Today, the arsenal of "high-precision" or "targeted" radiotherapy includes a variety of techniques and approaches that, like the pieces of a puzzle, need to be put together to provide the prostate cancer patient with high-level optimized radiation treatment. This book examines in detail the role of these innovative radiation techniques in the management of prostate cancer. In addition, a variety of current controversies regarding treatment are carefully explored, including whether prophylactic treatment of the pelvic lymphatics is essential, the magnitude of the effect of dose escalation, whether a benefit accrues from hypofractionation, and what evidence exists for the superiority of protons or heavy ions. Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer: Innovative Techniques and Current Controversies is intended for both radiation oncologists and urologists with an interest in the up-to-date capabilities of modern radiation oncology for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Imaging, delineation and immobilization: MRI and MR-spectroscopy

PET imaging in prostate cancer
Phase contrast X-ray imaging- next generation CT imaging
Organ contouring for IMRT
General aspects of patient immobilization
Internal immobilization: From rectal balloon to hyaluronic acid
Clinical endpoints: Biochemical recurrence- a valuable endpoint?
Overall and disease-free survival - too long to wait?
Late toxicity - current scoring concepts
Quality of life: Assessment and Correlates
Dose escalation and new radiation techniques: Dose escalation - an update on randomized clinical trials
IMRT for prostate cancer
IGRT- how and when
Tracking in prostate cancer
Locally advanced disease: Techniques of pelvic lymphatic irradiation
Prophylactic treatment of the pelvic lymphatics: pro
Prophylactic treatment of the pelvic lymphatics: contra
Hormonal therapy and radiation therapy - randomized and prospective trials
Treatment of clinically involved lymph nodes
Hypofractionation: Hypofractionation in prostate cancer- biological aspects
Hypofractionation: Clinical data
Simultaneous integrated boost techniques
Brachytherapy: Principals of 3D, highly conformal brachytherapy
Seed implantation
HDR brachytherapy
Adjuvant treatment and salvage treatment: Target volume definition in postoperative radiotherapy
Randomized trials for adjuvant radiotherapy
Salvage radiotherapy after radical prostatectomy
Salvage prostatectomy after radiotherapy
Use of protons and heavy ions: Proton therapy for prostate cancer: technological and clinical aspects
There is evidence for the superiority of protons or heavy ions, pro
There is evidence for the superiority of protons or heavy ions, contra.