Strahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Röntgengesellschaft ... [et al]
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In literature there are only few informations about the influence of postoperative irradiation on the psychological health of breast cancer patients treated by breast-conserving surgery. However, psychological distress and anxiety related to irradiation are often observed. Purpose of our study was the evaluation of the influence of radiotherapy-induced distress in these patients. ⋯ In spite of theoretical considerations our results are explorative in character. However, following statements seem to be important: 1. A large requirement exists to get information about radiotherapy. 2. The patients experience irradiation treatment more positive than initially expected by themselves. 3. With regard to radiotherapy anxiety is reduced during the course of treatment. Here the psychosocial care of the medical staff is an important support for reduction of anxiety.
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To evaluate alternative treatment regimen e.g. neutron therapy determination of treatment efficacy as well as side effects is important. Sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) in detecting changes of connective tissue after neutron therapy was examined. ⋯ Fibrosis is correlated with an increasing value of HU of the tissue density in CT. With the described method it is possible to graduate radiation induced subcutaneous fibrosis in correlation to the clinical fibrosis grade according to LENT SOMA. In the patients we examined subcutaneous fibroses after photon/neutron therapy were moderate. Especially in characterising subclinical or slight changes of connective tissue after radiotherapy computed tomography is of value.
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Calculations on the basis of the LQ-model have been focussed on the possible radiobiological equivalence between common continuous low dose rate irradiation (CLDR) and a superfractionated irradiation (PDR = pulsed dose rate) provided that the same total dose will be prescribed in the same overall time as with the low doserate. A clinically usable fractionation scheme for brachytherapy was recommended by Brenner and Hall and should replace the classical CLDR brachytherapy with line sources with an afterloading technique using a stepping source. The hypothes is that LDR equivalency can be achieved by superfractionation was tested by means of in vitro experiments on V79 cells in monolayer and spheroid cultures as well as on HeLa monolayers. ⋯ The fractionation scheme, derived from the PDR theory to achieve CLDR equivalent effects, is valid for many cell lines, however not for all. Proliferation and dose rate dependend cell cycle effects modify predictions derived from the sublethal damage recovery model and can influence acute irradiation effects significantly. Dose rate sensitivity and rapid proliferation favour cell cycle effects and substantiate, applied to the clinical situation, the possibility of a higher effectiveness of the pulsed irradiation on rapidly growing tumors.
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Chronic pancreatitis is a severe inflammatory process leading to destruction of exocrine tissue, fibrosis and a sometimes fatal pancreatic necrosis. Therapeutic options are poor and restricted to an exclusively symptomatic treatment. In this situation any additional treatment option is welcome. ⋯ The present paper reports the successful irradiation of a patient with severe chronic pancreatitis resistant to any pretreatment. Pain relief was stated one week after beginning of the irradiation. Total dose was 7 Gy, applied with opposing ap/pa fields using 8 MV photons. Three years after treatment the patient has remained free from symptoms. He has gained 14 kg of weight and is working regularly.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
[Prevention of radiochemotherapy-induced mucositis. Value of the prophylactic mouth rinsing with PVP-iodine solution].
Oral mucositis is a frequent complication of radiochemotherapy. The origin of radiation-induced mucosa lesions is of iatrogenic nature although further development of mucositis is essentially influenced by infection. It can be assumed that disinfection measures should decrease the severity of mucositis induced by radiochemotherapy. Therefore, in a prospective randomised study the efficacy of prophylactic oral rinsing with a disinfection agent was investigated. ⋯ The gained results indicate that incidence, severity and duration of radiochemotherapy-induced mucositis can be significantly reduced by oral rinsing with povidone-iodine performed additionally to the standard prophylaxis scheme.