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Biomedical subjects

A Robert Kagan

Publications and source records attributed to A Robert Kagan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the prostate: a point of view.

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate (CaP) is treated by surgery or irradiation, or both, with the type of treatment determined largely by local resources and referral patterns. Although the techniques employed by surgeons and radiation oncologists have improved and the morbidities associated with each have declined, for neither are they negligible. Epidemiologic data suggest that between 81% and 85% of men with CaP die of other causes, and a recent survey of untreated men arrived at a similar figure of 83%. Clinical reports, based upon postoperative tumor volume and grade, show that at least 5% of prostatectomies are unnecessary but the extent to which the other 95% benefit from this procedure is unclear. Some sense of these benefits is provided by a randomized, prospective clinical trial that compared prostatectomy with watchful waiting, and found only a 6% gain in overall survival after 8 years. These data call into question the promotion of highly complex and expensive radiation therapy equipment for the treatment of CaP when the prospects for increased life expectancies are at best small and unlikely to be distinguishable from results achieved by surgery, conventional external beam, or radioactive-seed implants.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2004

Communicating with patients.

The effective clinician realizes that more than accurate factual information is necessary for effective communication. The responsibility for this communication is the doctor's. Herein is an examination of some of the major areas of contention that, if acknowledged by the physician, can lead to better communication with the patient.

Communication↗
PubMed2002

Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible: scientific basis for clinical staging.

Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible can be a serious complication of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. The disorder generally presents in one of several distinct clinical variations. This is probably because of a complex interaction of etiologic factors. A clinical staging system for the disorder is described. Such a system is necessary for the conduct of clinical research, and for the development and assessment of treatment regimens.

Head and Neck Neoplasms↗