[en] Ninety-two consecutive patients with stages IB and IIA carcinoma of the cervix were treated by one of two regimens: pre-operative intracavitary caesium-137 followed by a Wertheim hysterectomy (group 1) or staging laparotomy with biopsy of suspicious lymph nodes (group 2) (if there was no evidence of tumour on examination of a frozen section of the lymph nodes a Wertheim hysterectomy was performed, but if a tumour was present the abdomen was closed and a course of radical irradiation given). When there was evidence of extracervical spread on examination of the specimen after the Wertheim hysterectomy, postoperative irradiation was given. It was found that clinical staging had been incorrect in 38,5% of patients thought to have stage IB disease and in 71,4% of those thought to have stage IIA disease. The actuarial survival curves showed no significant statistical difference between group 1 and group 2. When examination of the operative specimen showed tumour invasion of the parametrium only, the disease was well controlled by postoperative irradiation (all 7 such patients survived). On the other hand, when there was evidence of tumour invasion of pelvic lymph nodes the 4-year survival rate fell to 31% (4 out of 13 patients), despite the use of postoperative irradiation

[en] A total tumour irradiation dose of 2900 rad and a dose of 2500 rad to a metastasis, as well as the administration of 330mg/m² adriamycin, successfully eradicated all traces of malignant disease after partial surgical excision in a 12-year-old Black boy with a rhabdomyosarcoma of the mediastinum. The treatment, however, damaged the heart and caused the death of the patient

[en] These 2 case reports serve to emphasize two important points concerning carcinoma of the cervix: (i) blood-borne metastases are now frequently encountered in this disease; and (ii) in selected cases surgical excision of a secondary deposit in the lung is the treatment of choice and may even result in cure

[en] A trial comparing two different radiotherapy techniques and schedules is the treatment of 83 patients with advanced cancer of the uterine cervix (stage IIIB) employing external irradiation alone is described. The one technique, used routinely in this department, employed a conventional daily fractionation schedule while the other used a high-dose weekly fractionation regimen. The techniques are described. The aim of the trial was to compare the efficacy and morbidity of these two methods of treatment. Dose distribution curves in cross-section and midsagittal planes are shown and calculations or equivalent doses at various selected points using Ellis's nominal single-dose formula are tabulated. The 2-year survival figures were 33% for the daily fractionation technique and 22% for the weekly regimen. Serious late complication rates were 6% for the daily regimen and 22% for the weekly schedule. These differences are not statistically significant. Late complication rates in the weekly fractionation regimen appeared to be lower than figures quoted by other authors. Local control within the irradiated volume was beter in the group treated by the daily fractionation method

[en] Oestrogen receptors were measured in the cytoplasmic fraction of tummours from patients with breast cancer. Receptors were detected in 48% of patients, and 52% showed no receptors. A follow-up study of a small group of patients on hormone therapy is reported