[Best practice guide for radiation therapy of non-small cell bronchial cancers]. / Guide de bonne pratique pour la radiothérapie thoracique exclusive ou postopératoire des carcinomes non à petites cellules.

The objective was the drafting of a practical document intended for radiotherapists and radiophysicists, describing the technique of irradiation of a non small cell bronchial cancer. The good practices concern the care of patients affected by bronchial cancer localized in the thorax and inoperable or patients who must undergo postoperative irradiation. The document has been developed according to a methodology aiming to join the current scientific data from an analysis of the literature on the subject and the assessment of radiotherapists, radiophysicists, lung specialists and methodologists from Rhône-Alpes area. From the stages necessary for the good progress of a radiotherapy, the writers of this document proposed common definitions concerning the centering and the location of the zone to be treated, the calculation of the dose distribution, the preparation of the patient for the treatment, the treatment and the surveillance during the treatment. The recommendations of this guide took into account the peculiarities bound to the nature of the treated region and more particularly the lung heterogeneity, respiratory movements and the radiosensibility of healthy lung tissue. Even if the technical aspect of the radiotherapy was particularly developed, the interest accorded to patient information takes on all its importance for a therapeutic coverage of quality. The authors of the document wished that this Guide of Good Practices, which will be regularly updated, helps the radiotherapists and allows them to harmonize their practices.

Conformity to clinical practice guidelines, multidisciplinary management and outcome of treatment for soft tissue sarcomas.

BACKGROUND: The primary management of adult soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is characterized by heterogeneity across centers. Several studies suggest that it is improved when coordinated by specialized sarcoma centers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study, comparing STS patients of the Rhône-Alpes region treated within and outside the cancer network, retrospectively assesses the conformity of medical practice with 'evidence-based medicine' (EBM) reported under the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) of the French Federation of Cancer Centers. Institutional records of 100 new STS patients seen between 1999 and 2001 in the regional comprehensive cancer center and Lyon University hospital were analyzed retrospectively (50/300 new files randomly selected in each institution). Medical decisions were checked for conformity with CPGs. RESULTS: Median age was 58 years (range 18-88) and median tumor size was 9 cm (range 1-26). The most common primary sites were extremities, viscera or trunk. The most frequent histology was leiomyosarcoma (21%) or liposarcoma (12%). Only 7% of cases were reviewed by formal multidisciplinary committee before biopsy (with 42% pre-surgery biopsies only). The first surgical resection was R0, R1 and R2 in 26, 29 and 45% of cases, respectively. Conformity to CPGs was rated 52, 81, 94 and 95% for initial surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and follow-up, respectively. At multivariate analysis, pre-surgery multidisciplinary discussion, management in reference center and management within cancer network independently predicted conformity to CPGs. CONCLUSIONS: Conformity with EBM was similar to previous reports. Elaboration of treatment strategy within a formal multidisciplinary staff and treatment within a cancer network are both important prognostic factors for optimal clinical care.

[Primary malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast. A study of 5 cases]. / Lymphomes malins non hodgkiniens primitifs du sein. Etude de cinq cas.

Five cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the breast (stage IE in the Ann Arbor staging system) are described. No clinical or radiological feature has permitted to make the diagnosis before surgery. Histologically, all lymphomas are diffuse and B type. Three cases are high grade lymphomas, one of lymphoblastic type. Two cases are of lymphoplasmacytoid type, one of them associated with an occult invasive ductal carcinoma within the same breast, the other changing in high grade lymphoma at the recurrence time. Three of them reveal histological aspects of lymphoepithelial lesions and appear as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas (MALT). The differential diagnosis with a carcinoma is now easily done by immunohistochemical techniques. The importance of a diagnosis before surgery by cytopunction and drill-biopsy has to be emphasized, to prevent an useless mastectomy.

[Pure ovarian dysgerminoma. Evaluation of experiences and definition of a therapeutic strategy]. / Le dysgerminome ovarien pur. bilan d'une expérience et définition d'une stratégie thérapeutique.

The authors present a series of 10 pure dysgerminoma of the ovary treated between 1976 and 1984; mean age = 19.5 years, range 15-46 years. All patients had initial surgery: 8 annexectomies for 5 stages Ia and 3 stages IIIc nodal disease, 1 hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy for a 46 year old stade Ib patient and 1 case of salvage surgery for a progressive disease after a single adnexectomy. Two patients had no adjuvant therapy after initial adnexectomy (stage Ia tumors less than 10 cm in diameter). Four patients received a prophylactic subdiaphragmatic radiation therapy (3 stages Ia tumors larger than 10 cm, 1 stage Ib disease). Three patients received an irradiation for a subdiaphragmatic bulky disease and a prophylactic supradiaphragmatic irradiation (stage IIIc nodal disease). Two patients received chemotherapy, one for recurrence, the other for progressive disease. The authors discuss the therapeutic indications of pure dysgerminoma of the ovary, especially the conservative management of young patients wishing to preserve an hormonal and obstetric future and the value of radiologic and serologic follow-up. Recent data in the literature underline the efficacy of new combinations of cytotoxic agents and their role as an adjuvant of surgery in early as well as in advanced stages.