[Assessment of radiation injuries to the salivary glands after treatment of head and neck cancers]. / Ocena wystepowania póznego odczynu popromiennego w obrebie slinianek po napromienianiu nowotworów glowy i szyi.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the quality of life, measured in LENT-SOMA and DISCHE scale, of patients with xerostomia as late irradiation injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 45 head and neck cancer patients were radically irradiated receiving doses from 48 Gy to 76.8 Gy (mean: 65.1 Gy) on PTV. Patients received doses from 48 to 76 Gy on salivary gland (mean: 63.8 Gy, SD: 8). The irradiation injury of the oral cavity was assessed using DISCHE scale at the end of radiotherapy and late radiation sequels of salivary gland was assessed in 6 and 7 month after radiotherapy using DISCHE and LENT-SOMA scale. The average follow-up for this group of patients was 8 months. RESULTS: All patients with 6 and more points of acute reactions assessed in DISCHE scale at the end of radiotherapy have had xerostomia in follow-up period. Results measured by LENT-SOMA scale was similar to DISCHE scale. CONCLUSIONS: Dose escalation of radiotherapy increases number of xerostomia as late irradiation injury. Both scales (LENT-SOMA and DISCHE) are similar in qualifying and quantifying of salivary gland radiation injury. Minimal therapeutic dosage prescribed on salivary gland after which irradiation injury occurred was 63 Gy.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of the calcaneal spurs radiotherapy]. / Ocena skutecznosci radioterapii bolesnych ostróg kosci pietowych.

The radiotherapy results of 46 calcaneal spurs were analysed. Patients were irradiated using fraction dose of 1.0 Gy, 1.5 Gy or 2.0 Gy up to total dose of 2.0-22.5 Gy. All patients previously had chronic pain in the plantar region influencing possibility of walking and not reacting for conventional treatment. Whole group was periodically controlled after the treatment completion. The mean follow-up period was 12.5 months. The complete pain relief was observed in 9% cases one month after treatment and in 52% during the last control. The lack of analgetic effect was noted only in 3% cases as well one month after the treatment as during the last examination. Performed statistical analysis showed only inverse significant correlation between degree of pain relief six months after the treatment and duration of symptoms. Obtained results allow to form conclusion that radiotherapy of calcaneal spurs is easy, effective and safe way of analgetic treatment giving good results after low fraction and total delivered doses and that its efficacy depends on symptoms duration what is correlated to disease stage.