[CT-assisted needle biopsy in pulmonary and mediastinal space-occupying lesions. The effect of spiral CT and various biopsy needles on results].

The efficacy of percutaneous CT-guided needle biopsies was investigated in 68 patients with pulmonary lesions and in 65 patients with mediastinal masses. In comparison with conventional multisectional CT, the time needed for the localization of the needle tip could be reduced by use of spiral CT. Comparing aspiration and cutting biopsy needle we achieved a higher accuracy of 94% in case of mediastinal masses and of 90% by using cutting needles.

[Computed tomography of renal cell carcinoma].

The value of computed tomography in the diagnosis and monitoring of renal carcinoma is reviewed on the basis of personal experience with 405 patients and a comparison with the literature. CT is of high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of small renal carcinomas as well in differential diagnosis and may remain the favored imaging method in this field. In local pretherapeutic tumor staging, CT, particularly dynamic studies, has achieved an accuracy of more than 90%.

Phase II study of pirarubicin (THP-adriamycin) in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Fourteen patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with one chemotherapy regimen received Pirarubicin at a dose of 70 mg/m2 at 3-week intervals. In 7 patients the dose had to be reduced, in 1 patient to 40 mg/m2 and in 6 patients to 50-60 mg/m2. There were 1 complete and 2 partial remissions.

Modern development of imaging procedures in oncology.

From the oncologic point of view, imaging diagnostic techniques have been and will be of steadily increasing significance. This paper gives a survey of the present state of the art and of various aspects of current international trends in X-ray diagnostics, computed tomography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance. High tech developments raise the expenditures, so that the cost-benefit-relations have to be considered in future diagnostic strategies.