This is a prospective case-control study to assess nutritional supplementation in limiting @entity353 and its impact on daily set-up variations and planning target volume ( @entity343 ) margins in head and neck (H_N) radiotherapy (RT). Twenty sequential H_N @entity1 were recruited for this study. Ten @entity1 had a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy ( @entity970 ) tube inserted prior to RT and 10 did not. @entity970 use was determined by departmental guidelines for @entity1 considered at high risk for @entity353 . Daily 2D electronic portal images were taken for orthogonal verification. Set-up variations were determined for both @entity970 and non- @entity970 @entity1 by calculating systematic (Sigma) and random (sigma) errors, and @entity343 margins were derived. @entity970 @entity1 lost less weight (P = 0.04) over the course of RT and had a reduction in set-up variation in the superior-inferior (SI) and anterior-posterior (AP) planes compared to those without. Mean correctional shifts in mm (range) for @entity970 @entity1 were: Right-Left (RL) 0.1 (-1.9-2.1), SI -1.7 (-2.9-0.0), AP -0.4 (-2.0-0.8), and for non- @entity970 @entity1 were: RL -0.2 (-2.7-1.3), SI -1.3 (-3.1-1.0), AP 0.4 (-1.5-2.8). The adapted @entity343 margins (mm) in the RL, SI and AP planes, respectively, for @entity970 @entity1 were 4.1, 3.3 and 3.6, and for non- @entity970 were 3.9, 4.9 and 4.8. Intensive enteral support maintained weight stability in H_N @entity1 considered at risk of @entity353 during RT and this was associated with reduced set-up variation.

The effect of an intensive nutritional program on daily set-up variations and radiotherapy planning margins of head and neck cancer XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity970 :: ('CHEBI:46793', 'Chemical') :: ['PEG'] @entity343 :: ('187978', 'Species') :: ['PTV'] @entity353 :: ('MESH:D015431', 'Disease') :: ['weight loss']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
