[The value of magnetic resonance tomography (MRI) with reference to economic aspects of radiotherapy planning of vertebral metastases. A cost benefit analysis].

Is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based target volume definition for treatment planning of vertebral metastasis effective under economic considerations. From 1994 to 1999, a total of 137 patients with bone metastases affecting the vertebral column underwent MRI of the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine for the treatment planning of palliative radiation therapy. The following radiation treatment consisted in a irradiation of the affected vertebral region up to a total dose of 30-40 Gy.

[Hyperfractionated irradiation of esophageal cancer. Initial results of a pilot study].

A group of 21 patients with esophagus carcinomas was submitted to hyperfractionated irradiation with a total reference dose of 65 Gy, applied in 50 fractions over five weeks. Generally, the irradiation was well tolerated. About 49% of the patients are alive one year later.

[Treatment of radiation pneumonitis with curative intent--a review].

Therapeutic assays with medicaments intended for the healing of radiopneumonitis have a long tradition. Numerous medicaments have been assayed in men and animals during the last thirty years without having reached any lasting positive results. In the end, the fibrotic stage of this radiogenic side effect has always been refractory.

[Hyperfractionated irradiation of bronchial cancer. Results of a pilot study].

The results achieved during recent years in experimental radiotherapy of malignant tumors show more and more the benefit provided by the small individual doses applied in fractionated irradiation. The effects and side effects of a hyperfractionated therapy of the bronchial carcinoma were investigated in a not randomized comparative study. The data of 100 patients were available for evaluation; they showed a tendency to local superiority of hyperfractionated irradiation.

[Chest wall moulages for radiotherapy of resected breast cancer with fast electrons: comparative tests of different materials].

Irradiation of the thoracic wall with high-speed electrons is one of the standard methods of prophylaxis and therapy of local recurrences and cutaneous metastases of an operated mammary carcinoma. The surface dose, however, is only 85% of the maximum dose, due to the depth dose curve of the electron beams with the preponderantly applied energy of 7MeV. This is a poor value, since most of all recurrences appear near to the surface and so the risk of giving an insufficient dose is involved.