Assessing the radiation contamination of large areas using advanced technologies.

Military, disaster management and in many cases civilian tasks include surveying of a given section of terrain that is likely to be contaminated with radioactive materials. Such a measurement series can form the basis for the complete recultivation and decontamination of large areas. This survey can take place after an emergency situation.

Total body irradiation before bone marrow transplantation. Technique and acute toxicity.

Purpose: To evaluate the total body irradiation methods in the National Institute of Oncology between January 1984 and February 1998.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and twenty-four patients underwent total body irradiation prior to bone marrow transplantation in the last 15 years. A special cobalt unit has been used, the dose rate was 6 to 8 cGy/min in the midline of the abdomen.

[Effects of electron radiation on lung tissue in the postoperative irradiation of breast carcinoma].

The changes in lung tissue density arrived during the postoperative irradiation of 21 patients between February, 1984 and March, 1985 were investigated by means of a computer tomograph type Medicor-Pfizer 0100. It was shown that the influence of ionizing radiation produced an increased density of the pulmonary tissue even in case of the most precise radiophysical plan and the optimum energy. In all cases the density measured by CT after the irradiation was higher than before radiotherapy.

Short-term effect of irradiation on the peripheral lymphocyte populations in patients treated with high-energy photon beam.

Changes in lymphocyte populations wee studied in 22 patients with testicular cancer before and after a single 2-Hy dose of high-energy photon beam. Absolute lymphocyte counts as sell as total T-and active T cells markedly decreased immediately after irradiation, whereas no significant alterations in Fc receptor-bearing lymphocytes and B cell counts were produced. Recovery of lymphocyte populations was relatively rapid, reaching pre-irradiation values by 24 hours.

Investigation of a valuable biochemical indicator in radiotherapy. I. Immunological tests and reticulocyte number.

Patients with different cancers were treated by 200-kV X-rays, high-energy X-rays and 60Co-gamma rays. Changes in the immunoglobulin level were observed by immunoelectrophoresis qualitatively and by immunodiffusion quantitatively. Reticulocyte count was made in smears.

Changes of blood components on in vitro and in vivo irradiation in cancer therapy.

In vivo irradiation of the blood followed by a local or parenteral injection with irradiated blood is a useful tool in radiotherapy. To reveal changes in the components of irradiated blood, the serum enzymes LDH, GOT and GPT were examined in the blood of healthy donors, and cancer patients. The same enzymes were determined in the blood of in vivo radiation-treated patients.

[Radiation treatment of Hodgkin's disease (author's transl)].

Radiation treatment of Hodgkin's disease--especially in stages I and II when it may heal the disease--requires thorough radiation planning. It is recommended to use telecobalt or ultrahard x-rays of a betatron. For superficial lymph node regions, electrons of the betatron are useful.