[Adequate performance of a pectoral implanted defibrillator after high-dose radiation therapy for thyroid cancer].

The interference of implanted defibrillators (ICD) from electronic appliances is small. There is scant knowledge about the effects of radiation therapy on defibrillator function. Existing data commonly derive from in vitro tests of the devices.

[Treatment of stage IIIB loco-regionally advanced non-small-cell bronchial carcinomas with radiation and interferon-beta. Preliminary results of a phase II study].

Background: In-vitro and in-vivo studies demonstrated the radiosensitizing effect of interferon beta on malignant tumor tissue as well as simultaneously a radioprotective effect on normal lung tissue. In this phase II study the outcome of combining radiotherapy with interferon beta in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer was evaluated.

Patients And Method: From February 1994 until November 1996 14 patients with non-small cell lung cancer, stage IIIB were treated with locoregional radiation up to 59.

[Possibilities and limits of radiotherapy in the treatment of pelvic tumors in childhood].

1. The most frequently occurring malignant tumours of the pelvis in childhood are germ cell tumours, soft-tissue sarcomas and osseous sarcomas. 2.

Radiation myelopathy of the mouse spinal cord--isoeffect correlations after fractionated radiation.

A one cm long segment of the lower thoracic upper lumbar spinal cord of mice was irradiated using one, two, three, five, seven, ten, 15, 20 and 25 daily fractions. The animals were checked for paraparesis of the hind legs over their entire life span up to two years. The ED 50-values for radiation myelopathy for intervals of 250 up to 550 days were calculated.

[Results of combination treatment of medulloblastoma at the Charlottenburg Hospital of the Berlin Free University (1951 to 1980)].

Between 1951 and 1980 34 patients, mainly children, were treated for medulloblastoma in Klinikum Charlottenburg of the Free University of Berlin. Between 1951 and 1970 in 14 patients only the posterior fossa was irradiated (group A), between 1971 and 1976 the whole CNS was irradiated with varying techniques in eight patients while between 1976 and 1980 the whole CNS was radiated in a new standardized fashion in twelve patients (group C). Since 1972 16 of the 20 patients of groups B and C were treated by additional chemotherapy, which in six cases was given postoperatively prior to radiation.

Cranial computed tomography of 64 children in continuous complete remission of leukemia I: relations to therapy in modalities.

64 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non Hodgkin's lymphoma in continuous complete remission were studied by cranial computed tomography two months to 7 years after cessation of antileukemic treatment. 17 (27%) patients showed abnormal widening (grade 2) of external cerebrospinal fluid spaces, 20 (31%) minimal widening (grade 1). A significant correlation between grade 2 abnormalities and the duration of maintenance therapy and single cranial radiation dose was found, whereas the correlations with total radiation dose and with intensity of induction protocols were not significant.

Cranial computed tomography of 64 children in continuous complete remission of leukemia II: relations to patient data and neurological complications.

Abnormal widening of cortical sulci as seen in posttherapeutic cranial computed tomography (CCT) of 64 children in complete continuous remission (CCR) of acute lymphoblastic leucemia (ALL)/non Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) was related to patient data and neurological complications during the application of West Berlin treatment protocol. Age and neurological/neurodevelopmental findings of the patients at diagnosis of their disease positively and significantly correlated with CCT abnormalities. Abnormal pre- and intratherapeutic electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, the development of a severe polyneuropathy syndrome and/or a considerable loss of weight during treatment were frequently associated with an abnormal widening of cortical sulci.

Effective radiotherapy in one case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

A case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is presented where radiotherapy had been part of the management of multiple recurrent lesions. Over a course of 46 years, complete response occurred in 2 out of 3 lesions after medium-and high-dose radiation therapy and in 1 out of 5 lesions after interstitial therapy. Regression of the lesions took several months.

[Medulloblastoma study of the German Society for Pediatric Oncology, a first report].

The principle of giving intensive polychemotherapy in the time between operation and irradiation was applied in a cooperative phase-2-study in children with medulloblastoma of the posterior fossa. A first evaluation of 33 of 47 registered patients was attempted after the study existing now for 1 year and 10 months. In the majority of patients the chemotherapy protocol could be fully realized without any deductions.

Prognostic factors in pyriform sinus carcinoma.

In the 48-month survival analysis of 76 evaluable pyriform sinus carcinoma cases, nodal stage and size played the most significant prognosis-affecting roles. N3 stage and node greater than 3 cm decreased the survival fourfold and threefold, respectively, at statistically significant levels. The difference between the 35 per cent preoperative radiation therapy and 3 per cent radical radiation therapy cumulative 48-mouth survivals was significant at p less than 0.

Radiation therapy of malignant melanoma: experience with high individual treatment doses.

Reports of the existence of a large shoulder on the radiation survival curve of cultured mouse and human malignant melanoma cells prompted a clinical trial of radiation therapy using high individual-dose-fractionation schedules. Typically, individual doses of larger than or equal to 600 rads were delivered once or twice weekly. The most clear-cut effect was against skin metastases.