Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41376676›Full record

ArticleTechnical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology2025

Assessment of upright immobilization methods for abdominal and head-and-neck cancer treatments in a carbon ion radiotherapy setting.

Maria Varnava, Motohiro Kawashima, Akihiko Matsumura, Yoshiaki Oohashi, Makoto Miyazawa, Junichi Koya, Naoto Yamaguchi, Tomoaki Ogano, Mutsumi Tashiro, Tatsuya Ohno

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Maria VarnavaGunma University Heavy Ion Medical Center, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.
Motohiro KawashimaGunma University Heavy Ion Medical Center, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.
Akihiko MatsumuraGunma University Heavy Ion Medical Center, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.
Yoshiaki OohashiDepartment of Radiology, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.
Makoto MiyazawaDepartment of Radiology, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.
Junichi KoyaDepartment of Radiology, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.
Naoto YamaguchiDepartment of Radiology, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.
Tomoaki OganoDepartment of Radiology, Gunma University Hospital, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.
Mutsumi TashiroGunma University Heavy Ion Medical Center, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.
Tatsuya OhnoGunma University Heavy Ion Medical Center, 3-39-22 Showamachi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511 Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Upright patient positioning is an emerging approach in radiotherapy that may overcome current limitations in carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT). This study evaluated upright immobilization techniques for abdominal and head-and-neck (HN) cancers in a CIRT setting. Materials and Methods: Ten volunteers were positioned on the Chair, a demo upright positioning system (Leo Cancer Care, USA). Three setups were evaluated: no immobilization devices, vacuum bags alone (ESFORM; Engineering System Co., Japan), and vacuum bags with a thermoplastic shell (Shellfitter; Kuraray Trading Co., Japan), called the "shell" setup. Interfractional and intrafractional errors were assessed using skin markers drawn on the abdominal and HN areas. Interfractional shifts per direction and Euclidean distances were calculated by comparing reference and repeated images. Intrafractional shifts per direction and Euclidean distances were calculated from images acquired over a 15-min period. Also, volunteers rated their comfort for each setup on a scale of 1-5. Differences in the interfractional and intrafractional motion, and comfort ratings between the three setups were investigated. Results: Significant differences ( Conclusion: Upright positioning in CIRT appears feasible. Further research is needed to refine immobilization techniques to support clinical implementation of upright positioning in CIRT.

Indexed as

Carbon ion radiotherapyInterfractional motionIntrafractional motionPatient immobilizationUpright patient positioning

Identifiers

PMID41376676
PMCPMC12686792

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.