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Squamous cell carcinoma was induced in male 6 to 8-week old NMRI-mice by application of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene on the skin. 15 weeks later macroscopically visible skin tumors are developed. Then organ distribution and tumor accumulation of 57Co-Bleomycin (spec. activity 1 mCi/3.3 mg) were studied 1 to 48 hours after injection. In squamous cell carcinoma a high uptake of this tumor-seeking agent can be demonstrated (n = 46). After radiotherapy (100 kV; 1.7 mm Al-filter; 18.8 Gy) (n = 26), however, a significantly reduced uptake of 57Co-Bleomycin in tumor tissue is observed. Possible consequences from these animal studies for tumor scintigraphy with this radiopharmaceutical in man are discussed.

The importance of surgical treatment in non-epithelial, primary malignant tumors of the stomach was investigated retrospectively in 27 cases. 85.2% of these tumors were non-Hodgkin lymphomas, 14.8% were leiomyosarcomas and Hodgkin's disease. There were no typical symptoms; those present resembled the symptoms of carcinomas and peptic ulcers. Most patients showed symptoms on average 6 months prior to diagnosis. Histocytological studies of endoscopic biopsies enabled a correct diagnosis to be made preoperatively in up to 75% of cases. The postoperative mortality was 14.8%; the 5-year survival rate was 56.2%. Thus the prognosis is significantly better than that of advanced cancer of the stomach.

A telecobalt therapy of lymph node groups was simulated on the Alderson phantom and the gonad dose caused by each irradiation field was measured with LiF dosimeters. When the supradiaphragmatic and the para-aortal lymph nodes were irradiated, the ovary dose showed rates up to 20% of the dose maximum. The irradiation of the same zones brought about a testicle dose of less than 50% of the dose maximum, and only 1/20 of this rate was achieved when a lead plate of about four cm was used in order to protect the testicles. The results are discussed under the point of view of the genetic risk.

83 patients with a benign endocrinous ophthalmopathy were submitted to radio-iodine and thyreostatic therapy and to high voltage therapy of the retrobulbar region. The ophthalmologic controls showed that 30% of the treated patients had improved data and 70% had unchanged data. These results were independent from the individual radiation qualities used and the field sizes.

The gonadal load was measured during radiation therapy of humeroscapular periarthritis, coxarthrosis, diseases of the vertebral column and of the sacro-iliac joint (disease Bechterew) for different irradiation techniques. All measurements have been performed by LiF dosimeters and with an Alderson phantom using 250 kV X-radiation. The gonadal dose with respect to the surface dose was in the range of tenths of one per mill in case of humeroscapular periarthritis and reached values up to about 30 per cent in coxarthrosis and Bechterew disease. Measurements during irradiation of the vertebral column yielded most differing values of the gonadal load depending on gonadal distances from the region exposed.

Radiotherapy is an effective means to treat several benign diseases; in fact, the therapeutic effects set in quickly and are of a long-term nature. Relapses are rare. Side effects or other undesirable reactions are negligible. The gonads are under risk that should not be underestimated, but this is usually acceptable within reasonable limits. The age of the woman patient and localisation of the disease are decisive factors. Definite dosage reductions can be achieved by suitable radioprotective measures. Nevertheless, indications for any kind of radiotherapy with ionising radiation should be strict as a matter of principle.

In a clinical randomized trial of 40 patients with inoperable lung carcinoma the success of radiotherapy alone (5000 rads) was compared with a combined modality with radiotherapy (5000 rads) and ICRF 159 (250 mg p.d.). There was no difference in survival rates but haematological toxicity (leucocytes, erythrocytes, platelets and haemoglobin) was marked in patients with combined treatment. In patients with oat-cell-carcinoma survival rates seem to be better after combination therapy.

More than 300 lymphocyte cultures of 12 patients with seminomas were examined during the prophylactic radiotherapy and, in several cases, during an extended period until 20.5 months after the end of the treatment. The object of this study was to find out by measuring the capacity of the lymphocytes to be stimulated in vitro wheather they could be damaged by the radiotherapy. Among other reasons, the above mentioned patients were chosen because they had been submitted to irradiations of vast volumes of lymphatic tissues at a uniform focal dose of 4000 rad. The different opinions expressed in the literature (stimulation decreassed resp. increased resp. unchanged) are reflected by our results in such a way that we did not find a qualitative loss of the capacity to be stimulated cultures. The problem of the different opinions about the capacity of lymphocytes to be stimulated after a radiotherapy appears; among other things, to be based on different examination methods. According to these methods- morphological determination of the relative number of lymphoblasts, synthesis of DNA by fluid scintillation counting, or determination of the number of surviving cells in vitro -different results are obtained. It seems not possible to use the lymphocyte stimulation in vitro as a method of testing clinical sideefects occuring during the characteristics of immunity and radiation biology are not differentiated in a more precise manner.