[Pancreatoblastoma in a child (case report)]. / Pankreatoblastoma u dece (prikaz slucaja).

This paper presents a rare form of pancreatic malignancy in childhood, pancreatoblastoma, tumor rarely encountered in children and adolescents. This tumor is also very interesting because of differential diagnosis toward other retroperitoneal tumors in children. They are most frequently diagnosed accidentally during clinical or ultrasonographic examination. We are presenting a case of 14 year old girl in whom a tumor was found during the investigation for the dull pain below the left rib margin. Tumor was successfully removed surgically. A 26 months follow-up was without any signs of recurrence of the primary tumor.

[Changes in the dynamics of the population in Eastern Croatia 1948-1991]. / Promjene u dinamici stanovnistva Istocne Hrvatske 1948-1991.

PIP: "Changes in the dynamics of the population in Eastern Croatia are shown, on the level of its natural (geographic) components as well as in its regional units (former communes) for the period 1948-1991. Regional distribution of the population is shown and differential development of the population is observed. Ageing of the population is established, a drop in the natural growth rate and strengthening of depopulational and emigrational processes." (EXCERPT)^ieng

[Regional differences and problems of population development in Croatia, 1948-1991]. / Regionalne razlicitosti i problemi kretanja stanovnistva Hrvatske 1948-1991.

The authors analyze changes in population size and density in Croatia from 1948 to 1991. "Since the end of World War II the population growth rate has been in a permanent decline in Croatia due to occasional intense emigration, but also due to decrease in the number of newborn and increased number of deaths (ageing of the population in spite of higher living standards). This has been happening all over Croatia, which displays great differences in population density.... Polarization is significant also in migration of the population in urban and rural settlement...." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil as induction chemotherapy followed by radiation therapy in metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of an unknown primary tumor localized to the neck. A phase II study.

12 patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of an unknown primary tumor localized to the neck were treated with induction chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Median age was 54 years (range, 39-68 years) and male to female ratio was 2:1. Five (42%) patients had N3 disease and 7 (58%) had N2 disease. Induction chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin 60 mg/m2, days 1 and 2 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 500 mg/m2, days 3 and 4. Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks to a total of 3 cycles. After 4 weeks rest, patients underwent radiation therapy. It was given to all possible sites of the primary tumor (nasopharynx, pyriform sinus, and the base of the tongue). The radiation therapy dosage planned to the whole neck, nasopharynx, and supraclavicular area was 45 Gy in 24 daily fractions in 5 weeks, increasing to 60-70 Gy to the metastatic site. We observed 9 (75%) complete responses and 1 (8%) partial response. 7 (58%) patients are currently with no evidence of disease. Median survival time for all patients is 36 months (range, 14+ to 56 months), while median survival time for N3 patients was 32 months (range, 26-56 months). Toxicities were predominantly mild to moderate nausea and vomiting and mucositis. This combined modality appears to be effective and feasible in treatment of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of an unknown primary tumor localized to the neck.

Carboplatin and radiation therapy for stage IV carcinoma of the head and neck. Preliminary results of a phase II study.

34 patients with head and neck cancer were treated with carboplatin and radiation therapy. Eligibility criteria included stage IV biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma with measurable disease and no distant metastases, Karnofsky performance status score of 60 or greater, age 18 years or more, no previous radiation therapy and adequate hematological, renal, and hepatic function. There were 27 males and 7 females. Ages ranged from 44-70 years with a median of 57 years. Follow-up ranged from 11-34 months with a median of 21 months. Total tumor doses ranged from 50-55 Gy with additional boosts of 15-20 Gy. Carboplatin was given in a dose of 100 mg/m2 once weekly (26 patients) and 200 mg/m2 once every 2 weeks (8 patients), during the radiation therapy course in all 34 patients. Each dose of carboplatin preceded irradiation. 25 patients responded while 9 did not. There were 19 complete responses (CR) and 6 partial responses. 4/19 CR recurred and 5/9 non-responding patients died of disease. Mild to moderate nausea and vomiting were seen in 52.3% of patients and mucositis was seen in 61.8% of patients. Moderate to severe hematological toxicity was seen in 35.3% of patients. Response rates and toxicity we observed during this study clearly show that the combination of carboplatin and radiation therapy is effective and suitable for the treatment of patients with stage IV head and neck cancer.