title: Second place Alpha Cradle Award winner. Medulloblastoma immobilization and treatment considerations.
abstract: Medulloblastoma is the most common type of primary intracranial tumor in children. It is a highly malignant and radiosensitive tumor. National treatment protocols outline a very specific simulation procedure with detailed dosimetry to guarantee dose homogeneity. Actual treatment geometry is directly dependent on the reproducibility of patient position. The SMP Alpha Cradle system affords just the precise immobilization needed for daily treatment field reproducibility. A step by step outline of the Alpha Cradle fabrication process is included here; accompanied with diagrams and photographs of our suggested modifications for immobilization of the medulloblastoma patient in the reverse cradle application position.
authors.affiliation: Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Camden, NJ 08103.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Holst
mesh_terms: D001363:Awards and Prizes; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011187:Posture; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
chemical_list: D011137:Polystyrenes; C024075:styrofoam