Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy can improve the survival of patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer, when compared to irradiation alone. This survival benefit is essentially due to an increased control of distant micrometastases, whereas local control remains poor. In order to improve local control, new radiotherapy modalities such as 3D conformal treatment, hyperfractionation or accelerated hyperfractionation, are under development. Cytotoxic drugs given at low doses concomitantly to radiotherapy may act as radiosensitizers on the primary tumor. Concomitant chemotherapy at cytotoxic doses and radiotherapy would also allow better control on micrometastases and better local control due to radiosensitization by chemotherapy. However, the concomitant use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is limited by increased toxicity on normal tissues, more particularly on the esophagus. Randomized comparisons of these modalities versus induction chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy are needed to determine the optimal treatment sequence.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Red cell indices in the aged. 1 726 patients over the age of 70 (author's transl)].

Statistical analysis of red cell constants in 1 726 patients over the age of 70 shows that red cell counts, hemoglobin and hematocrits are slightly lower than those in young adults. However, the quality of the red cells is normal, because the MCV (mean cell volume) and MCHC (mean cell hemoglobin concentration) are normal.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Frequency and etiology of anemia in patients over the age of 70 (author's transl)].

The study of 1 726 patients living in homes for the aged, or hospitalized shows that 20% of them have anemia. There is no increase in prevalence of the disease in females. A wide variety of mechanisms may cause anemia. However, chronic bleeding of essentially digestive origin is the most common. Several anemia-causing factors are particularly frequent in the aged: bleeding, inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, bone marrow failure. Diagnosis is complicated and may require examinations which are not always easily accepted by the aged.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Crohn's disease (acute regional colitis) (author's transl)].

This article reports the observation of acute form of Crohn's disease, limited to colonic involvement, in a 40-year old female. Diagnosis was based upon pathologic examination of biopsy. The patient died after four months of acute disease. Clinical and paraclinical justification of the diagnosis of Crohn's disease (colonic), as well as description of treatment are given.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

["Non-secreting" plasma cell myeloma preceded by refractory sideroblastic anemia (author's transl)].

The authors report the association of a refractory sideroblastic anemia and a "non-excreting" plasma cell myeloma. The anemia was observed 8 years before the onset of the myeloma, which had typical hematological characteristics. Both kappa and gamma light chains were found in the cytoplasm and on the surface of the plasma cells. Pathologic characteristics of this type of myeloma are briefly recalled, as well as the relationships between sideroblastic anemia and kahler's disease, an example of disorders of two lines of hematopoiesis (erythrocytes and leucocytes).

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Primary hydatic cyst of the lung. Diagnostic problems (author's transl)].

Diagnosis of primary cystic disease of the lung is often difficult, and because of this, in non-endemic regions, patients are often referred to the surgeon with an erroneous diagnosis. Clinical signs are completely non-specific. The most common one is hemoptysis; X-rays often fail to confirm hydatic cyst because of the volume, topography, or rupture of the cyst. Biological tests are often of little help. Serological reactions are negative in over one-half of the cases. The advantage of other complementary examinations (bronchiography, bronchoscopy, angiography, echotomography, scintigraphy) including transparietal punctions of the cyst, are discussed in light of the literature.

Biopsy↗

PubMedDate not supplied