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Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head with Combination Therapy

Four patients with malignant lymphoma who were treated with multiple courses of combination chemotherapy, consisting of cyclophosphamide, Oncovin, procarbazine, and prednisone (COPP), developed avascular necrosis of the femoral head(s). Disorders usually associated with the development of avascular necrosis were absent. The total prednisone dose received by each patient was small. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head should be considered in the differential diagnosis of bone pain in patients receiving multiple courses of combination chemotherapy.

Pathologic stages IA and IIA Hodgkin's disease: results of treatment with radiotherapy alone (1968-1980).

Between Jan 1, 1968, and Dec 31, 1980, 108 previously untreated patients with Hodgkins disease pathologic stages (PSs) IA (29 patients) and IIA (79 patients) initially received radiotherapy alone. One postoperative death (due to pulmonary embolus) (0.9%) occurred, with one serious complication (0.9%). Between 1968 and 1973, patients were randomized to receive either involved field radiation treatment (RTIF) or extended field radiation treatment (RTEF). Since 1973 all patients have received RTEF, 4,000 cGy in four to five weeks, with a median follow-up of 7.4 years. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 102 patients (94.4%), with no significant difference according to treatment or stage. Of the complete responders, 25 patients relapsed: 5/15 RTIF and 20/87 RTEF (P = .6). Twenty-one of 25 relapsing patients achieved a second CR. Disease free survival rates at five and ten years constituted: PS IA, 78.6% for both; PS IIA, 74.8% and 73.1% (P = .6); RTEF, 76.7% for both; RTIF, 73.3% and 66.7% (P = .7). Eighteen patients have died: eight of recurrent lymphoma, two of pulmonary embolus, one each of myocardial infarction, pulmonary fibrosis, and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) (following salvage chemotherapy), and one of diffuse histiocytic lymphoma (DHL). Four patients died in remission of unrelated causes. Actuarial survival rates at five and ten years constituted: PS IA, 95.7% and 72.4%; PS IIA, 89.6% and 81.4% (P = .3); RTIF, 93.7% for both; RTEF, 90.7% and 71.2% (P = .2). Age, sex, number of sites, and mediastinal involvement did not influence the outcome. Acute toxicity was modest and more frequent among those receiving RTEF (P = .08). Chronic toxicity (onset more than 30 days after completion of treatment) was identified in 16 patients: 1/16 RTIF; 15/92 RTEF (P = .5). Three patients developed a second malignancy: one carcinoma of the cervix in situ; one ANLL (following salvage chemotherapy); and one DHL of the stomach. At least 75% of patients with PS IA and IIA Hodgkins disease were cured by radiation alone, with a risk of secondary malignancy following radiation alone of 0.9%. Since the majority of relapsing patients were successfully salvaged by chemotherapy, radiation alone appears to be the initial treatment of choice in this group of patients.

Extended mantle radiation therapy for pathologic stage I and II Hodgkin's disease.

Between 1968 and 1983, 135 patients with pathologic stage (PS) I and II Hodgkins disease were treated with extended mantle radiation technique (EMRT) at Michael Reese Hospital and the University of Chicago Center for Radiation Therapy. EMRT combines both standard mantle and para-aorta fields (M-PA) in one port. Actuarial disease-free survival at 5 and 10 years was 82.5%. Actuarial overall survival was 96% and 83% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Acute complications were evaluated in 112 patients available for analysis. Severe nausea and vomiting occurred in 13%, weight loss of greater than 10% of body weight in 19%, and acute hematologic toxicity in 4% of patients. Bone marrow suppression was transient and did not interfere with subsequent delivery of salvage treatment with either chemotherapy or radiation therapy in 22 patients who relapsed. The cost of EMRT is 40% lower than the cost of treatment with M-PA. The median treatment time was 38 days, 33% less than the 56 days for M-PA field assuming no inte...

Pseudo deep-vein thrombosis following desferrioxamine infusion: a previously unreported adverse reaction?

The incidence of leukaemia in US black males aged 45-49 years (average age of cases 48) is 6 per 100 000. If this rate is applied to the group of thirty garage A workers followed up over the 5-year period 1985-1990, one would expect 0-009 cases. Thus, the rate of leukaemia among these workers is 333 times greater than expected. If one considers all 160 municipal garage mechanics, the risk would still be 62 times the expected even if no other cases are found. All the 160 or so workers currently employed at the District of Columbia’s garage are now being given a medical examination, which includes a complete blood count. Since the above cases were identified we have become aware of two additional cases of leukaemia among non-municipal local garage mechanics (a 28-year-old black male diagnosed with CML in 1987 and a 27-year-old white male diagnosed with AML in 1989) and a case of aplastic anaemia diagnosed in 1989 in a 27-year-old roofer who used petrol to clean seams before fitting rubberised roofing material. The municipal garage mechanics were provided with petrol for

Histiocytic Lymphoma: Response to Chemotherapy

Excerpt To the editor: Advanced diffuse histiocytic lymphoma is curable when treated with combination chemotherapy (1). There is a small risk (13%) of recurrent lymphoma within the first 36 months ...

Extended mantle radiation therapy for pathologic stage I and II Hodgkin's disease

Between 1968 and 1983, 135 patients with pathologic stage (PS) I and II Hodgkins disease were treated with extended mantle radiation technique (EMRT) at Michael Reese Hospital and the University of Chicago Center for Radiation Therapy. EMRT combines both standard mantle and para-aorta fields (M-PA) in one port. Actuarial disease-free survival at 5 and 10 years was 82.5%. Actuarial overall survival was 96% and 83% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. Acute complications were evaluated in 112 patients available for analysis. Severe nausea and vomiting occurred in 13%, weight loss of greater than 10% of body weight in 19%, and acute hematologic toxicity in 4% of patients. Bone marrow suppression was transient and did not interfere with subsequent delivery of salvage treatment with either chemotherapy or radiation therapy in 22 patients who relapsed. The cost of EMRT is 40% lower than the cost of treatment with M-PA. The median treatment time was 38 days, 33% less than the 56 days for M-PA field assuming no interruptions. These results suggest that the EMT is a safe and effective treatment tolerated by most patients. The advantages of this method are eliminating the possibility of technical error of matching between mantle and para-aortic field, decreasing overall treatment time, and reducing the cost.