HDR brachytherapy for superficial non-melanoma skin cancers.

Introduction: Our initial experience using recommended high dose per fraction skin brachytherapy (BT) treatment schedules, resulted in poor cosmesis. This study aimed to assess in a prospective group of patients the use of Leipzig surface applicators for High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy, for the treatment of small non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) using a protracted treatment schedule.

Method: Treatment was delivered by HDR brachytherapy with Leipzig applicators.

Optimal duration of imatinib mesylate therapy in metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumours.

While current literature provides evidence that imatinib mesylate has significant activity in patients with advanced and metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), and highlights the potential for the development of anticancer drugs based on specific molecular abnormalities present in cancers, specific recommendations concerning the optimal duration of therapy remain controversial. This case presents the favourable outcome of a patient who originally presented almost 9 years ago with widespread, bulky, metastatic GIST involving the abdomen and pelvis. A sustained, complete response was achieved with imatinib and prompted an interruption in treatment 7 years after initial presentation.

Multiple cerebral metastases as a primary presentation in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Cerebral metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma are rare. They are aggressive tumours associated with a poor prognosis. We report a patient presenting with multiple cerebral metastases as the primary presentation of her disseminated disease.

Combined modality treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme in a regional neurosurgical centre.

The "local experience" of the Stupp protocol was examined in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) with particular emphasis given to the extent of surgical resection and its effect on survival. Thirty-one patients with newly diagnosed GBM who underwent combined modality treatment according to the Stupp protocol were assessed retrospectively. Variables assessed were the extent of surgery, size and site of the tumour, age and performance status.

The curative treatment by radiation therapy alone of Stage I non-small cell lung cancer in a geriatric population.

This review was initiated to assess the outcome of treatment with radical radiation therapy with curative intent for elderly patients diagnosed to have Stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study involved a retrospective review of 347 patients with T1 and T2N0M0 tumours treated at the Queensland Radium Institute (QRI) during the period 1985-1992. The main reasons for not proceeding to surgery included poor performance status, old age or refusal to submit to surgery.