[Clinical guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of patients with non-invasive breast cancer].

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. Early diagnosis and more effective treatment of invasive breast cancer resulted in significant mortality reduction, improvement of survival and the quality of life of the patients. The management od non-invasive breast cancer, on the contrary, is still controversial and the problem of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of patients come to evidence.

Tamoxifen in trimodal therapy with cytotoxic drugs and hyperthermia in vivo significantly enhance therapeutic efficacy against B16-F10 melanoma.

Aims And Background: The aim of the study was to investigate whether use of the antiestrogen tamoxifen and heat treatment in combined therapy with the well-known anticancer drugs cisplatin, dacarbazine and cyclophosphamide enhances their therapeutic efficacy on mouse B16-F10 melanoma in vivo. The results of systemic melanoma therapy have been mostly disappointing. Therefore, there is still a great need for strategies that can improve existing chemotherapy options.

Ureteral metastasis as the first and sole manifestation of gastric cancer dissemination.

Background: Isolated ureteral metastasis from gastric cancer is extremely rare.

Case Report: We describe a 50 year old man with a history of subtotal gastrectomy who presented 4 years later with an ureteral metastasis. He was asymptomatic and diagnostic tests were performed due to the elevated creatinine level disclosed incidentally.

[Side effects of radiotherapy in oral cavity: diagnosis, prevention and treatment guidelines].

To avoid, or at least to reduce complications in patients who require head and neck radiotherapy, adequate oral cavity treatment is necessary before the therapy. Recent management guidelines speak of possibilities of preventing osteoradionecrosis with hyperbaric oxygen, using long-wave ultrasound in stimulating osteoblasts growth, and surgical transfer of submandibular salivary glands to submental area with 99% effectiveness in preventing xerostomia, besides traditional therapy. Preventive measures are naturally the best choice, since late complications treatment is not needed as often, and should draw special attention of physicians and patients.

Treatment of cancer-related anemia.

Anemia with consequent tissue hypoxia is common problem in cancer patients. Developed via various patophysiological mechanisms, it has deleterious effect on quality of life and survival of patients with cancer. Recognition of symptoms and timely initiation of treatment improve patients' quality of life, as well as efficacy of oncological treatment.

Erdheim-Chester disease and concomitant tuberculosis successfully treated with chemotherapy and long-term steroids.

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare histiocytosis usually affecting the skeletal system, but visceral organs and central nervous system involvement are common as well. Probability exists that immunomodulatory therapies and disorders can play a role in clinical course of the disease. Because of rarity of the disorder, it is hard to classify it and standardize the treatment options, but, according to published material and our experience, cytotoxic chemotherapy and long-term steroids have therapeutic benefit.

Possible prognostic significance of p53 and Ki 67 in inverted sinonasal papilloma.

The aim of this study is to test the possible prognostic significance of p53 and Ki67 expression in inverted papilloma of the lateral nasal wall and adjacent sinuses regarding their malignant potential and recurrence. 49 biopsies of the lateral nasal wall and adjacent sinuses obtained from 41 patients from three hospitals were investigated. Immunohistochemically demonstrated p53 and Ki67 expression was measured and statistically evaluated.

Photodynamic therapy with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(m-hydroxyphenyl) bacteriochlorin for colorectal liver metastases is safe and feasible: results from a phase I study.

Background: The prognosis for patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma is limited because of the low number of patients who are eligible for curative hepatic resection. In this phase I study, 31 liver metastases in 24 patients with nonresectable metastases from colorectal carcinoma were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Methods: The photosensitizer 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(m-hydroxyphenyl)bacteriochlorin (mTHPBC) was intravenously administered in a dose of .

A multicenter Phase I safety study of intratumoral photoactivation of talaporfin sodium in patients with refractory solid tumors.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) currently is approved for the palliative treatment of malignancies of the aerodigestive tract using laser-activated porfimer sodium. A new approach has been developed, based on intratumoral placement of a nonlaser light device that activates talaporfin sodium, that may expand the use of PDT to include a broader range of treatment-resistant malignancies. The safety of this approach was assessed in a Phase I study in patients with locally advanced, refractory tumors.

Inertia of endocrine systems due to hormone binding to circulatory proteins.

It is often presumed that the main role of hormone binding to albumins and binding proteins (BPs) is to reduce oscillating levels of free hormone molecules and to transport steroid hormones. This paper is an attempt to define possible consequences of hormone molecules binding to carrier proteins in circulation. Binding to albumins and BPs prevents exact and quick control of hormone actions.

Total skin electron treatment of extensive cutaneous lesions in Kaposi sarcoma.

We report on a 62-year-old HIV-negative male patient with Kaposi sarcoma. After 8 years of treatment of smaller localized skin lesions with surgery and local radiotherapy, the patient developed extensive lesions of the whole skin. The extent of the lesions required the administration of the total skin electron therapy (TSET).

Pilocarpine in the prevention of postirradiation xerostomia.

During radiation therapy to the head and neck region, salivary gland hypofunction commonly develops. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether the sialogogue pilocarpine given during radiation therapy may reduce the severity of xerostomia and salivary dysfunction. Our results showed the pilocarpine-treated group to have a lower frequency of oral symptoms during the treatment than the placebo-treated group.

The Zagreb method of partial laryngectomy: a retrospective study 1970-1986.

The Zagreb method of partial laryngectomy is an original method of laryngeal reconstruction following tumor extirpation using the sternohyoid muscle fascia. This material is distant from the immediate tumor site, resistant to infection, saliva and shrivelling, thus being very appropriate for covering major laryngeal defects. Statistical data analysis included clinical records from 1970, when the method was introduced at ENT Department, Zagreb School of Medicine, till 1986.

Nasal polyps in children.

During the 1980-1995 period, 957 patients were admitted for nasal polyposis, 59 (6.2%) of them children. Results were analyzed with respect to localization of the polyps, allergy, histologic picture, bacteriologic tests, radiologic findings of paranasal sinuses, cytology of nasal mucosa, therapeutic approach, and tendency to relapse.

Endothelin-secreting tumors and the idea of the pseudoectopic hormone secretion in tumors.

Ectopic hormone secretion in tumor cells is here described as an amplification of hormone production already present in normal, nonendocrine tumor-originated tissue. This idea is tested on the available data regarding endothelin-1 (ET-1) secreting tumors. The endothelins are ubiquitous regulatory peptides produced by various tissues.

A contribution to the etiopathogenesis of nasal polyps.

The first author studied nasal polyposis from the epidemiological, clinical, immunologic and histologic points of view. Based on the year-long studies, the authors have isolated three issue of common interest to rhinologists since ancient times, i.e.

Histology of nasal polyps in various conditions.

At the Salata ENT Department in Zagreb, 28 patients with nasal polyps were examined in the 1992-1993 period. Results of histologic analysis of these nasal polyps are presented. In 10 cases, nasal polyps were histologically examined at three horizontal levels, and the rest by vertical section.

Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal cancer (UCNT): current diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.

Undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx (UCNT) is a particular head and neck epidermoid lineage tumor related to the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). It has geographically selective endemic epidemiologic features, without relation to external carcinogens. Its systemic agressiveness is the source of most disease-related demises, because radiotherapy achieves excellent local control and a significant percentage of cure in patients with exclusive locoregional disease.

A history of development of otorhinolaryngology in Croatia.

The author gives a brief survey of the development of otorhinolaryngology as an independent surgical specialization. The clinics on Salata and Vinogradska Street have had an important role in the development of the profession and research within the field. They have given training to new specialists and reached the present level in the development of the profession.