Chronological observation in early radiation myelopathy of the cervical spinal cord: gadolinium-enhanced MRI findings in two cases.

Gd-enhanced MR images of two patients with clinically and histopathologically diagnosed chronic progressive radiation myelitis (CPRM) were observed chronologically. One of them had had nasopharyngeal cancer and received radiotherapy at a dose of 100 Gy to the C1-2 level of the spinal cord. She developed CPRM 25 months after the termination of radiotherapy. The other had had malignant lymphoma originating from the tonsil and received chemoradiotherapy. The dose delivered to her cervical spinal cord was 40 Gy, and she developed CPRM 30 months later. Gd-enhanced MRI in the early phase revealed a small crescent-shaped nidus with or without a very small central nonenhanced area in both cases. Enhancement was not great. At that time, patients noticed only the inability to perceive pain and temperature or paresthsia in the opposite side. In a few months, MRI revealed a much more strongly enhanced and larger nidus with enlargement of a central nonenhanced area accompanied by long segmental cord enlargement. The patients' neurological symptoms had also progressed, with hemiparesis developing, for example.

[Radiation therapy for carcinoma of vagina].

Thirty-four patients with carcinoma of the vagina were treated by radiotherapy at the Hyogo Medical Center for Adults between April 1965 and May 1990. All patients were treated with a combination of external and intracavitary or intestinal irradiation. Twenty-three patients had squamous cell carcinoma, five had adenocarcinoma and two had malignant melanoma. The five-year survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma was 70% in Stage I (10 patients), 40% in Stage II (seven patients), 50% in Stage III (three patients) and 0% in Stage IV (three patients). Local control was achieved in 72.7% of the patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 60% of those with adenocarcinoma. However, neither of the malignant melanomas was controlled. Five patients had severe complications that required surgical treatment: severe proctitis and small-bowel perforation, ileus, rectal stenosis, vesicovaginal fistula and small-bowel perforation. Local and pelvic failure was noted in three patients. Patients with previous hysterectomy were more likely to develop serious treatment-related complications.

[A case of verrucous carcinoma showing a good partial response by C.P.E. (CDDP, PEP, etoposide) chemotherapy].

A 60-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of rough feeling on the oral mucosa and diagnosed as verrucous carcinoma with histopathological examination. She was treated with CPE chemotherapy, and showed a good response and improvement of clinical symptoms. Toxicities were leukopenia, alopecia and anorexia. However, these were slight side effects. The patient is currently healthy with no recurrence after two years and 3 months. CPE chemotherapy is considered to be effective for a patient with verrucous carcinoma.

[Enhanced MRI of breast cancer smaller than 3 cm].

Twenty-two patients with breast cancers were studied using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a cylindrical surface coil at 1.5 Tesla. All were examined with the FE sequence and Gd-DTPA as a contrast medium. These images were compared with micrographs of the specimens. All cancers were enhanced clearly, and demarcated margins or spiculations of the tumors were seen as clearly on MR images as on micrographs of the specimens. In 12 patients (9 carcinomas, 2 fibroadenomas and 1 benign phyllodes tumor), dynamic studies were performed after the intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA. All nine carcinomas showed enhancement characterized by a sudden increase in signal intensity on the order of 100% or more within the first 2 minutes after injection. Two fibroadenomas were enhanced slowly. Thirteen patients with breast cancers were examined with several sequences (FE, T1-weighed SE, T2-weighed SE and STIR) with or without Gd-DTPA. The most clearly delineated images of the tumors were those of FE images with Gd-DTPA enhancement. A phantom constituted of various concentrations of Gd-DTPA in 20% albumin solution was measured by signal intensities with T1-weighted SE sequence and FE sequence. The ratio of enhancement of the 20% albumin solution relative to the Gd-DTPA concentration was higher with the FE sequence than with the SE sequence. The sensitivity of the FE sequence to Gd-DTPA enhancement was 1.5 times that of the SE sequence under the usual concentration of Gd-DTPA.

[SPECT images after intravenous injection of 99mTc-DTPA in lung tumors--comparison with delayed 123I-IMP lung scintigraphy].

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of SPECT imaging of the thorax with 99mTc-DTPA, which accumulates at sites of increased capillary permeability and expanded extracellular space, by comparing it with delayed 123I-IMP lung scintigraphy. We have previously reported that increased uptake on delayed 123I-IMP lung scintigraphy was associated with atelectasis and inflammation. Thirteen patients with lung cancer (4 with atelectasis and 3 with pleurisy), one patient with malignant lymphoma complicated by pneumonia and pleurisy, and one patient with pneumonia were studied. 99mTc-DTPA scintigraphy was performed twice, 20-160 minutes and 2-4 hours after the intravenous administration of 370 MBq of 99mTc-DTPA. 123I-IMP scintigraphy was performed 24 hours after the intravenous injection of 111 MBq of 123I-IMP. SPECT images were obtained with both types of scintigraphy. 99mTc-DTPA scintigraphy was compared with 123I-IMP scintigraphy for its ability to detect atelectasis and pneumonia. All patients showed increased accumulation corresponding to the lesions on both 123I-IMP and 99mTc-DTPA scintigraphy. 123I-IMP scintigraphy showed a defect corresponding to the tumor with increased accumulation around the tumor, whereas 99mTc-DTPA scintigraphy showed accumulation corresponding to the tumor. Ten of 11 tumors showed accumulation of an intensity equal to that of the soft tissue of the chest wall on 20-60 min 99mTc-DTPA images. The 2-4 hr images showed that 99mTc-DTPA leaked from the periphery of the tumor toward its center. All the patients with pleurisy showed increased accumulation in effusion on 2-4 hr 99mTc-DTPA scintigraphy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical results of N0 tongue cancer treated with interstitial brachytherapy and management of occult cervical node metastases].

One hundred patients with T1-2NO squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue were treated with interstitial brachytherapy at the Hyogo Medical Center for Adults between 1962 and 1983. These patients were followed for more than two years. The cumulative five-year survival rate was 89% in T1N0 and 66% in T2N0. The relapse-free survival rate was 88% in T1N0 and 51% in T2N0. The two-year local control rate in the primary site was 100% in T1N0 and 73% in T2N0. Cervical node metastases developed in 41% (T1N0: 33%, T2N0: 43%) of the patients. The five-year survival rate of the patients with subsequent cervical node metastases was 42%, while that of patients without subsequent cervical node metastases was 92% (p less than 0.001). Twenty-seven patients also received prophylactic neck irradiation (average dose: 33.8 Gy). In patients treated with prophylactic neck irradiation, the rate of subsequent cervical node metastases was 37% and the cumulative five-year survival rate was 62%. In the patients without prophylactic neck irradiation, these figures were 41% and 73%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Between 1984 and 1986, 28 patients with T1-2 N0 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue were treated with interstitial brachytherapy. These patients were prospectively examined for the ability of chemotherapy to prevent the development of cervical node metastasis. In 13 patients treated with chemotherapy (CDDP 80 mg/m2 + PEP 6 mg/m2 x 5 days), the two-year local control rate was 90%, the incidence of cervical node metastases was 38% and the incidence of distant metastases was 15%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Evaluation of delayed I-123 IMP lung studies in atelectatic and inflammatory diseases in comparison with Ga-67-citrate scintigraphy].

We have previously reported that increased tracer accumulation on delayed 123I-IMP scintigraphy is associated with atelectasis and inflammation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic values of delayed 123I-IMP lung scintigraphy, compared with gallium scintigraphy. Ten patients with atelectasis caused by lung cancer and 7 patients with inflammatory diseases were studied. Inflammatory lung disease included 4 cases of pneumonia, 2 of interstitial pneumonitis, and 1 of diffuse panbronchiolitis. Delayed 123I-IMP scintigraphy was performed 24 hours after intravenous injection of 111 MBq of 123I-IMP. In 14 patients, the SPECT images were obtained. Gallium scintigraphy was done within 7 days of 123I-IMP scintigraphy and the images were obtained 72 hours after the administration of 111 MBq of 67Ga-citrate. 123I-IMP scintigraphy was compared with gallium scintigraphy for its ability to detect atelectasis. The degree of uptake by the collapsed lobes was judged visually on planar images and rated using four grades: negative, slight, moderate and heavy. All the cases showed moderate or intense uptake on the 123I-IMP images, whereas with gallium scintigraphy there was no change corresponding with lobar collapse in 8 out of 10 cases. Of the remaining 2 cases, one had tumor in the collapsed lobe and the other had obstructive pneumonia. In inflammatory lung diseases, the correlation of 123I-IMP and gallium images regarding degree of change shown on chest X-ray film was studied. The degree of correlation was classified using four grade: poor, fair, good and excellent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical evaluation of radiotherapy for endocrine ophthalmopathy].

Ten patients with severe endocrine ophthalmopathy were treated by radiotherapy at Hyogo Medical Center for Adults from May 1984 to February 1988. All but one of the patients had poorly responded to previous systemic or topical corticosteroid therapy. The target of the radiotherapy was both retrobulbar tissues. The radiation field used was about 4 x 4 cm, excluding the pituitary gland and the brain, and was angled 5 degrees posteriorly to avoid the contralateral lens. A total of 2000 cGy was given to each patient over a 2 week-period. Eight of the ten patients showed some response, with 5 of them (50%) having a good to excellent response. Treatment was more effective for soft tissue changes, proptosis and keratopathy, while myopathy was less responsive. As for the duration of the eye signs and symptoms, those of a shorter duration (less then 12 months) responded better. It was also noted that the degree of the eye muscle enlargement on the pre-treatment orbital CT scan was directly correlated to the results of the treatment. Although three of the patients experienced transient headache, there were no serious acute reactions or long term complications. In conclusion, retrobulbar radiotherapy is a well-tolerated, safe and effective treatment for severe endocrine ophthalmopathy.

[Clinical evaluation of sodium alginate on oral mucositis associated with radiotherapy].

We evaluated the effect of sodium alginate on 39 patients with oral mucositis associated with radiotherapy. Sodium alginate was administered during radiotherapy to 17 patients with head and neck cancer. Compared with 22 patients without administration, sodium alginate reduced the pain and the erosion of oral mucosa significantly. Consequently the interval of radiotherapy was shortened. It is, therefore, expected that the effect of radiotherapy improves by the administration of sodium alginate.

[Delayed lung scintigraphy with N-isopropyl-I-123-p-iodoamphetamine in lung cancer and inflammatory disease].

Lung studies with N-Isopropyl-I-123-p-Iodoamphetamine (IMP) were performed on patients with lung cancer or inflammatory disease. In the present study, we evaluated the usefulness of the delayed scintigraphy. The subjects consisted of 27 patients with lung cancer (34 lesions), 3 with radiation pneumonitis, 2 with interstitial pneumonitis, 2 with old tuberculous lesion (tuberculomas), 1 with diffuse panbronchiolitis, 1 with pneumonia and 1 with lung abscess. The delayed scintigraphy was performed 24 hr after intravenous injection of 3 mCi IMP, in sitting position. In 10 patients, SPECT images were obtained following the delayed scintigraphy. Delayed scintigraphic appearances of lung cancer were classified into 5 types, high IMP uptake in the area congruent with the lesion of atelectasis and/or obstructive pneumonia (Type I), high IMP uptake in the area surrounded the tumor (Type II), a defect in the area consistent with the tumor and no high IMP uptake in the area surrounded the tumor (Type III), high IMP uptake in the area almost congruent with the tumor (Type IV) and no significant change (Type V). Excluding 10 lesions with Type IV or V, no IMP uptake was seen in the areas congruent with the tumors. Type II was the most frequently observed pattern. Normal scintigrams (Type V) were observed in 8 lesions, whose sizes were fairly small. There was no definite trend caused by difference in histological types of cancers. In 8 patients with viable inflammatory disease of the lung, the delayed scintigrams showed high IMP uptake in the areas congruent with the abnormalities on chest roentgenograms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Retrospective review of 105 patients based on a survey of Kansai Cancer Therapist Group.

One hundred five patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were treated with radiation therapy combined with or without chemotherapy at 16 of the participating institutes in Kansai Cancer Therapist Group, Japan, from January 1978 to December 1980. The study comprised 77 males and 28 females; their ages ranged from 15 to 80 years (mean, 53 years). Five-year survival rates according to stage were as follows: Stage I, 100%; Stage II, 67%; Stage III, 44%; and Stage IV, 34%. As far as Stage IV disease was concerned, the radiation therapy only group showed significantly poorer prognosis than the combined radiation and chemotherapy group (P less than 0.05). Concerning the N stage and treatment method, the radiation therapy only group showed a higher metastatic rate than the chemotherapy combined group (35% versus 14%, P less than 0.05).

[Two autopsy cases of intramedullary spinal cord metastasis].

Two autopsy cases of intramedullary metastasis to the spinal cord from small cell lung cancer and seminoma of the testis are reported and a review of the literature is presented. Rather than lung cancer, the most common primary tumor of this rare intramedullary spinal cord metastasis is seminoma of the testis. In our case, we posit the occurrence of hematogenous spread via arterial and vertebral venous system.