Radiotherapy – Mary Kara Bucci

Study Shows 4DCT Imaging Has Potential to Reduce Radiotherapy Margins

Dr. Mary Kara Bucci, an experienced radiation oncologist, serves as part of the oncology team at the New Mexico Cancer Center. A recipient of many honors, including being named one of the Best Doctors in America four times, Mary Kara Bucci, MD is frequently published in medical journals, including the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics (IJROBP).

Dr. Bucci co-authored a 2010 article published in IJROBP titled Evaluation of Tumor Position and PTV Margins Using Image Guidance and Respiratory Gating. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of two methods, image-guided patient setup and respiratory gating, at increasing certainty about tumor position. Image-guided setup relies on radiological images, while respiratory gating uses four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) technology to monitor tumor movement continuously during normal breathing.

After studying seven patients with lung tumors, researchers found that using image-guided patient setup reduced margins by 0.7-1.7 centimeters, and adding the respiratory gating technique reduced the margins even further. The study concludes that physicians should use respiratory motion management in conjunction with the image-guided patient setup to achieve the smallest margins and provide the safest treatment.

Study Assess Dosing Effectiveness for Time-Release Radiotherapy

Time-Release Radiotherapy
Image: webmd.com

An Albuquerque-based radiation oncologist serving at the New Mexico Cancer Center, Mary Kara Bucci, MD was named one of America’s Top Oncologists in 2009, 2011, and 2012. Having written numerous peer-reviewed articles in medical journals, Dr. Mary Kara Bucci co-authored an article on dosing in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans, which was published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.

Titled Method to Account for Dose Fractionation in Analysis of IMRT Plans: Modified Equivalent Uniform Dose (mEUD), the study aimed to improve radiotherapy outcomes by adjusting recommended doses for patients who receive time-release radiation therapy. Specifically, the study sought to determine effective dosing ranges by developing what oncologists call a modified equivalent uniform dose (mEUD), which takes into account the generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD) as well as the biologically effective dose.

The study analyzed 41 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer who received IMRT treatment plans. Researchers concluded that combining the gEUD with the biologically effective dose to achieve a modified dosing system offers the advantages of the current generalized dosing system, while also accounting for the effects of time-release radiotherapy.