No abstract

The trends seen in resection with intraoperative electron beam irradiation are encouraging with regard to improvements in survival as compared with studies not using intraoperative electron beam irradiation treatment.

Three cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the larynx are described. Histologically, two tumours belonged to the category of low grade B-cell lymphomas of the small cell type (extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma and lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma), and the third was classified as a peripheral T-cell lymphoma of unspecified type. The clinical stage was IE in two cases, and IV in another case. In two cases, complete remission was obtained with radical radiotherapy. But in the other case, which was histologically lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma, the response to radiotherapy was poor, and surgery was required. There was no relapse subsequent to treatment. Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the larynx is rare. Several reported cases have clinical features similar to those of MALT-type lymphomas arising in other extranodal sites. Although most of the reported cases have been cured with radiotherapy, in some cases dissemination to other extranodal sites may occur. Therefore careful periodic evaluation is imperative.

In 38 cases of Stage I lung cancer, for which surgery was not indicated because of poor cardiopulmonary function or other reason, radical irradiation yielded excellent results. The five year survival rate was 42.1%, the 10-year survival rate 28.4% and the 15-year survival rate 17.1%. Postradiation complications which can be life-threatening, were acceptably low in incidence, and there was no radiation-related death. The results support the concept of radical irradiation being acceptable as a treatment modality for Stage I lung cancer if the patients concerned cannot have surgery because of poor cardiopulmonary function or some other reason.

Since patients with endometrial carcinoma tend to be elderly, obese, diabetic and hypertensive, individualization of treatment is very important. The therapy for each patient with endometrial carcinoma should be individualized and determined by the stage and factors predisposing to extrauterine spread of the tumor. Such risk factors include the grade of the tumor and depth of myometrial invasion. Unfortunately, staging based on pelvic examination is inaccurate in endometrial carcinoma and the depth of myometrial invasion cannot be assessed preoperatively. In order to assess its uses in the staging and treatment planning of endometrial cancer, CT was performed in 28 previously untreated patients with endometrial cancer. Twenty patients subsequently underwent surgery and the CT findings were correlated with the surgical and pathologic findings. CT proved to be useful in determining the depth of myometrial invasion and whether cervical involvement is present or not. Such information provided by CT helps to plan treatment more adequately and accurately for the individual patients.