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Postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) is accepted as the standard of care for women with early breast cancer with 4 or more involved axillary nodes. However the role of PMRT in women with 1–3 involved nodes remains controversial and guidelines vary.We present the arguments against advocating postmastectomy radiotherapy for all women with node positive breast cancer.

A prospective study of functional assessment of response to palliative radiotherapy (RT) in malignant spinal cord compression (SCC) is reported. The relevant components of the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index (ADLI: walking, transfer, and bladder and bowel control) were used to assess functional capacity, and compared with a standard neurological assessment. Fifty-one consecutive patients (38 men, 13 women; mean age 63.9 years) were assessed, all of whom were treated by primary or postoperative radiotherapy. Five of the 51 patients had had decompressive laminectomy prior to RT. Median survival was 34 days (range 2-570). Walking improved in only five of 12 patients who had an improvement in motor power. The ability to transfer from bed to chair improved in 11 patients. Ambulation at presentation was the single most important determinant of outcome. Of the eight patients ambulatory at presentation, all were alive at 1 month and seven remained ambulatory. Of the 43 non-ambulatory patients, only four were able to walk following treatment (all prostatic carcinomas). Only four patients regained urinary continence, and none regained bowel control after this was lost. Functional assessment using ADLI and standard neurological examination provide a more useful guide to outcome in malignant SCC than neurological examination alone.

Fifteen patients were treated in the Gamma Knife Unit and followed for 18 months or longer. Four patients had Cushing's disease, 4 had acromegaly, 3 had Nelson's syndrome and 3 had prolactinomas. One patient had no endocrinopathy. One of the patients with acromegaly and 2 of those with prolactinomas had been operated prior to Gamma Knife treatment. Radiological tumor localization was not an insuperable problem in this series. The effect of Gamma Knife treatment on the anterior pituitary neoplasia, as such, was consistently successful. All the tumors which received 10 Gy or more to the edge showed either a reduction in volume or at least cessation of growth. On the other hand, the effect of the treatment was less consistent in respect to the endocrinopathies. These results are discussed in respect of dose and tumor size. It is suggested that the role of the Gamma Knife in the treatment of pituitary adenomas requires further clarification, based on prospective studies.

Data were obtained from 191 women with cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) referred for stereotactic radiosurgery with the Leksell Gamma Unit in Sheffield. The risk of cerebral bleeding from arteriovenous malformations during pregnancy was examined and related to the different trimesters of pregnancy in these women. Some tentative guidelines are suggested for advising women with AVMs, who become pregnant.

A case is reported of male breast carcinoma which, among other bony sites, metastasized to the mandible. This case and the review of the literature illustrate the need to include the mandible in bone scans for metastatic disease in breast cancer.

The optimal frequency of clinic follow-up after radical radiotherapy to early cervical cancer is not well established. A retrospective analysis was carried out of 392 patients with FIGO Stage IIA and IIB carcinoma of the cervix treated by radical radiotherapy who attended a radiotherapy clinic for follow-up. A total of 38 (43%) of the 87 loco-regional and 25 (38%) of the 66 metastatic relapses were detected at routine clinic visits. There were 72 clinic visits per relapse detected. The majority of locoregional and metastatic relapses whether detected at routine or interval visits were symptomatic of the locoregional recurrences 78% (42/54) occurred in the first two years following treatment. The majority were advanced. 7% (4/54) of locoregional relapses occurred after 5 years. Only 17% (9/54) of patients with locoregional relapse underwent salvage surgery. More intensive follow-up in the first two years is recommended.