinical applications. (biomedcentral.com)
  • The overlap of all these dose structures results in an even dose distribution in the complex shape of the target volume, while carefully protecting the adjacent radiosensitive organs. (uniklinik-freiburg.de)
  • Better results were obtained in CP at V5, V10 and V20 doses of the body, rectal and bladder doses. (onkder.org)
  • The purpose of present study was to compare the dosimetric difference and elucidate the dosimetric quality of the radiotherapeutic plans between synchronous and composite planning approaches in consecutive- VMAT for prostate CA. In addition, it was aimed to evaluate the differences in target and critical organ doses of the two approaches in terms of clinical results. (onkder.org)
  • Regarding the fractionation, 2 Gy/fraction daily was the most widely used. (unicatt.it)
  • The dose delivered was 40 Gy in 10 fractions, once daily over 2 weeks. (nih.gov)
  • Most of this understanding is based on preclinical studies using a RT techniques (referred to as shield RT (SRT) [ 4 ]) which spares most of the animal during irradiation but cannot avoid the exposure of healthy tissues located in the irradiation field. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Investigators showed that the rate of in-breast relapses (IBR) in the IOERT group was significantly greater than with whole breast irradiation (WBI), even when within the pre-specified equivalence margin. (unav.edu)
  • Breast irradiation in women with early stage invasive breast cancer following breast conservation surgery. (mcmaster.ca)
  • Seminal vesicle (PTV56) and Prostate (PTV78) volumes must be irradiated radiobiologically with a dose of 1.8-2.0 Gy per fraction. (onkder.org)
  • Sensus Healthcare, Boca Raton, Florida) using a biologically effective dose (BED) of 30Gy and for whom the required retrospective data was available. (jcadonline.com)
  • The dose distributions were measured in a solid water phantom and in an Alderson phantom. (biomedcentral.com)
  • Dose distributions obtained by two techniques were compared. (onkder.org)
  • Finally, normal tissues received significant dose after SRT (but not CRT), resulting in an increased gut permeability, gastrointestinal damage and the relocation of monocytes into the colon whilst not causing lymphopenia which might have accounted for the differences between the two types of RT. (biomedcentral.com)