conclusions physicians should be aware of this rare site of metastasis. early diagnosis is of paramount importance in order to effectively prevent the significant morbidity this condition can cause if left untreated. introduction small cell carcinoma constitutes the most aggressive type of lung cancer, with the greatest propensity for early disseminated disease. although commonly neglected due ...

In extensive disease of small cell lung cancer a doubling of the one-year-survival rate was reported in August 2007 by prophylactic cranial irradiation applied to patients who experienced any response to initial chemotherapy. We discuss the treatment concept of extensive disease in the face of the latest results and older studies with additional thoracic irradiation in this subgroup. A randomiz...

A 38 year old woman who had undergone irradiation during infancy for a left facial cutaneous arteriovenous malformation sequentially developed complete palsies of the ipsilateral VII, V, XI, IX, X, XII and VI cranial nerves. Apart from optic and olfactory nerve damage there are few reports of radiotherapy causing cranial nerve injury. We link the unusually extensive and progressive neural damag...

A transient cerebral disturbance characterized by somnolence of varying degree is described in children after cranial irradiation given as part of central nervous system (C.N.S.) prophylaxis for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in remission.Out of 28 such children receiving cranial irradiation as part of the Medical Research Council protocol for C.N.S. prophylaxis 11 (39%) developed pronounced sym...

Fifty-four consecutive children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) were treated from August 1974 until December of 1976 at Rosewell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) according to a protocol which substituted cranial irradiation with systemic intermediate dose methotrexate (IDM) 500 mg/m2 each 3 weeks for a total of 3 courses immediately following induction. Of 54 patients, 52 went into remissio...

The role of radiation therapy in the primary management of small cell lung cancer is very much a matter of current debate. Its value in palliative treatment is unquestioned. Disappointment in the apparent inability to demonstrate improvement in survival in some randomized studies as a result of locoregional radiotherapy and prophylactic cranial irradiation may be due to the use of inappropriate...

BACKGROUND The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, growth hormone deficiency, and cardiovascular risk factors among adult survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with or without cranial irradiation. METHODS Follow-up was undertaken of 75 randomly selected long-term childhood ALL survivors. Testing included fasting insulin, gluc...

Improved treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has virtually eliminated testicular relapse. However, the control of central nervous system (CNS) leukemia remains a therapeutic challenge in childhood ALL, partly because of the late complications arising from cranial irradiation. In most current pediatric protocols, cranial irradiation (12 to 18 Gy) is given to 5% to 25% of patients--t...