BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the concomitant use of docetaxel and carboplatin for radiosensitization in head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One dose of docetaxel at 10 mg/m2 and five doses of carboplatin at AUC of 0.4 per week were administered to patients during the first two weeks of radiotherapy. Sixteen patients were treated with this regimen. Radiotherapy was given to a total dose of 64.8 to 82.0 Gy. Altered fractionation radiotherapy was performed in 12 patients with untreated advanced tumors. RESULTS: The complete response (CR) rate was 81%, with a partial response (PR) rate of 19%. Toxicities included grade 3 mucositis in 69% of patients and grade 2 dermatitis in 56% of patients. CONCLUSION: This schedule of docetaxel and carboplatin combined with radiotherapy may become a useful approach for the management of head and neck cancer with proper management of mucositis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Power spectral analysis of auditory brainstem responses and MRI findings in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration.

Power spectrum analysis of auditory brainstem responses (ABR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were obtained from 14 patients, 9 with olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA; Dejerine-Thomas type) and 5 with Holmes-type cerebello-olivary degeneration, and compared to data from normal controls. The power spectrum was divided into three components according to frequency: up to 400 Hz (slow component); from 400 to 800 Hz (middle component); and 800 to 3,000 Hz (fast component). In patients with OPCA, the slow component appeared significantly less often than in both groups, normal controls (p < 0.0005) and patients with Holmes-type degeneration (p < 0.005), and the middle component appeared significantly more often than in both groups (p < 0.0005). There was a significant positive correlation between the proportion of the slow component and midbrain diameter (p = 0.04) and a significant negative correlation between the proportion of the fast component and midbrain diameter (p = 0.02). We conclude that the power spectrum differs between OPCA and Holmes-type degeneration, and that the proportion of each component of the power spectrum is related to midbrain volume.

Adult↗