Randomised clinical trial: preventive treatment with topical rectal beclomethasone dipropionate reduces post-radiation risk of bleeding in patients irradiated for prostate cancer.

Background: Radiotherapy is an established treatment modality for prostate cancer; however, up to a third of patients develops a radiation-induced proctopathy.

Aim: To assess the effect of topical beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) in the prevention of radiation-induced proctopathy in patients undergoing radiotherapy for prostate cancer through a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial.

Methods: Patients were randomised either to BDP or to placebo (PL).

Clinical and histological characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: results of a retrospective study in 243 patients.

Context: The recognition of thyroid microcarcinoma has increased due to the widespread use of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe histological and clinical characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) less than or equal to 1 cm.

Design: This study was a retrospective cohort.

Italian survey in postoperative radiation therapy for prostate carcinoma by the AIRO National Working Group on Prostate Radiotherapy: definitive results.

Aims And Background: The National Working Group on Prostate Radiotherapy of AIRO (Associazione Italiana Radioterapia Oncologica, Italian Association of Radiotherapeutic Oncology) was established in March 2001. A retrospective multi-center survey was performed to analyze the patterns of care for prostate cancer patients treated with postoperative radiotherapy following radical prostatectomy in Italy with regard to the year 2000.

Materials And Methods: A structured questionnaire was mailed to 47 Italian radiotherapy centers to assess patient accrual in the postoperative setting in the interval comprised between period January-December 2000.

Clinical value of different responses of serum thyroglobulin to recombinant human thyrotropin in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

In the present study we examined the clinical value of a differential response of thyroglobulin (Tg) concentration after recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) stimulation (rhTSH Tg testing) and its correlation with (131)I uptake and whole-body scanning (rhTSH-WBS) in 104 patients who had previously undergone near-total thyroidectomy and (131)I ablation for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). rhTSH Tg testing was considered negative for rhTSH-Tg less than 0.9 ng/mL, low positive for rhTSH-Tg of 1-5 ng/mL and high positive for rhTSHTg greater than 5 ng/mL.

Clinical value of different responses of serum thyroglobulin to recombinant human thyrotropin in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

In the present study, we examined the clinical value of a differential response of thyroglobulin (Tg) concentration after recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) stimulation (rhTSH Tg testing) and its correlation with (131)I uptake and whole body scanning (rhTSH-WBS) in 104 patients who had previously undergone near total thyroidectomy and (131)I ablation for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). RhTSH Tg testing was considered negative for rhTSH-Tg < 0.9 ng/mL, low positive for rhTSH-Tg of 1-5 ng/mL and high positive for rhTSHTg > 5 ng/mL.