PURPOSE: Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity. Of the few reported series, most indicate a dismal prognosis. In this report, the clinical presentation, histopathologic criteria used for diagnosis, mode of treatment, and outcome are evaluated in seven patients with SNUC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with SNUC treated at the University of Cincinnati between 1983 and 1993 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Most of the patients presented with extensive local disease, and two patients also had cervical metastases. All except one were treated using a multimodality approach. Four of the seven patients died of disease (DOD), with a mean survival of only 11.5 months following treatment. Inability to eradicate local disease was responsible for treatment failure in all cases. Three patients have achieved short-term control of disease following combined therapy, but one is at high risk for recurrence. CONCLUSION: SNUC was associated with an overall poor prognosis in our series despite aggressive treatment. Control of local disease was the central therapeutic consideration. Intensive multimodality therapy is recommended for all patients with SNUC.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Specific absorption rates in simulated tissue media for a 10 x 10 cm 915-MHz waveguide applicator.

The use of hyperthermia in combination with radiotherapy is currently being investigated at many cancer treatment facilities. Several different types of heating modalities are presently being used and for each of these systems it is important to determine the power distributions of their hyperthermia applicators in tissue-equivalent phantoms. This information will be used for treatment planning, routine quality assurance, and acceptance testing as well as for comparison between these various modalities and systems. This report describes the power distribution characteristics of the Clini-Therm 10 x 10 cm 915-MHz waveguide applicator measured within muscle tissue phantom materials arranged in several clinically relevant treatment configurations. The net increase in temperature that resulted from 20-s pulses of microwave power was measured at various points within each phantom by the system's implantable fiberoptic temperature sensors. From these temperature measurements the distribution of power was calculated as specific absorption rates (SAR). The results are displayed as two-dimensional ISO-SAR maps which relate power levels throughout the irradiated volume to those obtained on the central axis of the applicator. When the applicator was in direct contact with the muscle phantom the highest SAR measured was 2 cm lateral to its central axis along the muscle surface. On the central axis approximately 50% of the power was attenuated by each centimeter of muscle material. The introduction of either fat, bone, or a water-filled pad between the applicator and the muscle altered the pattern of power distribution within the irradiated volume without substantially altering the relative distribution of power along the central axis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗