Breast cancer in elderly women: presentation, survival, and treatment options.

Recent data suggest that breast cancer in elderly women does not present as more advanced disease, nor is survival significantly inferior to that in younger women. Unfortunately, until recently, older women have been excluded from clinical trials that have determined survival benefit in both screening and treatment modalities. Unless co-morbid conditions adversely affect one's life expectancy or tolerance to therapy, older women should be treated with standard surgical procedures (including breast conservation, if so desired) for early-stage disease, as outcome is comparable to that in younger patients.

Spinal cord compression secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis: a noninvasive management based on MRI.

We report the first case of spinal cord compression secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis in which the diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Based on the great advantage of this imaging test that visualizes the entire spine, the noninvasive approach to such patients, using low-dose radiation therapy and guided by MRI is discussed. This management appears to be both efficacious and safe.

Comparison of contralateral breast doses from 1/2 beam block and isocentric treatment techniques for patients treated with primary breast irradiation with 60CO.

The risk of carcinogenesis in breast tissue subject to low to moderate radiation doses may be of concern to the clinical radiotherapist. With earlier diagnosis, more women, and especially younger women, are electing breast preservation radiation therapy. During therapy, tissue outside the treatment field is exposed to leakage and scattered radiation.