[The role of postoperative radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer; a retrospective analysis of our experience].

Sixty-one patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer followed by postoperative radiotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-six patients were male and 15 were female. Ages ranged 34-79 (median 64) years. Squamous cell carcinoma (scc) in 28, adenoca. in 31, large cell ca in 1 and adenoid cystic ca. in 1. Pathological stage was IIA in 1, IIB in 9, IIIA in 41 and IIIB in 10. Over-all 5-year survival rate (OS) was 56.0%, and 5-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) was 39.7%. For IIB, IIIA, IIIB patients, OS were 77.8%, 55.4%, 24.0% respectively. According to purpose of radiotherapy, patients divided into 3 types as local invasion (LI) group (T3-4N0-1, n = 12), lymphnode metastases (LN) group (T1-2N2-3, n = 38) and both advanced (BA) group (T3-4N2-3, n = 8). OS were 71.6%, 50.7%, 46.9% and DFS were 68.6%, 31.0%, 42.9% respectively. In LN group, half of patients with scc had no relapse, but about half of non-scc had distant metastases. All N2 patients divided 2 types as single-station N2 and multi-station N2. OS were 71.8%, 40.0% and DFS were 53.5%, 21.1% respectively. DFS was significantly different (p = 0.04). The advantage was remarkable in patients with scc-single-station N2 (OS was 88.9%, DFS was 77.8%). The effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy is not showed, but our results suggest the possibility for existence of subgroup benefited from postoperative radiotherapy.

[Dynamic MR imaging of the pituitary gland by the fast spin echo (RARE) sequence].

The Fast Spin Echo (RARE: Rapid Acquisition with Relaxation enhancement) sequence for the dynamic MRI of the pituitary gland was performed in 18 patients suspected of the intracranial lesions. The SNR of the plain image of 5 pituitary glands was measured on the FSE 400 and 200/17/8/2 (TR/effective TE/echo train length/excitation) and the spin echo 100/11/2 (TR/TE/excitation) sequence. The FSE (TR = 400) provided the highest SNR than others, The FSE sequence was able to acquire increased spatial resolution and reduced acquisition time, and was the significant sequence for the dynamic MRI of the pituitary gland.

[Effects of articulating paper on mandibular paths in lateral and protrusive excursions].

Mandibular movements in 7 normal dentulous subjects during lateral and protrusive excursions were studied to investigate the effects of the clinical use of articulating paper on mandibular paths. Mandibular movements with or without the intraoral articulating paper (thickness: 35 microns) were detected as the lower incisal point displacement and were recorded three-dimensionally with the Selspot system. The date displayed on the X-Y chart recorder on the selected plane were analyzed quantitatively. 1. The paths of the mandible differed between the outward (from the intercuspal position) and the return (backward to the intercuspal position) movements. In lateral excursions the return path tended to be antero-inferior to the outward path, whereas in protrusive excursions the former tended to be dextro-inferior to the latter. 2. In lateral excursions the return path tended to be less stable than the outward path. In protrusive excursions no significant difference was found between the two paths. 3. In lateral excursions, 21-34% of the movements performed using the articulating paper deviated from the normal paths made without using the paper, and in the case of protrusive excursions, deviation was found in 21-50%. At or near the intercuspal position, the return path showed a greater deviation than the outward path. Near the edge-to-edge position, however, the relationship between these two path was reversed. 4. It is suggested that, when the articulating paper is used, the directions of the movement should be taken into account and sufficient care should be paid in occlusal adjustment because the range of functional movement may be overestimated.