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The electrical insulation of the Megavolt ITER Injector and Concept Advancement (MITICA) beam source (BS) at 1 MV in vacuum is a challenging issue, which could not be fully addressed so far on the basis of experimental results and of theoretical models available in literature. A specific high-voltage (HV) test campaign is being prepared to validate and optimize the voltage holding capability of the BS insulation under realistic conditions, using full-size mockup electrodes reproducing in detail the geometry of the BS and accelerator. The proposed test strategy will address both the single-gap and the multistage insulation, so as to obtain a verification of voltage holding at 1 MV before the installation of the real components. This approach is intended to reduce the risk related to the HV insulation at 1 MV and, if necessary, to allow the development of effective corrections. In this article, the test motivations and requirements are defined, and the electrode implementation and diagnostic setup are described. Finally, the test configurations and the experimental procedure are discussed.

Abstract: We report a rare case of a leiomyosarcoma that developed around the right side of the base of the skull in a 51-year-old woman. The patient consulted our hospital complaining of pain in the right side of her neck and upper right arm in August 1994. A leiomyosarcoma, originating around the right side of the neck and base of the skull was diagnosed. Initially, surgery was planned, but invasion into the spinal canal was discovered. Curative resection of the leiomyosarcoma around the right side of the base of the skull was not possible. Therefore, external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) combined with intra-arterial chemotherapy and hyperthermia was employed. After the treatment, the tumor decreased in size to 45% of its initial volume, and, simultaneously, her symptoms completely disappeared. The patient initially remained clinically free of the disease, but showed reaggravations at the primary tumor site 3 years and 3 months, and 4 years and 11 months, after the first treatment. The reaggravations were treated with EBRT combined with intra-arterial chemotherapy. As a result, she survived for 5 years and 7 months after the first treatment.

Abstract: Metastatic lingual tumors are very rare, and hematogenous myocardial metastasis is also relatively uncommon. We report a case of lung adenosquamous carcinoma with metastases to the tongue and the myocardium. A 65-year-old man underwent a partial upper lobectomy for a primary lung cancer in June 1997. He developed a local recurrence and received two courses of radiotherapy, in March and September 1998. A follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan showed a myocardial tumor, suggestive of cardiac metastasis. In October 1998, he began to complain of angina-like chest oppression and showed ischemic changes on electrocardiogram (ECG), and he also developed lingual, subcutaneous, and brain metastases. He died of respiratory failure in December 1998, 20 months after the initial diagnosis of primary lung cancer; metastases to the tongue and myocardium were confirmed by autopsy.

Introducción y objetivos: En la obtención de imágenes de angiografía por cardiotomografía (ACT) es importante escoger una ubicación adecuada para inyectar el medio de contraste (p. ej., el brazo o la pierna) a fin de evitar la formación de artefactos que este provoca. En este estudio se comparan los valores de tomografía computarizada (TC) y las puntuaciones de visualización de las imágenes tridimensionales (3D) de los lúmenes de los vasos sanguíneos del brazo y la pierna durante la ACT en pacientes neonatos y lactantes.

Treatment of a case of widespread superficial oral squamous cell carcinoma with external beam irradiation, followed by high dose rate Microselectron mould radiotherapy, is reported. The tumor disappeared macroscopically after treatment, but there was infield recurrence in the buccogingival sulcus where the radiation dose might have been inadequate. Apart from some radiation mucositis within the treated area, edema and a superficial ulcer were observed in the tongue. These were considered to be due to radiation overdose. Although there is room for improvement, this mode of treatment has something to offer patients with hard-to-cure cancer.