[Two mammographic periods compared]. / Due epoche mammografiche a confronto.

The authors report the results obtained in two different series of cases examined by means of mammography in 1968/74 and in 1987/89. All patients had histologically proven breast cancer. The first series of cases included 183 patients who were examined with a mammographic unit with fixed anode, 0.6 x 0.6 mm focal spot, and 25-40 cm FFD. The second series included 152 patients who were examined with a last-generation mammographic unit with turning anode, 0.3 x 0.3 mm focal spot, 50-65 cm FFD, and radiographic magnification. Lesion staging in the first group went as follows: 10% of patients were T1, and 90% were in more advanced stages; in the second series, 42% were T1 and 52% were in more advanced stages. Mammographic accuracy was 83% in the first series and 84.8% in the second series. The main mammographic features of the lesions and their incidence were analyzed. In 11 patients examined with a last-generation unit, breast cancer was diagnosed for the presence of indirect signs which had not been demonstrated with the older unit. In conclusion, last-generation mammographic units allow an earlier diagnosis to be made, and most signs of breast cancer to be promptly demonstrated.

[Dynamic radiologic study of deglutition in oro-pharyngeal-laryngeal neoplasms and results of their treatment]. / Studio radiologico dinamico della deglutizione nelle neoplasie oro-faringo-laringee ed esiti del loro trattamento.

Swallowing disorders due to oro-pharyngo-laryngeal cancer, or due to the consequences of surgical resection and radiotherapy, should be accurately evaluated to manage properly both nutritional therapy and dysphagia rehabilitation techniques. The site, size, and local spread of such tumors and, especially, the nature and extent of surgical resection and reconstruction, are important factors which are closely related to the functional disorders of deglutition. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate video-fluoroscopy capability to evaluate the incidence, type, and severity of such functional disorders. For this purpose we studied by means of dynamic radiology 23 patients with oral cancer and 33 patients with pharyngeal-laryngeal cancer, most of them after surgical and/or radiological treatment. Eighty-four per cent of the patients had swallowing disorders such as poor oral processing (25%), retention of the bolus in the pharynx (41%), penetration (41%) or aspiration (37%) of the bolus in the airway, dysmotility of upper esophageal sphincter (9%), and structural lesions (61%). The association of these functional disorders was closely related to the pathological background of each patient. In conclusion, a dynamic radiological study is recommended for both pre and postoperative evaluation of these patients, to choose the appropriate nutritional therapy and dysphagia rehabilitation technique.