[Usefulness of neuron specific enolase in patients with head and neck malignant tumors]. / Przydatnosc oznaczen neuronowej swoistej enolazy u chorych na nowotwory zlosliwe glowy i szyi.

The authors present results of evaluation of neuron specific enolase (NSE) in 146 persons. We analyzed a concentration of NSE in preliminary study and in monitoring depending on clinical advances of tumour, mass of primary tumour and metastases to lymph nodes. Neuron specific enolase was excluded because the number of positive results was the same both in the main and control group. Our results indicate that evaluation of NSE have not height value in monitoring patients with head and neck carcinoma.

[Ototoxic complications of chemotherapy]. / Ototoksyczne powiklania chemioterapii.

Ototoxicity of drugs is still an important problem in the management of many disorders. Some issues of inner ear impairment following administration of antibiotics, cytostatics, salicylates and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs are presented in the article. Some of the clinical symptoms indicative to the possibility of complications in the inner ear: tinnitus, hearing loss, giddiness and vertigo. Negative side effects of drugs might occur after general as well as in local treatment, e.g. ear drops. Antibiotics from the aminoglycoside group reveal a particularly high ototoxicity. The risk of the occurrence of ototoxicity increases in patients with kidney and inner ear disorders, treated with more than one ototoxic drug and in patients over 65 years and under 3 years of age. Prophylactics against complications consists of analysis of indications of treatment with the above mentioned drugs, its proper dosage, knowledge of the risk groups, daily observation on the patient and monitoring of the hearing and balance organs. Treatment of complications usually does not result in positive effects.