[Mediastinal involvement in cancers of the subglottis, hypopharynx and cervical esophagus]. / Mediastinale Beteiligung bei Karzinomen der Subglottis, des Hypopharynx und des zervikalen Osophagus.

In carcinoma of subglottis, hypopharynx, and cervical oesophagus there is a high risk of mediastinal involvement by continuous infiltration of lymphogeneous metastatic spread because of tight neighbourhood. In progress of the disease we saw mediastinal involvement in 46.2% of subglottic carcinoma (n = 26), and in 44.1% of hypopharyngeal carcinoma (n = 79). Stomal recurrence after laryngectomy or tumour invasion of the oesophagus appeared to signify regularly mediastinal involvement. We recommend high attentiveness to the caudal borderline resection, to aspire complete oesophagectomy in cases of oesophageal cancer, and to include mediastinum into postoperative radiation area.

[Metal plate osteosynthesis and follow-up irradiation. An animal experiment study]. / Metallplatten-Osteosynthese und Nachbestrahlung. Eine tierexperimentelle Studie.

Osteosynthesis by titanium plates represents a versatile tool for immediate rehabilitation in head and neck oncologic surgery. If followed by radiation therapy, however, plate rejection and bone necrosis may be the result, as dose increases have been shown at the critical tissue-metal interface. Therefore an experimental study on rabbits was conducted to examine the effect of a 60 Gy radiation therapy after titanium plate osteosynthesis of the femur. Histologic examination showed no impairment of the radiated bone; all plates and screws were fixed closely by healthy bone tissue. Therefore, titanium plate osteosynthesis, followed by radiation therapy, seems to be possible; scrupulous observation of some modalities concerning radiation therapy as well as operative technique is, however, recommended.