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Anna E Rodrigues

Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
Radiation Oncology
Duke South Clinics, Box 3295 DUMC, Durham, NC 27710

Selected Publications


Long-term risk of carotid stenosis and cerebrovascular disease after radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

Conference Cancer · January 1, 2025 BACKGROUND: Recipients of radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) are at significantly increased risk for carotid artery stenosis (CAS) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). We sought to determine (1) cumulative incidences of CAS and CVD among H ... Full text Link to item Cite

Evaluation of cumulative dose distributions from external beam radiation therapy using CT-to-CBCT deformable image registration (DIR) for cervical cancer patients.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · January 2025 PURPOSE: To investigate dose differences between the planning CT (pCT) and dose calculated on pre-treatment verification CBCTs using DIR and dose summation for cervical cancer patients. METHODS: Cervical cancer patients treated at our institution with 45 G ... Full text Link to item Cite

Quantification of the environmental impact of radiotherapy and associated secondary human health effects: a multi-institutional retrospective analysis and simulation.

Journal Article Lancet Oncol · June 2024 BACKGROUND: The health-care industry is a substantial contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, yet the specific environmental impact of radiotherapy, a cornerstone of cancer treatment, remains under-explored. We aimed to quantify the emissions assoc ... Full text Link to item Cite

Introduction to concept inventories for medical physics education

Journal Article Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics · October 1, 2023 Concept inventories are multiple choice exams designed with the intention to test core concepts on specific subjects and evaluate common misconceptions. These tests serve as a useful tool in the classroom to assess value added by the instructor's education ... Full text Cite

Virtual interviewing in the MedPhys match: Experiences of applicants and programs.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · June 2023 PURPOSE: The purpose of this survey study is to compare the experiences of programs and applicants in the MedPhys Match (MPM) in the 2020-21 match cycle with experiences reported from previous match cycles. The 2020-21 match cycle was unique in that recrui ... Full text Link to item Cite

Transitioning from a COMS-based plaque brachytherapy program to using eye physics plaques and plaque simulator treatment planning system: A single institutional experience.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · May 2023 The aim of this work is to describe the implementation and commissioning of a plaque brachytherapy program using Eye Physics eye plaques and Plaque Simulator treatment planning system based on the experience of one institution with an established COMS-base ... Full text Link to item Cite

Estimating Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Direct Power Consumption of Linear Accelerator-Based External Beam Radiation Therapy.

Journal Article Adv Radiat Oncol · 2023 PURPOSE: Climate change is one of the direst health threats that humanity faces. We aim to estimate the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with the energy usage from linear accelerator (LINAC)-based external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for the mos ... Full text Link to item Cite

Adaptive Positron Emission Tomography Radiation Therapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Vulvar Cancer: A Prospective Study.

Journal Article Adv Radiat Oncol · 2023 PURPOSE: In this prospective trial, we aim to determine whether fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT)-based adaptive radiation therapy (ART) improves dosimetry outcomes for patients treated with definitive radiati ... Full text Link to item Cite

Training for the future: Introducing foundational skills necessary to promote patient-centered care practice in medical physics graduate programs

Journal Article Technical Innovations and Patient Support in Radiation Oncology · December 1, 2022 Current medical physics graduate training in the United States seldom explicitly includes education on foundational skills necessary to produce Patient-Centered Care (PCC)-focused healthcare providers. Such abilities include effective communication, critic ... Full text Cite

The MedPhys match survey: Search criteria and advice for programs and applicants.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · May 2021 PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to gauge the experiences of applicants and program directors (PDs) in the Medical Physics (MedPhys) Match (MPM) and to determine the most important characteristics and factors that influence decision-making for applic ... Full text Link to item Cite

Establishing ADC-Based Histogram and Texture Features for Early Treatment-Induced Changes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Journal Article Front Oncol · 2021 The purpose of this study was to assess baseline variability in histogram and texture features derived from apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps from diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) examinations and to identify early treatment-induced changes to these ... Full text Link to item Cite

Outcomes in Patients With 4 to 10 Brain Metastases Treated With Dose-Adapted Single-Isocenter Multitarget Stereotactic Radiosurgery: A Prospective Study.

Journal Article Adv Radiat Oncol · 2021 PURPOSE: To examine the effectiveness and safety of single-isocenter multitarget stereotactic radiosurgery using a volume-adapted dosing strategy in patients with 4 to 10 brain metastases. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Adult patients with 4 to 10 brain metastases ... Full text Link to item Cite

Single dose partial breast irradiation using an MRI linear accelerator in the supine and prone treatment position.

Journal Article Clin Transl Radiat Oncol · January 2019 BACKGROUND: In selected patients with early-stage and low-risk breast cancer, an MRI-linac based treatment might enable a radiosurgical, non-invasive alternative for current standard breast conserving therapy. AIM: To investigate whether single dose accele ... Full text Link to item Cite

The risk of carotid stenosis in head and neck cancer patients after radiation therapy.

Journal Article Oral Oncol · May 2018 OBJECTIVES: Head and neck radiotherapy (RT) is a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. We performed a retrospective cohort study to evaluate carotid artery stenosis (CAS) incidence in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients undergoing RT, characterizing ass ... Full text Link to item Cite

Treatment constraints for single dose external beam preoperative partial breast irradiation in early-stage breast cancer.

Journal Article Clin Transl Radiat Oncol · October 2017 BACKGROUND: Following breast-conserving surgery and post-operative 3D-conformal accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), suboptimal cosmetic results have been reported. Preoperative radiation delivery to the intact tumor enables better target visuali ... Full text Link to item Cite

Ethical violations and discriminatory behavior in the MedPhys Match.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · September 2017 PURPOSE: The purpose of this survey study is to investigate behaviors in conflict with the ethical standards of the Medical Physics Residency (MedPhys) Match (MPM) process as stated in the MPM rules (a) and with the nondiscrimination regulations of the Equ ... Full text Link to item Cite

A Monte Carlo simulation framework for electron beam dose calculations using Varian phase space files for TrueBeam Linacs.

Journal Article Med Phys · May 2015 PURPOSE: To develop a framework for accurate electron Monte Carlo dose calculation. In this study, comprehensive validations of vendor provided electron beam phase space files for Varian TrueBeam Linacs against measurement data are presented. METHODS: In t ... Full text Link to item Cite

Impact of dose calculation accuracy during optimization on lung IMRT plan quality.

Journal Article J Appl Clin Med Phys · January 8, 2015 The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dose calculation accuracy and the use of an intermediate dose calculation step during the optimization of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) planning on the final plan quality for lung cance ... Full text Link to item Cite

Quality assurance for online adapted treatment plans: benchmarking and delivery monitoring simulation.

Journal Article Med Phys · January 2015 PURPOSE: An important challenge facing online adaptive radiation therapy is the development of feasible and efficient quality assurance (QA). This project aimed to validate the deliverability of online adapted plans and develop a proof-of-concept online de ... Full text Link to item Cite

Europium- and lithium-doped yttrium oxide nanocrystals that provide a linear emissive response with X-ray radiation exposure.

Journal Article Nanoscale · May 21, 2014 Eu- and Li-doped yttrium oxide nanocrystals [Y2-xO3; Eux, Liy], in which Eu and Li dopant ion concentrations were systematically varied, were developed and characterized (TEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopic, UV-excited lifetime, and ICP-AES data) in order to def ... Full text Link to item Cite

Dynamic electron arc radiotherapy (DEAR): a feasibility study.

Journal Article Phys Med Biol · January 20, 2014 Compared to other radiation therapy modalities, clinical electron beam therapy has remained practically unchanged for the past few decades even though electron beams with multiple energies are widely available on most linacs. In this paper, we present the ... Full text Link to item Cite

A novel technique for VMAT QA with EPID in cine mode on a Varian TrueBeam linac.

Journal Article Phys Med Biol · October 7, 2013 Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a relatively new treatment modality for dynamic photon radiation therapy. Pre-treatment quality assurance (QA) is necessary and many efforts have been made to apply electronic portal imaging device (EPID)-based IM ... Full text Link to item Cite

WE-G-108-08: A Novel Technique for VMAT QA with EPID in Cine Mode On Varian TrueBeam.

Conference Med Phys · June 2013 PURPOSE: Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a relatively new treatment modality for dynamic photon radiation therapy. Pre-treatment quality assurance (QA) is necessary and many efforts have been taken to apply electronic portal imaging device (EPID ... Full text Link to item Cite

SU-E-T-553: Measurement of Incident Electron Spots On TrueBeam.

Conference Med Phys · June 2013 PURPOSE: Lateral dimensions of the incident electron beam (spot sizes) are essential for accurate modelling of x-ray fields, especially for small field output factors and penumbrae. We present spot sizes measured on the Varian TrueBeam linac and propose an ... Full text Link to item Cite

SU-E-T-602: Dynamic Electron Arc Radiotherapy (DEAR): A Planning Study.

Conference Med Phys · June 2013 PURPOSE: Electron beam therapy is under-utilized in radiation treatment of cancer and has remained practically unchanged for decades. We propose a new technique, Dynamic Electron Arc Radiotherapy (DEAR) with synchronized couch motion. In DEAR, gantry rotat ... Full text Link to item Cite

TU‐E‐108‐02: Dynamic Electron Arc Radiotherapy (DEAR): A Feasibility Study

Conference Medical Physics · January 1, 2013 Purpose: Electron beam therapy is under‐utilized in radiation treatment of cancer and has remained practically unchanged for decades. We propose a new technique, Dynamic Electron Arc Radiotherapy (DEAR) with synchronized couch motion. DEAR utilizes modulat ... Full text Cite

SU-E-T-275: Dose Verification in a Small Animal Image-Guided Radiation Therapy X-Ray Machine: A Dose Comparison between TG-61 Based Look-Up Table and MOSFET Method for Various Collimator Sizes.

Journal Article Med Phys · June 2012 PURPOSE: To verify the accuracy of TG-61 based dosimetry with MOSFET technology using a tissue-equivalent mouse phantom. METHODS: Accuracy of mouse dose between a TG-61 based look-up table was verified with MOSFET technology. The look-up table followed a T ... Full text Link to item Cite

Introductory Patient Communication Curriculum for Medical Physics Graduate Students: Multi-Institutional Experience

Conference Purpose: Effective communication is the cornerstone of patient-centered care. Early exposure to these skills allows for ample practice, which is ideal for their development. As medical physicists become more front-facing healthcare providers, the importanc ... Link to item Cite