Mandibular osseous metastasis from esophageal carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature.

A case of mandibular osseous metastasis from a primary esophageal adenocarcinoma is reported. Review of the literature shows this to be the third reported case of metastatic involvement of the jaws by esophageal carcinoma, and the second to involve the mandible.

BioGraf 3D: an algorithm for optimization and graphical representation of nuclear structure spatial distributions.

BioGraf 3D is a computer algorithm for rapid three dimensional visualization and analysis of digitized three dimensional biological data to aid in the subsequent generation of models of nuclei or cells. This graphically oriented program permits unlimited three dimensional perspective viewpoints of data in onscreen single frame, zoom or stereo forms. Analysis of data is enhanced by an optimization problem solution which determines viewpoint coordinates whereby maximum clustering of preselected structures is achieved. Mathematical representation of the transformations and optimization is presented in detail. Biograf 3D is written in the C programming language for IBM and compatible personal computers. In this study BioGraf 3D is utilized to examine the infrastructure of the nucleus and the spatial distribution of meiotic chromosomes in the hermaphroditic nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Cranial nerve involvement with carcinoma of prostate.

Eleven patients with known prostate cancer presented with cranial nerve deficits and skull metastases during the course of their disease. All were treated with radiation therapy to the base of skull. Of the 11 patients, 10 (91%) responded to therapy. Four of the patients in the responder group had complete resolution of the cranial nerve deficits. This response lasted until their death. One patient had a complete response but later relapsed and is still alive. He is the only survivor of the 11 patients. Partial responses were achieved in 5 patients. These patients had either improvement but not resolution of the cranial nerve deficit or, in cases of multiple nerve involvement, there was response of some of the involved nerves. Four of the partial responders retained the response until their death. One patient achieved partial response but later relapsed with additional nerve deficits. The development of this problem represented a grave prognostic factor as 10 patients died within a median of five months (range 1-16 months) after presentation. One patient is alive nineteen months later but in poor condition with disease progression. Only 1 patient (9%) did not achieve any response to therapy. His treatment was not completed due to deterioration of his general health. The seventh cranial nerve was the most frequently involved either alone or in combination with other nerves. The most commonly used treatment schedule was 3,000 rad in 10 treatments (7 cases). We conclude that effective palliation is achieved though short survival is possible.

Complications from intraperitoneal radioactive phosphorus in ovarian malignancies.

A retrospective study of the use of phosphorus-32 in the treatment of 73 cases of ovarian malignancy to evaluate the safety and morbidity is presented. The surgically confirmed major complication rate with P-32 alone was 4 of 54 cases (7.4%). The addition of external radiation raised the surgically confirmed complication rate to 4 of 19 cases (21%) and with the addition of those diagnosed and treated only medically the rate rose to 8 of 19 cases (42%). In Stage I cases, Grades 1 and 2, there was only 1 death in 26 patients (96%), whereas for Grade 3 tumors only 6 of 12 patients (50%) were living at the end of 2 years.

Triple course external beam radiotherapy for carcinoma of the prostate.

In 1976 we began using a triple-course technique of external beam irradiation for localized carcinoma of the prostate. The treatment consisted of 2 courses of 20 Gy in 2 weeks to the pelvis and a third course of 20-25 Gy in 2-2 1/2 weeks as a boost to the prostate. A 2 week rest followed the first and second courses. The results of this treatment technique are reported on the first 50 patients who had been followed for at least 3 years. Although 96% of these patients developed bladder and/or bowel reactions, the majority of the symptoms were in the very mild to mild category, with only 2% severe reactions referrable to each organ. The incidence of late complications in this series compared favorably to those reported by other authors. Clinical local control was 96% while post-treatment needle biopsy performed on 22/50 patients yielded a negative rate of 86%. Those with Stages A and B disease had a negative biopsy rate of 94%. Three-year uncorrected disease-free survival for the whole group was 54%. This study has shown that with triple course external beam irradiation, excellent control of localized carcinoma of the prostate can be achieved with minimal acute morbidity.

The use of Laminaria japonica in intracavitary radiation therapy when anesthesia is contraindicated.

Laminaria tents have been used to dilate the cervix for interruption of pregnancy and other intrauterine procedures. Their use is presented in 5 patients with cervical and endometrial carcinoma where general anesthesia was contraindicated. Cervical dilation was sufficient with a single Laminaria to carry out intrauterine and intravaginal instrumentation for radiation therapy with no local or general anesthesia.

Radiation therapy for renal transplant rejection reactions.

Forty-four renal transplant patients were given radiation therapy for severe rejection phenomena. The 29 patients who had only one course of irradiation had a 52.3% successful function rate. Fifteen patients received from two to four courses of irradiation with an ultimate 60% rate of sustained function. Fifty patients who received only steroid and other medical management but no irradiation had a 60% rate of successful renal function. In the irradiation group, no patient whose creatinine level did not respond to radiation therapy maintained a functioning kidney. The data indicate that the overall successful function rate is maintained by radiation therapy in patients who show severe allograft rejection phenomena.

Cancer trends: glioblastoma multiforme and radiation therapy.

After a century of experience with brain tumors, oncologists today can offer the patient with glioblastoma multiforme only limited survival time with the best treatments known today. Radiation therapy has prolonged survival, though not to significant degree.

Palliative irradiation of brain metastases.

The records of 121 patients with brain metastases from a 3-year-period were reviewed. Radiation therapy was given to 113 patients, 80 per cent received 30 Gy in 2 weeks. Before irradiation 11 were operated upon. Significant neurologic improvement was obtained in 60 per cent of the irradiated cases. Recurrences, retreatment and the necessity of higher initial doses in selected cases are discussed.

Pathological findings after preoperative irradiation for carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Pathological descriptions of specimens obtained in 17 patients with urinary bladder carcinoma both at biopsy before preoperative irradiation and after surgery are presented. No positive lymph nodes were found in 16 patients who had lymphadenectomy at the time of surgery. No tumor was found postoperatively in 58.8% of patients and 82.3% had a reduction in tumor stage.

Achalasia of the esophagus associated with Hodgkin disease.

Esophageal achalasia has not been reported in the literature as a complication of Hodgkin disease. Involvement of the esophagus is rare but when present, consists mostly of bleeding, ulceration or diverticuli. A case is reported in a fifty-one year old female with achalasia of the distal third of the esophagus associated with Hodgkin disease, Stage II B.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma in a child.

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma is a rare tumor in children and has been reported previously on only three occasions. This is the fourth such case, presenting with a large mass on the left side which displaced the sigmoid and ureters to the right. The patient was treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. She is alive and well more than four years after therapy was instituted. A review of the pertinent literature cites the need for radio- and chemotherapy especially when surgical removal is incomplete.