Dose-Tumor Response for Carcinoma of Cervix: An Analysis of 594 Patients Treated by Radiotherapy

This is a retrospective study of 594 histologically proven carcinomas of the uterine cervix treated with radiotherapy alone between January 1970 and December 1986. The age of this group of patients ranged from 22 to 86 years, and the median age was 57 years. There were 544 (91.6%) patients with squamous carcinoma and 36 (6.1%) with adenocarcinoma. There were 24 (4.0%) patients who were treated by two sessions of intracavitary brachytherapy only using intrauterine tandem and vaginal ovoids; 513 (86.4%) patients received whole pelvis irradiation followed by two sessions of brachytherapy at 1-week intervals, with or without additional boost to the parametrium. The dose to point A ranged from 40 to 100.9 Gy for the patients with stage IB to IIIB disease. The 5- and 10-year survival for stages IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, and IIIB were 90.0, 82.1, 72.0, 50.0, 51.5, and 86.9, 71.0, 67.5, 41.7, and 46.9%, respectively. There was no long-term survivor for stage IV disease; the median survivals for patients with stages IVA and IVB were 15.2 and 9.3 months, respectively. Dose response was demonstrated for stages IIB and III tumors; dose to point A greater than 85 Gy was associated with better central control (P = 0.0036 and 0.0234, respectively). However, further increase in dose to point A beyond 85 Gy was not associated with improvement in central control (P = 0.3128 and 0.3394, respectively, for stages IIB and III). It was also found that the occurrences of rectosigmoid and bladder complications were correlated with the rectal and point A dose. Thus, for these patients, there is no need to increase the dose to point A beyond 85 Gy so that the risk of radiation sequelae can be cut down.     

Mycobacterial infection in an inner city children's hospital

Childhood tuberculosis is perceived by many as a disease of the past. Experience in a children's hospital serving a deprived population suggested that tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections were not declining in clinical practice. Fifty three tuberculous and 11 atypical mycobacterial infections were identified between 1978 and 1992. There was no decline in tuberculosis and nine of the 11 atypical infections occurred in the last five years. Altogether 40% of cases of tuberculosis were in non-Asian children; 32% had arrived in the UK or visited family overseas in the previous year; and 38% had a history of tuberculosis contact, usually a close adult relative. Nationally, the previous decline in tuberculosis in all ages has reversed. In the local health districts in London's east end, childhood tuberculosis has also stopped declining and seems to be increasing. It is regrettable that BCG vaccination has been abolished by some districts in the UK, against current recommendations. Childhood tuberculosis is still common in the practice described here, including among children who do not fall into conventionally recognised high risk groups. Inner city dwellers and junior doctors are both highly mobile populations, adding to the risk that paediatricians, particularly those in training, may encounter tuberculosis with little or no previous experience of the condition.     

Patterns of practice survey for nonsmall cell lung carcinoma in the U.S

BACKGROUND: Nonsmall cell lung carcinoma comprises approximately 75% of all lung carcinoma cases in the U.S. Newly evolving strategies have created considerable controversy regarding the optimal treatment for patients diagnosed with this disease. METHODS: A 17-item survey was designed to collect demographic data and information regarding practice patterns for nonsmall cell lung carcinoma, including patient assessment, treatment approaches, and roles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Surveys were mailed in the summer of 1997 to approximately 9200 oncologists of all types throughout the U.S. Practice settings included private office, private hospital, academic, university-affiliated office, government, and Veterans Administration institutions. RESULTS: Approximately 10% of the oncologists responded (n = 979), including 499 medical oncologists (51%), 464 radiation oncologists (47%), and 16 others (2%). For the adjuvant treatment of surgically resected N1-2 disease, combined modality treatment was preferred over radiation therapy alone by medical oncologists (48% vs. 16%; P<0.001) and radiation therapy alone was preferred over combined modality treatment by radiation oncologists (55% vs. 38%; P<0.001). The combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin was the preferred first-line regimen for all stages of nonsmall cell lung carcinoma by the majority of medical oncologists (55%), whereas the majority of radiation oncologists (58%) chose the combination of etoposide and platinum. With regard to the optimal combined modality approach, respondents were divided evenly between concurrent chemoradiotherapy (34%) and sequential chemoradiotherapy (31%). Overall, respondents reported basing treatment decisions largely on published literature (55%) compared with personal experience (19%), seminars and colleagues (16%), and clinical trial availability (10%) (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This survey confirms many differences in practice patterns among medical oncologists and radiation oncologists in the treatment of patients with nonsmall cell lung carcinoma and suggests the need for the multidisciplinary management of this entity. In addition, the current study demonstrates that reliance on the medical literature as a basis for treatment steadily declines the longer the physician has been in practice.     

Combined effects of the orally active cisplatin analog, JM216, and radiation in antitumor therapy

Purpose: We evaluated the orally administered platinum agent, JM216, in combination with ionizing radiation both in vivo and in vitro against human tumor cells. Methods: H460 human lung carcinoma cells were used as a subcutaneous xenograft in nude mice. JM216 (30 mg/kg) was administered orally, and radiation treatments (2 Gy) were given 1 h after JM216 delivery for five consecutive days. For in vitro analysis, attached H460 cells were treated with JM216 (15 μM) for 1 h and then irradiated. Cells were rinsed 20 min later, and survival was determined by clonogenic assay. Results: Tumor growth delay measurements showed that the combination of JM216 and radiation was additive in vivo, with an enhancement ratio of 1.24. In vitro clonogenic survival experiments demonstrated a dose enhancement ratio of 1.23. Isobologram analysis showed that this interaction was also additive. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that the combination of JM216 and fractionated radiotherapy is more effective against human lung cancer xenografts than either agent alone, and the in vivo results were supported by those observed using an in vitro system with the same tumor cell line. Received: 20 December 1999 / Accepted: 24 May 2000     

Hodgkin's disease with primary manifestation in the liver

We describe a patient with HD presenting with hepatomegaly and impaired liver function and discuss the differential diagnosis and histologic diagnosis of HD in the liver.     

Delayed Conjunctival Closure in Adjustable Strabismus Surgery

Adjustable suture strabismus surgery has proved to be a significant aid in handling difficult strabismus cases, and various methods of conjunctival closure have been discussed. A new method of conjunctival closure, enabling direct visualization and manipulation of the muscle with minimal tissue drag during adjustment, is described. The conjunctiva can be fully closed over the knot after adjustment, providing increased patient comfort and a better cosmetic result.     

Preventing the withdrawal response associated with rocuronium injection: a comparison of fentanyl with lidocaine

We compared the efficacy of IV fentanyl with IV lidocaine as pretreatment for the prevention of withdrawal response after rocuronium injection. For this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study we recruited 90 patients aged between 18 and 65 yr, ASA physical status I or II, who had undergone elective surgery requiring general anesthesia and positive pressure ventilation. Patients were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups: group F received 2 mL IV fentanyl 50 microg/mL (100 microg), group L received 2 mL of preservative-free lidocaine 2% (40 mg), and group P (placebo) received 2 mL of normal saline. The incidence of withdrawal response after rocuronium was 57%, 30%, and 7% in the placebo, lidocaine, and fentanyl groups, respectively. We found a significant reduction in incidence of withdrawal response in both the fentanyl and lidocaine groups when compared with the placebo group (P < 0.05), with the fentanyl group being most effective (P < 0.05). In conclusion, both fentanyl and lidocaine are effective clinical treatments to alleviate the withdrawal response associated with rocuronium injection, with fentanyl being more effective.