[From physical examination to irradiation--current aspects of patients and radio-oncologists]. / Von der Untersuchung zur Bestrahlung--Patienten und Radioonkologen auf neuen Wegen.

Survival and quality of life in patients with malignant diseases are essentially influenced by modern therapeutic approaches (radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy). Improvements in the knowledge of radiation biology, tumour behaviour and in technical equipment have made indications and methods of irradiation more precise and safer during the last decade. The discerning patient is nowadays involved in a more sophisticated consideration of the risk-benefit relation and in the finding of a therapeutic decision.

Results of radioiodine (131/125I) therapy of hyperthyroidism.

One individually calculated dose of 131I was sufficient to control the hyperfunction in 75% of the patients with Graves' disease and 85% of the patients with autonomous adenoma. The cumulative myxedema risk 10 years after therapy was: 15% in the patients with Graves' disease and nearly zero in patients with autonomous adenoma. Early results of 125I therapy of Graves' disease are presented. Peculiar aspects of thyroid function after destructive therapy of Graves' disease are discussed.