Indications for pacemaker therapy of the heart (author's transl)]

During the last few years the indications for pacemaker therapy could be extended in step with the lowering of the frequency of complications and the effort required of doctors and departments. Now one does not only aim at prevention of dangerous Adams-Stokes attacks but increasingly at improvement of the range of cardiac function. If there is no pharmacologic alternative there are no absolute contraindications. Pacemaker therapy is indicated also, if only temporary symptomatic improvement can be expected.     

Radiation therapy of oropharyngeal tumors (author's transl)]

The clinical data as well as a statistical evaluation of the treatment of patients with oropharyngeal tumors, who had undergone a combined treatment by interstitial radium therapy, megavoltage irradiation, and operation, lead to the conclusion that better final results and palliation effects may be obtained by a megavoltage irradiation of the tonsillar region and soft palate than by means of ultraradical surgery. Good results have been observed after interstitial radium therapy or electrosurgical operations of keratoid squamous cell carcinomas. The radical operation with preceding telecobalt irradiation, however, is to be preferred in the case of basioglossal squamous cell carcinomas.     

Drug therapy of thyroid malignomas (author's transl)]

We may recapitulate: Chemotherapy, first of all with adriamycin, has proved successful in thyroid cancer even after exhaustion of the therapeutic measures used so far. The combination of adriamycin with bleomycin and Velbe, corresponding to our preliminary experiences, seems to be superior to a monotherapy with adriamycin. The side effects remain absolutely tolerable. Hence follows concerning further procedure that chemotherapy has to be applied earlier than practiced up to now, i.e. as soon as criteria for metastasition are observed and/or if the primary treatment--operation and irradiation--does not satisfy. Cytostatic therapy apparently is the optimal treatment technique in medullar carcinoma. But it is necessary, moreover, to search for other effective combinations of chemotherapeutic agents, especially in the case of anaplastic carcinoma. Chemotherapy, assisted by thyroid hormone treatment, can certainly be improved further by a more severe assessment of the indication, by early application and, last not least, by better coordination with surgical and radiotherapeutical action.     

Radiation therapy of humeroscapular periarthritis (author's transl)]

The effectiveness of radiation therapy in 233 cases with periarthritis humeroscapularis is reviewed in a prospective study from the Basel canton hospital. The patients are studied with regard to different parameters, such as duration of the anamnesis, importance of the dose, moment of evaluation of the results and influence of a 2-series technique. The total result, comprising 43.3% cases without complaints, 30.9% being better, and 25.8% whose troubles had not changed, is compared with the compiled statistical data of 4957 cases found in literature. The gonadal load is discussed on the basis of our own investigations.     

Radiation therapy in myasthenia gravis (author's transl)]

The etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of myasthenia gravis are discussed. We treated 16 patients, 13 of them with conventional X-rays and three by megavoltage irradiation. Our results show that radiotherapy has a definite role in the management of patients with myasthenia gravis and should be considered more frequently in future.     

Operative therapy for primary malignant bone tumors (author's transl)]

During the last 20 years, particularly in Europe, high dosage radiation therapy was primarily advocated and secondarily surgical amputation. Today, the earliest possible surgical elimination is considered to be the most sensible. This need not necessarily take the form of a mutilating procedure since, on the basis of American statistics, the results of resection procedures can be considered to be equally good. In each case, the diagnosis must be histologically clarified by biopsy before drastic surgery. In the context of a plan of therapy which is individually discussed among surgeons, radiation therapists and internists, additional tasks such as metastasectomy and stabilizing procedures in tumor-induced fractures fall to the surgeon. While it is still too early for a survey, we nevertheless hope that the positive aspects of combined therapy in our individual cases will increasingly benefit the total number of patients with malignant bone tumors - even if only in the form of a prolongation of life with less symptoms.     

Criteria for the optimization of geometrical dose distributions in radiotherapy (author's transl)]

The author has deducted biologic criteria for a relative optimization of geometrical dose distributions in radiotherapy. The numerical calculation is based upon, among others, the Ellis formula and the dependence on the volume of tolerance doses in healthy persons. The criteria are suited for being applied in computerized therapy planning. They can be integrated without any problem into existing program systems.     

Contribution to combined therapy of the Ewing-sarcoma (author's transl)]

The techniques and results from the treatment of 15 own cases with Ewing-sarcoma having undergone different therapeutic schemes are reviewed with the help of universal literature. These tumors are shown to need individual treatment which has to be adapted to the present data in each case.     

Problems in radiation therapy for carcinoma of the rectum (author's transl)]

The role of radiation therapy within the total treatment for carcinoma of the rectum is reported in this paper. Early treatment with radiological contact methods as well as systemic post operative irradiation of advanced tumor stages are interpreted in detail, and attention is drawn to the importance of pre-operative irradiation meanwhile being tested at many places. Therapy of recurrences and of inoperable tumor stages, including chemotherapy, is explained on the basis of own experiences and of reviewing the data of the literature.     

Pelvimetry (author's transl)]

A simple and precise technique for pelvimetry, delivering only a low dose of irradiation, is described. It includes the usual lateral view, but for the AP uses that of Fernstro?m. The technique and results are described.     

Mediastinal hemorrhage complicating combined streptokinase-anticoagulant therapy (author's transl)]

Case-report. A mediastinal hemorrhage occurring spontaneously following combined streptokinase-anticoagulation therapy is described and its diagnosis and treatment discussed.