[Usefulness of urethral endoprosthesis in the management of urinary retention after brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer]. / Intérêt de l'endoprothèse urétrale dans la prise en charge d'une rétention aiguë d'urine après curiethérapie pour cancer localisé de la prostate.

Brachytherapy is a possible treatment for localized low risk prostate cancer. Although this option is minimally invasive, some side effects may occur. Acute retention of urine (ARU) has been observed in 5% to 22% of cases and can be prevented in most cases by alpha-blocker treatment. Several alternatives have been reported in the literature for the management of ARU following brachytherapy: prolonged suprapubic catheterization, transurethral resection of the prostate and also intermittent self-catheterization. The authors report an original endoscopic approach, using urethral endoprosthesis, with a satisfactory voiding status.

The efficacy of hemostatic radiotherapy for bladder cancer-related hematuria in patients unfit for surgery

Objective The aim of our study was to assess short and mid-term clinical efficacy of external beam radiation therapy to achieve hemostasis in patients with bladder-cancer related gross hematuria who were unfit for surgery. We also assessed hypofractionation as a possible alternative option for more severe patients. Patients and Methods Thirty-two patients were included for hemostatic radiation therapy, with two schedules based on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. The standard treatment was 30 Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks. More severe patients underwent a hypofractionated regimen, with 20 Gy in 5 fractions over a one week period. Clinical evaluation was performed at 2 weeks and 6 months. Results At 2 weeks, 69% of patients were hematuria-free. Subgroup analysis showed that 79% of patients undergoing hypofractionated regimen were hematuria-free. A total of 54% were hematuria-free with the standard regimen. Based on tumor stage, hematuria was controlled at 2 weeks for 57% of non-muscle invasive tumors and 72% of muscle-invasive tumors. After 6 months, 69% of patients had relapsed, regardless of tumor stage or therapy schedules. Conclusions Hemostatic radiotherapy is an effective option for palliative-care hematuria related to bladder cancer in patients unfit for surgery. Although it appears to be rapidly effective, its effect is of limited duration. Hypofractionation also seems to be an effective option; however larger cohorts and prospective trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy compared to standard schedules. .

Removal of 8-quinolinecarboxylic acid pesticide from aqueous solution by adsorption on activated montmorillonites.

Sodium montmorillonite (Na-M), acidic montmorillonite (H-M), and organo-acidic montmorillonite (Org-H-M) were applied to remove the herbicide 8-quinolinecarboxylic acid (8-QCA). The montmorillonites containing adsorbed 8-QCA were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray fluorescence thermogravimetric analysis, and physical adsorption of gases. Experiments showed that the amount of adsorbed 8-QCA increased at lower pH, reaching a maximum at pH 2. The adsorption kinetics was found to follow the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The Langmuir model provided the best correlation of experimental data for adsorption equilibria. The adsorption of 8-QCA decreased in the order Org-H-M > H-M > Na-M. Isotherms were also used to obtain the thermodynamic parameters. The negative values of ΔG indicated the spontaneous nature of the adsorption process.

The efficacy of hemostatic radiotherapy for bladder cancer-related hematuria in patients unfit for surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess short and mid-term clinical efficacy of external beam radiation therapy to achieve hemostasis in patients with bladder-cancer related gross hematuria who were unfit for surgery. We also assessed hypofractionation as a possible alternative option for more severe patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients were included for hemostatic radiation therapy, with two schedules based on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status. The standard treatment was 30 Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks. More severe patients underwent a hypofractionated regimen, with 20 Gy in 5 fractions over a one week period. Clinical evaluation was performed at 2 weeks and 6 months. RESULTS: At 2 weeks, 69% of patients were hematuria-free. Subgroup analysis showed that 79% of patients undergoing hypofractionated regimen were hematuria-free. A total of 54% were hematuria-free with the standard regimen. Based on tumor stage, hematuria was controlled at 2 weeks for 57% of non-muscle invasive tumors and 72% of muscle-invasive tumors. After 6 months, 69% of patients had relapsed, regardless of tumor stage or therapy schedules. CONCLUSIONS: Hemostatic radiotherapy is an effective option for palliative-care hematuria related to bladder cancer in patients unfit for surgery. Although it appears to be rapidly effective, its effect is of limited duration. Hypofractionation also seems to be an effective option; however larger cohorts and prospective trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy compared to standard schedules.

[Ductal carcinoma in situ: role of the boost]. / Radiothérapie des carcinomes canalaires in situ: impact du complément d'irradiation du lit tumoral.

Ductal carcinoma in situ is defined as breast cancer confined to the ducts of the breast without evidence of penetration of the basement membrane. Local treatment quality represents one of the most prognostic factors as half of recurrences are invasive diseases. The main goal of adjuvant radiotherapy after conservative surgery is to decrease local recurrences and to permit breast conservation with low treatment-induced sequelae. Several randomized trials have established the impact of 50 Gy to the whole breast in terms of local control. Nevertheless, no randomized trial is still available concerning the role of the boost in this disease. In this review, we present updated results of the literature and we detail the French multicentric randomized trial evaluating the impact of a 16 Gy boost after 50 Gy delivered to the whole breast in 25 fractions and 33 days. This protocol will start inclusions in October 2008.

Cervical dystonia mimicking dropped-head syndrome after radiotherapy for laryngeal carcinoma.

We report a case of cervical dystonia mimicking dropped-head syndrome (DHS) in a 57-year-old man treated for laryngeal carcinoma by radiotherapy (74.4 Gy) 3 months before. Cervical computerized tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not find any muscle fat changes but found a high-intensity signal on T2 weighted images in the cervical spinal cord. Clinical and electromyographic findings were consistent with cervical dystonia. A trapezius biopsy was normal. Spontaneous remission of the dystonia was observed for 1 month whereas the laryngeal carcinoma progressed. The link between cervical dystonia and radiotherapy might be acute radiation-induced damage to the cervical spinal cord.

[Radiosurgery of single brain metastasis without combined total cerebral irradiation. Results of a consecutive series of 12 cases]. / Radiochirurgie de métastase cérébrale unique sans irradiation cérébrale totale associée. Résultats d'une série consécutive de 12 cas.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of radiosurgery without whole brain irradiation for a solitary brain metastasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 1994 and November 1996, 12 patients were treated for a single brain metastasis by radiosurgery alone. Median age was 53, and 10 patients had a Karnofsky performance status above 70. Half the patients had active extracranial disease at the time of radiosurgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery delivered a single dose of 20 Gy (specified at the isocenter with a 70% isodose reference curve). Evaluation of results was performed according to local control, survival, evolution of performance status, as well as evolution of neurologic symptoms. RESULTS: No patient had immediate toxicity. One month later, ten patients showed improvement in their neurologic impairments, and none had progression of the cerebral lesion according to CT scan evaluation (diminution for seven patients, and stabilization for five). Local control rate was 58%, and median time to failure was 4 months. The overall median survival time was 10 months. Three patients were alive, with good performance status, and six died following cerebral progression. CONCLUSION: These poor results in terms of local control are in favor of supplementary whole brain irradiation, except for particular cases.