Preoperative simultaneous fractionated cisplatin and radiation therapy in the treatment of advanced operable stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background: In Stage III/IV head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, multidisciplinary treatment is not standardized. This study evaluated preoperative simultaneous radiation therapy and Cisplatin 20 mg/M(2)/4 days during weeks 1, 4, and 7 of irradiation (CTRT).

Methods: Records of 143 CTRT and 48 patients treated with other surgery/radiation/chemotherapy regimens (CONTROL) were reviewed.

Ehrlichiosis with pancytopenia and ARDS.

As illustrated by the case described in this report, the possibility of ehrlichiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sulfasalazine toxicity/drug fever and other febrile illnesses presenting with pancytopenia/leukopenia and pulmonary abnormalities, when patients have been exposed to known tick-infested areas. Furthermore, the possibility of delayed serologic confirmation of Ehrlichia infection should be integrated into the diagnostic process as well.