Nasopharyngeal carcinoma among the population in Jerusalem.

PURPOSE: Because the incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma differs in various ethnic groups, the heterogeneous population of Jerusalem was selected for an epidemiologic study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 63 consecutive patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were collected in a retrospective manner. Information regarding sex, age, ethnic origin, tobacco and alcohol consumption, chronic sinusitis, and immunoglobulin (Ig)G to Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen was tabulated and was statistically analyzed by the z test. RESULTS: The results showed an increased incidence of disease in the Sephardi Jews, especially of Moroccan origin. The histologic type was 100% poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma, and was associated with a better prognosis than is usually seen in the literature. CONCLUSION: This study identified an ethnic-related pattern of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Jerusalem, and found a 100% incidence of poorly differentiated squamous carcinoma, and a better survival rate than the literature suggests, which may be attributable to the histologic type.

[Value of partial protection of lung tissue for prevention of radiation pneumonitis after total body irradiation]. / Znachenie chastichnoi zashchity legochnoi tkani v preuprezhdenii luchevogo pnevmonita posle total'nogo oblucheniia organizma.

Interstitial pneumonitis is one of the most serious complications in patients after bone marrow transplantation, and irradiation plays the main role in its etiology. A total of 44 patients with blood diseases were subjected to total-body irradiation before bone marrow transplantation. Chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide in a dose of 60 mg/kg/day, was conducted during two successive days. Group I patients (n-23) were subjected to irradiation in a total dose of 12 Gy used as 6 fractions of 2 Gy twice a day, during 3 successive days. Group II patients, after irradiation with 6 Gy, were protected with lung shields that inhibited 50% of irradiation thus reducing the irradiation dose in the area of the lung up to 9 Gy. Then the patients received a total dose of 6 Gy during two days. Radiation pneumonitis developed in 6 out of 23 patients, 3 of them died. No non-infectious complications of the lungs were observed in group II patients with partial protection of the lung tissue. The data obtained have evidenced that thoroughly developed radiotherapeutic program with a special attention to the prevention of excessive irradiation of the lung tissue can reduce incidence of radiation pneumonitis in patients after bone marrow transplantation.