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Conclusion: Head and neck cancer (HNC) incidence and mortality trends in men displayed a significant downward trend in Croatia during the study period. No significant changes of incidence and mortality trends were observed in women. Decreasing trends observed in men are similar to other European countries. Further decreases in HNC incidence and mortality could be achieved with more restrictive alcohol and tobacco control policies and adherence to national treatment guidelines. Objective: To describe and interpret trends in incidence and mortality of HNC in Croatia in the period 1988-2008. Methods: HNCs were defined as ICD-10 codes C00-C14, C32. Incidence data were obtained from the Croatian National Cancer Registry, while numbers of deaths were obtained from the WHO Mortality Databank. Joinpoint regression analysis of age-standardized rates (ASR, standard world population) and age-specific rates for 10-year age groups was used to estimate changes in trends of HNC incidence and mortality. Results: HNC incidence and mortality in men declined steadily during the study period (estimated annual percent change (EAPC) of -1.5% and -1.8%, respectively). The most prominent decreases of -5.7% annually for incidence and -9.3% for mortality were observed in the youngest age group, 30-39 years. A non-significant increase in incidence (EAPC 0.9%) and decrease in mortality (EAPC -1.3%) were observed in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The concept of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) involves infusion of a 10B containing tracer into the patient's bloodstream followed by local neutron irradiation(s). Accurate estimation of the blood boron level for the treatment field before irradiation is required. Boron concentration can be quantified by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), spectrofluorometric and direct current atomic emission spectrometry (DCP-AES) or by prompt gamma photon detection methods. Material and methods. The blood boron concentrations were analysed and compared using ICP-AES and ICP-MS to ensure congruency of the results if the analysis had to be changed during the treatment, e.g. for technical reasons. The effect of wet-ashing on the results was studied in addition. Results. The mean of all samples analysed with ICP-MS was 5.8 % lower than with ICP-AES coupled to wet-ashing (R 2 = 0.88). Without wet-ashing, the mean of all samples analysed with ICP-MS was 9.1 % higher than with ICP-AES (R 2 = 0.99). Conclusions. Boron concentration analysed from whole blood samples with ICP-AES correlated well with the values of ICP-MS with wet-ashing of the sample matrix, which is generally considered the reference method. When using these methods in parallel at certain intervals during the treatments, reliability of the blood boron concentration values remains satisfactory, taking into account the required accuracy of dose determination in the irradiation of cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]