Conventional 4-field box radiotherapy technique for cancer cervix: potential for geographic miss without CECT scan-based planning

BACKGROUND: The advantage of 4-field radiation to the pelvis is that the use of lateral portals spares a portion of the small bowel anteriorly and rectum posteriorly. The standard lateral portals defined in textbooks are not always adequate especially in advanced cancer cervix. METHODS: An analysis was done to determine adequacy of margins of standard lateral pelvic portals with CECT defined tumor volumes. The study included 40 patients of FIGO stage IIB and IIIB treated definitively for cancer cervix between 1998 and 2000. An inadequate margin was defined if the cervical growth and uterus were not encompassed by the 95% isodose. RESULTS: An inadequate posterior margin was common with bulky disease (P = 0.06) and with retroverted uterus (P = 0.08). Menopausal status, FIGO stage, associated myoma, and age were of no apparent prognostic significance. Bulk retained significant on multivariate analysis. An inadequate anterior margin was common in premenopausal (P = 0.01); anteverted uterus (P = 0.02); associated myoma (P = 0.01); and younger patients (P = 0.03). It was not influenced by bulk or stage. Menopausal status and associated myoma retained significant on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Without the knowledge of precise tumor volume, the 4-field technique with standard portals is potentially risky as it may under dose the tumor through lateral portals and the standard AP/ PA portals are a safer option.     

无症状性炎性前列腺炎对血清PSA、fPSA的影响

目的　探讨无症状性炎性前列腺炎(NIH分类Ⅳ型)对血清PSA、fPSA的影响。方法　对比分析36例NIH分类Ⅳ型、42 例有症状性慢性前列腺炎(NIH分类ⅢA型)患者以及22例健康对照组的血清PSA、fPSA、fPSA/tPSA之间的差异。结果　血 清PSA、fPSA、fPSA/tPSA在Ⅳ型和ⅢA型前列腺炎患者间差异无显著性(P>0.05),但与正常对照组比较差异有显著性(P< 0.01)。结论　NIH分类Ⅳ型前列腺炎可引起血清PSA、fPSA升高。对无症状、高血清PSA患者行前列腺活检前,应考虑到患 Ⅳ型前列腺炎的可能。     

^125I放射微粒微创植入治疗前列腺癌

目的观察^125I放射微粒植入对前列腺癌的治疗效果。方法对26例临床确诊为前列腺癌患者经皮穿刺在癌组织植入^125I放射微粒，每例平均36粒，术后复查肛诊、B超、影像学及血生化指标。结果患者植入治疗经过顺利，2例少量出血，留置导尿后愈合，3个月后经肛诊、直肠B超示结节缩小，前列腺特异性抗原（PSA）降低，多普勒超声显示结节内动脉收缩期最大血流速度（VS）、阻力指数（RI）及动脉搏动指数（PI）均明显下降。结论^125I放射微粒植入对前列腺癌的治疗安全性好、效果可靠。     

减瘤手术在晚期肺癌治疗中的应用研究

目的初步探讨减瘤手术在晚期肺癌治疗方面的实用价值。方法选择2006年1月至2008年1月笔者所在医院收治的的中晚期肺癌患者20例，采用减瘤手术治疗。选择同时期15例剖胸探查肺肿物活检患者作为对照组。研究分析两组患者术后生存质量及生存时间的差异。结果减瘤组患者生存质量较好率为40．0％，对照组为20．0％，两组间比较差异有统计学意义（χ^2=7．21，P〈0．05）。生存质量评分减瘤组为（35．3±8．2）分，对照组为（27．9±7．1）分，两组间比较差异有统计学意义（t=6．59，P〈0．05）。平均生存时间减瘤组患者为11．6个月，对照组为10．3个月，两组间比较，差异无统计学意义（t=2．41，P〉0．05）。结论减瘤手术可改善中晚期或已有远处转移的肺癌患者的生存质量。     

Do patient characteristics,disease, or treatment explain social inequality in survival from colorectal cancer?

This paper investigates the association between individually measured socioeconomic status (SES) and all-cause survival in colorectal cancer patients, and explores whether factors related to the patient, the disease, or the surgical treatment mediate the observed social gradient.     

Thymidine labeling index in breast tumors

The relationship between primary tumor proliferative activity and clinical and pathologic characteristics was analyzed in relation to menopausal status in 32 patients with malignant or benign breast disease. The thymidine labeling index (TLI) showed significantly higher median values in the cancer patients (3.48 per cent) than in the patients with benign diseases (1.02 per cent). TLI was not significantly affected by delayed incubation at room temperature for about 1 hour. In the breast cancer patients, TLI did not significantly correlate to tumor size, the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis or pathologic nuclear grading. The only significant difference was limited to the breast cancer patients without axillary lymph node metastasis in relation to menopausal status; the TLI in the premenopausal patients (5.10 per cent) was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that in the postmenopausal patients (2.28 per cent). These data thus suggest that among premenopausal patients without axillary lymph node metastasis, those with a high TLI could be potential candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy.     

Flow cytometric analysis of localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate: the use of archival DNA analysis in conjunction with pathological grading to predict clinical outcome following radical retropubic prostatectomy

Fifty-four specimens from patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for clinically confined prostate cancer between 1983 and 1987 were reviewed to determine the potential for flow cytometric (FCM) analysis of DNA ploidy and replication rate to predict disease recurrence. Each specimen was deparaffinized for FCM analysis and the pathology slides were reviewed by a single pathologist. FCM characteristics were correlated with pathological grade and stage, and both were correlated with disease status. In this series of patients, routine FCM analysis of DNA ploidy and replication rate failed to significantly enhance the ability of standard histopathological grading to predict disease recurrence in patients having clinically localized prostate cancer. Aneuploid tumors pathologically confined to the prostate did not appear to negatively affect prognosis.     

Asbestos disease in sheet metal workers: proportional mortality update

This paper, updating the findings of an earlier study, provides additional evidence that sheet metal workers in the construction trades are at increased risk for asbestos-related disease. A proportional analysis of cause of death among 331 New York sheet metal workers found a significantly elevated PMR for lung cancer (PMR = 186). In addition, there were six deaths attributable to mesothelioma (three classified as lung cancer deaths) and three death certificates mentioned asbestosis or pulmonary fibrosis, although none of these three deaths were attributed to these diseases.     

Morphometrically estimated variation in nuclear size

Summary At present there are several grading systems for prostatic carcinoma. Most are difficult to reproduce. An objective method of grading seems to be necessary and could make comparisons between various groups of patients easier and grading more reliable.In the present study morphometrically estimated nuclear size and variation in nuclear size are matched with the survival rates of 207 patients who underwent total perineal prostatetomy for cancer. On the basis of morphometrically estimated variation in nuclear size the patients could be divided into two groups with significantly differing survival rates. In this way it was possible to split the group of patients with grade 2 carcinoma (Mostofi's grading system) into two groups of patients with significantly different survival rates. The survival rates in these two groups did not differ significantly from those in the patients with Grade 1 and Grade 3 tumors respectively.The results are discussed in the light of the recent literature on the subject. Morphometry seems to be a valuable tool in grading prostatic cancer.