1.Key technologies and challenges in online adaptive radiotherapy for lung cancer.
Baiqiang DONG ; Shuohan ZHENG ; Kelly CHEN ; Xuan ZHU ; Sijuan HUANG ; Xiaobo JIANG ; Wenchao DIAO ; Hua LI ; Lecheng JIA ; Feng CHI ; Xiaoyan HUANG ; Qiwen LI ; Ming CHEN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(13):1559-1567
Definitive treatment of lung cancer with radiotherapy is challenging, as respiratory motion and anatomical changes can increase the risk of severe off-target effects during radiotherapy. Online adaptive radiotherapy (ART) is an evolving approach that enables timely modification of a treatment plan during the interfraction of radiotherapy, in response to physiologic or anatomic variations, aiming to improve the dose distribution for precise targeting and delivery in lung cancer patients. The effectiveness of online ART depends on the seamless integration of multiple components: sufficient quality of linear accelerator-integrated imaging guidance, deformable image registration, automatic recontouring, and efficient quality assurance and workflow. This review summarizes the present status of online ART for lung cancer, including key technologies, as well as the challenges and areas of active research in this field.
Humans
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Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy*
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Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods*
2.Application status and future prospects of proton therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma
Jiayu FAN ; Xuanni WEI ; Chenxi LI ; Zeru WANG ; Xiaoyan HUANG ; Sijuan HUANG ; Yuanyuan CHEN ; Xin YANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(9):1121-1129
Objective To conduct a comprehensive review on application status and future development prospects of proton therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma.Methods A total of 218 literatures were retrieved from PubMed and CNKI database using the search terms"pediatric medulloblastoma,proton therapy,radiotherapy"(English)and"儿童髓母细胞瘤,质子治疗,放射治疗"(Chinese),with a publication timeframe from January 1,2004,to June 1,2025.Inclusion criteria were as follow:(1)proton therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma;(2)radiotherapy for pediatric medulloblastoma;(3)proton therapy for pediatric brain tumors;(4)development and applications of proton therapy.Exclusion criteria were as follow:(1)outdated literatures;(2)redundant or highly similar studies.After screening,89 literatures met the inclusion criteria.Results Compared with conventional treatments such as surgery,photon therapy,and chemotherapy,proton therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma significantly reduced acute toxicity and long-term side effects including cognitive dysfunction,endocrine disorders,and hearing loss.Additionally,proton therapy exhibited favorable cost-effectiveness.In the future,the therapeutic outcomes would be further enhanced through the optimization of proton therapy techniques,treatment planning,and equipment.Conclusion With ongoing technological advancements and growing clinical experience,proton therapy is expected to become one of the standard treatment modalities for pediatric medulloblastoma.
3.Capability building and practical pathways for an excellent assistant in robotic thyroidectomy
Xiaolei LI ; Sijuan CHEN ; Qingqing HE
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(5):850-858
With the continuous advancement of precision medicine,robotic surgical techniques have been rapidly promoted,and robotic thyroidectomy has been increasingly applied in China,demonstrating advantages such as refined manipulation,minimal invasiveness,and improved cosmetic outcomes.Since the initiation of this procedure,our center has completed over 4 000 cases of robotic thyroidectomy,accumulating extensive practical experience and establishing a comprehensive system for surgical coordination and assistant training.An excellent surgical assistant plays a pivotal role in ensuring procedural efficiency and patient safety.Based on our center's experience,this article systematically summarizes key training elements and intraoperative coordination techniques for assistants in robotic thyroidectomy.Key areas include preoperative preparation(such as patient selection,imaging review,and assessment of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve risk)and intraoperative cooperation(including Trocar placement,instrument exchange,gauze management,and hemostasis).This paper aims to provide practical reference for surgical teams engaged in robotic thyroidectomy,promote the standardization of related techniques,enhance team coordination and surgical quality,and ultimately deliver safer and more efficient medical services to patients.
4.Application of transoral robotic thyroidectomy in overweight patients
Sijuan CHEN ; Xianjiao CAO ; Gaoyuan XU ; Dayong ZHUANG ; Qingqing HE ; Xiaolei LI
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(1):45-50
Objective:To investigate the application of transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) in overweight patients.Methods:Clinical data of 109 thyroid tumor patients who underwent TORT at 960th Hospital of People’s Liberation Army from May. 2020 to Aug. 2023 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. After excluding 10 patients who underwent prophylactic lateral neck dissection, a total of 99 patients were included in this study. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which define people with BMI:25-29.9 kg/m 2 as overweight, we divided the 99 patients into normal weight group (n=69) and overweight group (n=30) . To make the baseline data consistent between the two groups and ensure comparability, 20 matched pairs were generated using a 1∶1 propensity score matching (PSM) method, considering four clinicopathologic factors: age, gender, diameter of tumor and operation scope. In the normal-weight group, there were 18 females and 2 males, aged (32.82±9.51) years (range: 17-53 years) , and there exhibited 18 females and 2 males in the overweight group, aged (35.14±10.63) years (range: 18-55 years) . Results:All patients successfully underwent the operation without conversions to open surgery. After matching, both groups had 2 cases of thyroid adenoma and 18 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma ( P=1) , with no statistically significant difference in the surgical scope between the two groups ( P=0.376) . There was no statistically significant difference in the mean tumor diameter between the normal-weight group and the overweight group (5.38±1.79 mm vs. 5.61±3.32 mm, P=0.575) . All malignant tumor cases in both groups were classified as T1 stage, and there was no statistically significant difference in N stage ( P=0.186) . All patients with malignant tumors underwent central lymph node dissection, there was no significant difference in the number of central lymph nodes dissected ( P=0.623) and metastatic lymph nodes ( P=0.109) between the two groups. There were no statistically significant differences in operative duration (217.53±62.83 min vs. 220.67±73.73 min, P=0.808) , median postoperative hospital stay [6 (6,7.75) days vs. 6 (6,7) days, P=0.682], or 24-hour drainage volume (78.52±30.49 mL vs. 68.23±29.11 mL, P=0.180) between the normal-weight group and the overweight group. There was no permanent hypoparathyroidism, postoperative hemorrhage, lymphatic fistula, mental nerve injury, postoperative infection in both groups. In both groups, there occurred one case of transient hypoparathyroidism. As for other complications, 1 case of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and oral tearing occurred in the overweight group, while the normal-weight group had 1 case of skin scald. Conclusions:Among patients who underwent TORT, the overweight group exhibited comparable surgical outcomes and postoperative complications to those in the normal-weight group. TORT is a safe and feasible surgical option for overweight patients, which provides more surgical options for this patient population.
5.Application of transoral robotic thyroidectomy in overweight patients
Sijuan CHEN ; Xianjiao CAO ; Gaoyuan XU ; Dayong ZHUANG ; Qingqing HE ; Xiaolei LI
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(1):45-50
Objective:To investigate the application of transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) in overweight patients.Methods:Clinical data of 109 thyroid tumor patients who underwent TORT at 960th Hospital of People’s Liberation Army from May. 2020 to Aug. 2023 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. After excluding 10 patients who underwent prophylactic lateral neck dissection, a total of 99 patients were included in this study. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, which define people with BMI:25-29.9 kg/m 2 as overweight, we divided the 99 patients into normal weight group (n=69) and overweight group (n=30) . To make the baseline data consistent between the two groups and ensure comparability, 20 matched pairs were generated using a 1∶1 propensity score matching (PSM) method, considering four clinicopathologic factors: age, gender, diameter of tumor and operation scope. In the normal-weight group, there were 18 females and 2 males, aged (32.82±9.51) years (range: 17-53 years) , and there exhibited 18 females and 2 males in the overweight group, aged (35.14±10.63) years (range: 18-55 years) . Results:All patients successfully underwent the operation without conversions to open surgery. After matching, both groups had 2 cases of thyroid adenoma and 18 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma ( P=1) , with no statistically significant difference in the surgical scope between the two groups ( P=0.376) . There was no statistically significant difference in the mean tumor diameter between the normal-weight group and the overweight group (5.38±1.79 mm vs. 5.61±3.32 mm, P=0.575) . All malignant tumor cases in both groups were classified as T1 stage, and there was no statistically significant difference in N stage ( P=0.186) . All patients with malignant tumors underwent central lymph node dissection, there was no significant difference in the number of central lymph nodes dissected ( P=0.623) and metastatic lymph nodes ( P=0.109) between the two groups. There were no statistically significant differences in operative duration (217.53±62.83 min vs. 220.67±73.73 min, P=0.808) , median postoperative hospital stay [6 (6,7.75) days vs. 6 (6,7) days, P=0.682], or 24-hour drainage volume (78.52±30.49 mL vs. 68.23±29.11 mL, P=0.180) between the normal-weight group and the overweight group. There was no permanent hypoparathyroidism, postoperative hemorrhage, lymphatic fistula, mental nerve injury, postoperative infection in both groups. In both groups, there occurred one case of transient hypoparathyroidism. As for other complications, 1 case of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and oral tearing occurred in the overweight group, while the normal-weight group had 1 case of skin scald. Conclusions:Among patients who underwent TORT, the overweight group exhibited comparable surgical outcomes and postoperative complications to those in the normal-weight group. TORT is a safe and feasible surgical option for overweight patients, which provides more surgical options for this patient population.
6.Capability building and practical pathways for an excellent assistant in robotic thyroidectomy
Xiaolei LI ; Sijuan CHEN ; Qingqing HE
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(5):850-858
With the continuous advancement of precision medicine,robotic surgical techniques have been rapidly promoted,and robotic thyroidectomy has been increasingly applied in China,demonstrating advantages such as refined manipulation,minimal invasiveness,and improved cosmetic outcomes.Since the initiation of this procedure,our center has completed over 4 000 cases of robotic thyroidectomy,accumulating extensive practical experience and establishing a comprehensive system for surgical coordination and assistant training.An excellent surgical assistant plays a pivotal role in ensuring procedural efficiency and patient safety.Based on our center's experience,this article systematically summarizes key training elements and intraoperative coordination techniques for assistants in robotic thyroidectomy.Key areas include preoperative preparation(such as patient selection,imaging review,and assessment of non-recurrent laryngeal nerve risk)and intraoperative cooperation(including Trocar placement,instrument exchange,gauze management,and hemostasis).This paper aims to provide practical reference for surgical teams engaged in robotic thyroidectomy,promote the standardization of related techniques,enhance team coordination and surgical quality,and ultimately deliver safer and more efficient medical services to patients.
7.Application status and future prospects of proton therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma
Jiayu FAN ; Xuanni WEI ; Chenxi LI ; Zeru WANG ; Xiaoyan HUANG ; Sijuan HUANG ; Yuanyuan CHEN ; Xin YANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(9):1121-1129
Objective To conduct a comprehensive review on application status and future development prospects of proton therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma.Methods A total of 218 literatures were retrieved from PubMed and CNKI database using the search terms"pediatric medulloblastoma,proton therapy,radiotherapy"(English)and"儿童髓母细胞瘤,质子治疗,放射治疗"(Chinese),with a publication timeframe from January 1,2004,to June 1,2025.Inclusion criteria were as follow:(1)proton therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma;(2)radiotherapy for pediatric medulloblastoma;(3)proton therapy for pediatric brain tumors;(4)development and applications of proton therapy.Exclusion criteria were as follow:(1)outdated literatures;(2)redundant or highly similar studies.After screening,89 literatures met the inclusion criteria.Results Compared with conventional treatments such as surgery,photon therapy,and chemotherapy,proton therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma significantly reduced acute toxicity and long-term side effects including cognitive dysfunction,endocrine disorders,and hearing loss.Additionally,proton therapy exhibited favorable cost-effectiveness.In the future,the therapeutic outcomes would be further enhanced through the optimization of proton therapy techniques,treatment planning,and equipment.Conclusion With ongoing technological advancements and growing clinical experience,proton therapy is expected to become one of the standard treatment modalities for pediatric medulloblastoma.
8.The changes of volume and dose in adaptive re-planning during radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Sijuan HUANG ; Wenxing ZHONG ; Yuxi CHEN ; Enting LI ; Feifei LIN ; Yalan TAO ; Zhangmin LI ; Dehuan XIE ; Yong SU ; Xin YANG
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2024;33(3):197-204
Objective:To investigate the necessity of adaptive re-planning during radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and its impact on dose improvement.Methods:Clinical data of 89 NPC patients admitted to Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from July 2014 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received 25+7 rounds of adaptive re-planning during radiotherapy. Plan-A was defined as the initial CT scan-based 25-fraction radiotherapy plan, while plan-B was defined as the re-planned 7-fraction radiotherapy plan based on a subsequent CT scan. The changes in the target and parotid gland volumes were compared between plan-A and plan-B. Plan-I was a one-time simulation of plan-A extended to 32 fraction radiotherapy plan, and plan-II was generated through registration and fusion of the plan-A and plan-B for adaptive re-planning. The differences in dose metrics, homogeneity index (HI), conformity index (CI), and dose to organs at risk (OAR) were compared between plan-I and plan-II. Statistical analysis was performed by using paired t-test. Results:Compared with plan-A, the gross tumor volume of massive bleeding lesions (GTV nx) and parotid gland volume of plan-B were decreased by 13.14% and 11.12%, respectively (both P<0.001). While planning clinical target volume of metastatic lymph nodes (PCTV nd) of plan-B was increased by 7.75%( P<0.001). There were significant changes in the lymph nodes of plan-A and plan-B. The D mean, D 5%, D 95% of massive bleeding lesions planning target volume (PTV nx) and D 5% of high risk planning target volume (PTV1) in plan-II were all significantly higher than those in plan-I (all P<0.05). The CI of PTV nx and PTV1 in plan-II was closer to 1 than that in plan-I. In all assessed OAR, the D mean, D 50%, and D max of plan-II were significantly lower than those of plan-I (all P<0.05). Conclusions:During radiotherapy, NPC patients may experience varying degrees of primary tumor shrinkage, parotid gland atrophy, and lymph node changes. It is necessary to deliver re-planning and significantly improve the dose of target areas and OAR.
9.Clinical analysis of robotic bilateral modified radical neck dissection through the bilateral axillo-breast approach for thyroid carcinoma
Lanqing CHEN ; Xiaolei LI ; Dayong ZHUANG ; Peng ZHOU ; Tao YUE ; Jing XU ; Sijuan CHEN ; Chenyu LI ; Changxiu SHAO ; Qingqing HE
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2024;18(1):21-25
Objective:To research the efficacy and safety of robotic thyroidectomy and bilateral modified radical neck dissection through bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) .Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 37 patients with thyroid cancer who received bilateral modified radical neck dissection through the BABA at the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of the 960th Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army from Jan. 2014 to Jan. 2023. There were 24 females and 13 males, and the average age of the patients was (33,22±10.53) years old. The tumor diameter, number of lymph node dissection and metastasis in the central and lateral regions, average operation time, average hospital stay, complications, and aesthetic score were recorded. SPSS 25.0 software was used for statistical analysis, and the measurement data was calculated using mean ± standard deviation ( ± s), and the counting data was expressed in percentages and numbers. Results:A total of 37 thyroid cancer patients underwent robotic bilateral regional lymph node dissection. The 37 patients received total thyroidectomy, bilateral central compartment and cervical lateral regional lymph node dissection. All the pathological types were papillary carcinoma, with a maximal tumor diameter of (1.47±0.85) cm. The average number of central lymph nodes dissected was 19.46±8.84, and there were (10.24±5.95) metastases; The average number of lymph nodes removed from the bilateral cervical region was 38.92±14.21, and there were (7.92±5.84) metastases. The average operation time was (288.05±77.09) min, the average length of stay in the hospital was (10.76±3.92) days, and the average length of stay in the hospital following surgery was (8.03±2.08) days. These patients had no permanent hypoparathyroidism, permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, infection, accessory nerve injury and phrenic nerve injury after operation. Transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in 15 patients, transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in 1 patient, and chyle leak occurred in 2 patients. One month after surgery, the aesthetic score was 9.51±0.69.Two patients were found lymph node metastases during the (27.81±15.10) months of follow-up, and received robotic cervical lymph node dissection with BABA.Conclusion:For carefully chosen thyroid cancer patients with bilateral lateral cervical region lymph node metastases, robotic bilateral cervical lymph node regional dissection via BABA is safe and feasible, and good cosmetic results can be obtained.
10.Transoral robotic thyroidectomy via vestibular approach: a retrospective study of 107 cases in a single center
Xiaolei LI ; Sijuan CHEN ; Chenyu LI ; Xianjiao CAO ; Dayong ZHUANG ; Peng ZHOU ; Tao YUE ; Meng WANG ; Jian ZHU ; Qingqing HE
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2024;62(5):419-423
Objective:To investigate the short-term outcome of transoral robotic thyroidectomy.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinicopathologic characteristics and postoperative results of 107 patients who underwent transoral robotic thyroidectomies in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of the 960 th Hospital of People′s Liberation Army from May 2020 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 95 females, with an age of (31.8±9.4) years (range: 11 to 55 years), including 20 benign tumors and 87 thyroid papillary carcinoma. Postoperative follow-up was carried out through returning visit and telephone, mainly to observe the recovery of postoperative complications, cosmetic effects and recurrence results. Results:All transoral robotic thyroidectomy was successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. The tumor size of thyroid papillary carcinoma patients was (5.6±2.7) mm (range: 2 to 15 mm). Furthermore, central cervical lymph node metastasis was found in 45 cases. The number of central cervical lymph nodes retrieved and metastasized ( M(IQR)) were 11 (8) (range: 3 to 26) and 1 (3) (range: 0 to 13), respectively. There was no recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and permanent hypoparathyroidism. The transient hypoparathyroidism after surgery was 8 cases. Other complications occurred as follows: postoperative infection ( n=1), left submandibular perforation ( n=1), skin scald ( n=1), and perioral numbness ( n=1), oral tear ( n=2). The postoperative stay was 6 (2) days (range: 3 to 11 days). No local lymph node recurrence or metastasis occurred after a follow-up of (22.6±10.0) months (range: 1.0 to 37.4 months). All patients were satisfied with the postoperative cosmetic results, the aesthetic effect score was 9.3 (0.2) (range: 8.4 to 9.6) one month after surgery. Conclusion:For highly screened patients with early thyroid cancer, experienced surgeons can perform a transoral robotic thyroidectomy that has excellent cosmetic results.

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