MRI results from investigation of head and neck tumors.

A comparative study between MRI and CT was done with particular reference to the head and neck regions. Compared with CT, MRI offered better tissue contrast, vascular visualization without the need for iodinated contrast media, direct coronal scanning, and a special surface coil for high spatial resolution. MRI is a promising modality for this region despite its difficulty in visualizing bone and its slightly poorer spatial resolution.

[Bone marrow transplantation in patients with leukemia]. / Knochenmarktransplantation bei Patienten mit Leukämien.

Between October 1979 and March 1982, bone marrow transplantations were performed by the Tübingen Group for BMT on 19 patients with acute leukemia in remission and on one patient with chronic myelocytic leukemia in chronic phase. The conditioning regimen consisted of 2 x 60 mg cyclophosphamide/kg and 10 Gy whole-body irradiation with the linear accelerator. The lung dose was limited by shielding to 8 Gy. In 15 patients, the bone marrow cell suspension of the donor was preincubated with antihuman T-cell globulin (AHTCG) for prophylaxis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). All patients showed prompt engraftment of donor cells with good hemopoietic function and complete chimerism. Under reverse isolation in sterile units, no severe bacterial or fungal infections were seen in the phase of bone marrow aplasia. Twelve in twenty patients survived between 25 and 900 days. A severe GVHD was seen only in two patients - one after preincubation with AHTCG. One patient died from relapse of his leukemia, another patient had a testicular relapse which was treated with local radiotherapy. Major problems were seen with chronic GVHD (six patients) and infectious complications, most importantly interstitial pneumonia, in the late post-transplant period.

[Contribution of radiology to the postoperative after care of patients with colorectal tumors]. / Der Beitrag der Radiologie zur postoperativen nachsorge von Patienten mit colorectalen Tumoren.

The prognosis of local recurrences after surgery for colorectal cancer is better than in recurrences of many other tumor sites. Since in most cases secondary tumor growth takes place as local recurrence and distant metastases are infrequent, there is a good chance of detecting the recurrence early in a curable state. This offers good conditions for a radical second operation. Following excision of tumors, double-contrast enema permits a very detailed assessment of the anastomosis, allowing detection of small local recurrences and recognition of postoperative changes or sequelae of delayed healing at the site of the anastomosis. Following amputation of the rectum, computed tomography permits better control of the presacral space than other conventional radiodiagnostic procedures. In both situations, however, integration of both methods is necessary in a consequent time schedule of clinical follow-up with suitable intervals.

[Follow-up computer tomography in patients with carcinoma of the rectum (author's transl)]. / Computertomografische Diagnostik in der Nachsorgebetreuung von Patienten mit Rektumkarzinom.

Conventional X-ray examination, ultrasonography, and skeletal scintigraphy are insufficient diagnostic procedures in the follow-up of many cases after surgery of rectum carcinoma, since they do not allow early diagnosis of local relapses. A report is given, which shows, that in these cases computer tomography may help in diagnosis. Recurrent tumors of 1.5-2 cm diameter may be diagnosed by computer tomography with sufficient reliability; at the same time peritumorous tissue can be looked at and infiltrative growth as well as regional lymph node enlargement may be diagnosed. This will help the surgeon to decide about a second surgical intervention, or it may help the radiologist in localizing and estimating the volume of tumor relapse, which can be of value for X-ray therapy. Thus computer tomography does have its place without doubt in the follow-up of patients after resection of the rectum.