Radical prostatectomy remains the 'golden standard' therapy for localized prostate carcinoma for patients with a survival rate of more than ten years. However, because of the complications inherent in this surgical procedure, prostatectomy is presently increasingly challenged by various radiotherapy procedures. In the last decade, more sophisticated conformal therapy techniques have been proposed for prostate cancer patients. In parallel, for highly selected patients, brachytherapy is being promoted by an increasing number of medical centers. In fact, brachytherapy techniques for prostate cancers can be traced back to 1911, but recently developed techniques offer reliability and reproducibility, with satisfactory results in terms of tumor control and reduced toxicity, in selected patients. We present here the different techniques that are available today in prostate cancer brachytherapy.

Brachytherapy↗

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[Radiotherapy-induced solid tumors: review of the literature and risk assessment].

Although the first radiation-induced solid tumor was reported as early as 1902, the risk of second tumor has been underestimated by radiation oncologists who treated large numbers of patients with either benign or malignant diseases. Since then, numerous epidemiological studies yielded better knowledge of the risks of radiation-induced malignancies. For instance, radiation-induced tumors are the first cause of death 10 years after treatment for Hodgkin's disease. We present here a literature review of the risks of radiation-tumors in various organs, related to the irradiation dose, age, and associated diseases. The most sensitive organs are the thyroid, central nervous system, breast, bone, and lung, especially in smokers. Higher risks are observed with increasing doses, the shape of the dose-response curve depending on the tumor type, when the irradiation is performed in children or young adults and in patients with retinoblastomas. The risk of radiation-induced tumors should lead the radiation oncology committee to reconsider the dose and technique of irradiation and to reduce the use of ionizing radiation in benign diseases.

Age Factors↗

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[Plea for laparoscopy in closed abdominal injuries].

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Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Chronic hepatopathy and progressive systemic sclerosis. Frequency of association with Gougerot-Sjögren's disease. A report on six new cases (author's transl)].

Six patients with scleroderma (Barnett's type I and II) associated with hepatopathy are reported. Primary biliary cirrhosis was confirmed in four cases and was probably present in one case, while cirrhosis of unknown origin was present in the sixth patient. The outcome was fatal in two cases. Salivary secretions were reduced in all six cases, and a diagnosis of Gougerot-Sjögren's disease was confirmed in four patients. The frequency with which this triple association has been reported suggests that its incidence has been underestimated.

Adult↗