Quality assurance audit in an Australasian phase III trial of accelerated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (TROG 91.01). Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group

The Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) initiated a randomized trial, testing accelerated (twice daily) radiotherapy against conventional radiotherapy for stage III and stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in 1991. In 1996, the Trial Management Committee arranged for a technical audit of 76 cases from 11 institutions, conducted by investigators from interstate institutions. A 10% unacceptable protocol violation rate was detected, which compares favourably with initial Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) experience in the late 1970s. Infrastructural deficits with poor quality of documentation, incomplete retrieval of films and document return have been demonstrated in some cases. The Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group is actively pursuing procedural and resourcing issues in order to redress this and is actively expanding its Quality Assurance (QA) Programme with an intercentre dosimetry study. Ultimately, comprehensive clinical and technical QA site visits are planned.     

Rapid MR imaging with suspended respiration: clinical application in the liver

The authors demonstrate that it is possible to obtain highly T1-weighted images of the abdomen using a suspended respiration partial saturation (SRPS) method in a breath-holding interval. T2*-weighted images, which reflect tissue T2 as well as variations in the static magnetic field, can also be rapidly obtained. The authors studied five healthy subjects and 19 patients with a variety of liver abnormalities, including benign and malignant hepatic neoplasms, fatty liver infiltration, ascites, and hematoma. On T1-weighted multisection acquisitions, the entire liver can be screened for mass lesions in a single 20-second breath-holding interval. Phase-contrast SRPS images are sensitive to fatty infiltration of the liver. SRPS images are more sensitive to variations in magnetic susceptibility than spin-echo images are, which has been proved to be of value in the detection of hemorrhage. With continued pulse sequence development and clinical study, this method has the potential to become the method of choice for evaluation of the upper abdomen.     

Tetrahydrocannabinol vs. prochlorperazine. The effects of two antiemetics on patients undergoing radiotherapy

The authors tested the effectiveness of orally administered delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as compared to prochlorperazine for the alleviation of symptoms, such as vomiting and nausea, experienced by patients receiving radiotherapy. The test subjects rated the severity of their illness, as well as the extent of their subsequent moods, their level of concentration, their amount of physical activity, and their desire for social interaction. They chose the drug they preferred and recorded its side effects. The use of THC was slightly more beneficial than the use of prochlorperazine.     

Complicated pancreatic abscesses: problems in interventional management

Twenty-five patients with grade D or E pancreatitis underwent percutaneous drainage. These patients required multiple computed tomography (CT) examinations, multiple catheter insertions, multiple catheter manipulations, and long-term catheter drainage. Eight of the 25 patients were successfully treated with catheter drainage alone. Sixteen underwent surgical drainage, ten after attempts at percutaneous drainage and six prior to radiologic drainage. Of the ten patients who had initial percutaneous drainage, only four were clinically improved from the drainage procedure alone. Although the fluid component of the abscess was often adequately drained in all ten patients, surgery was required to remove pieces of necrotic debris. Six patients who underwent surgical debridement had residual abscesses in the post-operative period and were all successfully treated with percutaneous drainage. One patient died from unrelated causes. Successful interventional management of patients with pancreatic abscesses requires intensive radiologic intervention and monitoring and may be better served by a combination of radiologic and surgical means.