Recommendations of the Spanish brachytherapy group (GEB) of Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology (SEOR) and the Spanish Society of Medical Physics (SEFM) for high-dose rate (HDR) non melanoma skin cancer brachytherapy.

Clinical indications of brachytherapy in non-melanoma skin cancers, description of applicators and dosimetry recommendations are described based on the literature review, clinical practice and experience of Spanish Group of Brachytherapy and Spanish Society of Medical Physics reported in the XIV Annual Consensus Meeting on Non Melanoma Skin Cancer Brachytherapy held in Benidorm, Alicante (Spain) on October 21st, 2016. All the recommendations for which consensus was achieved are highlighted in blue. Regular and small surfaces may be treated with Leipzig, Valencia, flap applicators or electronic brachytherapy (EBT). For irregular surfaces, customized molds or interstitial implants should be employed. The dose is prescribed at a maximum depth of 3-4 mm of the clinical target volume/planning target volume (CTV/PTV) in all cases except in flaps or molds in which 5 mm is appropriate. Interstitial brachytherapy should be used for CTV/PTV >5 mm. Different total doses and fraction sizes are used with very similar clinical and toxicity results. Hypofractionation is very useful twice or 3 times a week, being comfortable for patients and practical for Radiotherapy Departments. In interstitial brachytherapy 2 fractions twice a day are applied.

[Ocurrence of scorpionism in sanitary districts of Mérida State, Venezuela]. / Ocurrencia de escorpionismo en los distritos sanitarios del estado Mérida, Venezuela.

The highest number of accidents caused by scorpion stings in Mérida State, Venezuela, are caused by the genus Tityus. This study intended to find epidemic data on the occurrence of scorpionism in the Sanitary Districts of the State from 1994 to 2003. The data were gathered from the records of the Epidemiologic Coordination of the region. The monthly mortality EPI15 and mortality EPI13, respectively, were reviewed and evaluated. The data demonstrated that the highest incidence was registered in the Tovar, Vigía and Mérida districts. Eleven fatal accidents were recorded only in the Tovar and Vigía districts. All fatalities (100%) involved children younger than ten years of age. The authors suspect that all of the cases could be caused by the Tityus zulianus scorpion, which is the most abundant species in the region.