ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Positron emission tomography with CT (PET/CT) scanning is increasingly being used in head and neck cancer to assess response after radical concomitant chemoradiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of PET/CT following chemoradiotherapy at our institution. METHODS: All patients receiving radical chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer over a 9-year period were retrospectively identified. Outcome data including local control and overall survival were collected for all patients. The negative predictive value of PET/CT for local recurrence was calculated. Of those with a reported positive PET/CT scan the maximum standardised uptake values were compared with the incidence of local recurrence. RESULTS: 92 patients were identified having a post-treatment PET/CT from a total of 301 patients receiving radical concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Median time from completion of chemoradiotherapy to PET/CT scan was 3 (range 2-8) months. Median follow-up in surviving patients was 19 and 25 months in the PET/CT and non-PET/CT groups, respectively. The negative predictive value for local recurrence was 91.8%. The median maximum standardised uptake values were 10.2 (range 3.1-33) and 6.89 (range 3.1-30) in those with local recurrence and with no local recurrence, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Post-chemoradiotherapy PET/CT may aid subsequent management decisions. Patients with a negative PET/CT scan after radical chemoradiotherapy have a 91.8% chance of remaining free of local recurrence 19 months post-treatment. A higher maximum standardised uptake value on the post-chemoradiotherapy PET/CT may predict subsequent local recurrence and warrants further investigation. Advances in knowledge Post-chemoradiotherapy PET/CT imaging aids subsequent management decisions.
Subject(s)
Chemoradiotherapy , Head and Neck Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Head and Neck Neoplasms/therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/diagnostic imaging , Positron-Emission Tomography , Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use , Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized , Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Carboplatin/therapeutic use , Cetuximab , Chemoradiotherapy/methods , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Survival Analysis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The number of females entering and graduating from medical school is currently increasing and, as a result, the problems they face if they wish to work as doctors and have a family are becoming more apparent. METHODS: A questionnaire study of 105 female GPs and 98 female hospital doctors was carried out in Birmingham, UK, to determine doctors' experiences and views of child-bearing whilst working as a doctor. RESULTS: Of the GP responders, 81% had children compared with 49% of hospital doctors. GPs were shown to work fewer hours than hospital doctors. Problems were identified relating to the everyday difficulties faced whilst working and raising a family. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the need to address the difficulties faced by females pursuing this demanding career.
Subject(s)
Child Rearing/psychology , Medical Staff, Hospital/psychology , Parenting/psychology , Physicians, Family/psychology , Physicians, Women/psychology , Career Mobility , Child , Female , Humans , Medical Staff, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Physicians, Family/statistics & numerical data , Physicians, Women/statistics & numerical data , State Medicine , Surveys and Questionnaires , United Kingdom , Workload/psychologyABSTRACT
Ketotifen at an oral dose of 1 mg twice daily was compared with sodium cromoglycate a dose of 20 mg four times daily by inhalation in a double-blind parallel group study lasting 12 weeks. Data relating to 60 patients were analyzed and showed that stabilised asthmatics continued to be stable during the 12-week treatment period on both drugs. There was a significant reduction within the ketotifen group in day and night scores at the end of the 12-week period and more patients on ketotifen had increased evening peak expiratory flow rate values compared with sodium cromoglycate. Ketotifen and sodium cromoglycate were equally well tolerated.
Subject(s)
Asthma/drug therapy , Cromolyn Sodium/therapeutic use , Ketotifen/therapeutic use , Administration, Oral , Adolescent , Adult , Clinical Trials as Topic , Cromolyn Sodium/administration & dosage , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Ketotifen/administration & dosage , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A method is described for the detection of methaqualone and its metabolites in the presence of large doses of other drugs.
