High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy is used with increasing frequency for the treatment of prostate cancer. It is a technique which allows delivery of large individual fractions to the prostate without exposing adjacent normal tissues to unacceptable toxicity. This approach is particularly favourable in prostate cancer where tumours are highly sensitive to dose escalation and to increases in rad...

Primary osteogenic sarcomas of the breast are exceptionally uncommon. We describe such a case occurring in a 50 year-old woman who presented with a large painful mass in her left breast. Simple mastectomy of the left breast was performed. Microscopical and immunohistochemical findings established the diagnosis of primary osteogenic sarcoma. Similar to extremity osteosarcoma, adjuvant adriamycin...

We describe the construction of a custom-made bite block to be used during external beam radiotherapy to the oral cavity. The bite block is made with standard maxillofacial prosthetic techniques and materials. The design allows accurate and reproducible positioning of the perioral tissues to aid planning of radiotherapy and treatment. The compressibility of this device improves comfort for the ...

A retrospective analysis has been performed of the results of external beam radiotherapy for retinoblastoma using a whole eye technique. Local tumour control has been assessed in a consecutive series of 175 eyes in 142 children all of whom received external beam radiotherapy as the primary treatment for retinoblastoma. Follow up ranged from 2 to 17 years (median 9 years). Tumour control rates h...

Permanent prostate brachytherapy is frequently performed worldwide, and many studies have demonstrated its favorable outcomes. Implant seeds used in this procedure contain a precise amount of radionuclide and are completely sealed. Because these seeds are not manufactured in Japan, they are expensive (6300 yen per seed) and therefore need careful management as a radioisotope. The proper implant...

BACKGROUND Iris metastases of malignant tumors are not common, and most of the cases are unilateral. To our knowledge, there has been no report of bilateral iris tumors metastasized from prostate cancer. CASE A 71-year-old man with a history of prostate cancer presented with bilateral iris tumors and secondary glaucoma. He had had multiple bone metastases, and had undergone chemotherapy. OB...

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to investigate treatment efficacy and side effects of concomitant Aisu® (docetaxel) with three-dimensional conformal external beam radiotherapy for the treatment of inoperable patients with esophageal cancer. METHODS Inoperable patients were treated with three-dimensional conformal external beam radiotherapy (5/week, 2 GY/day, and total dose 60GY) plus doceta...

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to assess treatment and outcome with respect to clinical and pathological features. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-nine patients were identified (range 7-66 years, mean 23). Initial treatment comprised local excision in 11 patients and wide excision in 14. Post-operative external beam radiotherapy was prescribed in 22 patients with a total dose of 60 Gy, deliver...

Orbital retinoblastoma is a catastrophic event traditionally carrying a dismal prognosis. Although its incidence is less in the developed countries it continues to be one of the major diagnosis at presentation in the developing world. Orbital retinoblastoma encompasses a wide range of distinct clinical entities with varying tumor load. There are no standard treatment protocols as of now but the...

Brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy are effective and commonly used treatment modalities in men with localized prostate cancer. In this review, we explore the role of radiation therapy in the curative management of prostate cancer, including the use of conformal therapeutic techniques to allow for the escalation of radiation doses to tumor, along with the use of combined radiation and ...