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This paper discusses the evolution of the microstructure during grain growth and recrystallisation, modelled using the Monte Carlo technique. The properties of alloys and metals subjected to plastic deformation and annealing are significantly influenced by the grain growth and recrystallisation processes. Modelling the recrystallisation process enables the simulation of various driving forces at a fundamental level by defining energy conditions for each individual element. The calculations facilitate the observation of microstructural evolution and the generation of structures consistent with any set of postulates, allowing both the dynamics and the physical processes of grain growth and recrystallisation to be simulated. The paper describes a recrystallisation model based on a two-dimensional array containing 40 000 elements. Each element in the array is assigned a number symbolising the orientation of the grain in which the given element is embedded, along with a value of the free energy of the grain boundary. The internal energy for a given grain is also specified. Four types of nucleation have been modelled. Based on the results obtained, the Monte Carlo technique is considered to be an effective tool for modelling recrystallisation processes, allowing the introduction of many different driving forces. The model presented in the work enables the simulation of the nature of local energy conditions and dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of primary recrystallization in metallic materials is a complex process that involves nucleation and growth of new grains from the deformed microstructure during post-deformation annealing heat treatment. In this study, we compare the experimental and numerical simulation results of primary recrystallization in metallic materials. The experimental tests were carried out on ARMCO iron samples extruded to 10, 20, and 30% of deformation degree and annealed at 973 K for 300 s. Microsections of the deformed and annealed specimens were analyzed using a metallographic microscope and Joyce-Loebl image analyzer. The numerical simulations were performed using a Monte Carlo algorithm to model the primary recrystallization of variable nucleation rate. On the basis of the classification given by Christian, four types of nucleation were simulated: site-saturated nucleation, constant nucleation rate, increasing nucleation rate, and decreasing nucleation rate, with different magnitudes of stored energy. Our results show that the decreasing nucleation rate model best fits the experimental data. The comparison between the experimental and numerical simulation results provides insights into the nucleation and growth of new grains during primary recrystallization in metallic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Phyllodes tumor of the breast (PTB) constitutes 0.2-2% of all breast tumors. The optimal extent of surgical excision (breast conserving surgery or mastectomy) is a matter of debate, especially for cases of borderline and malignant PTBs. From 1995 breast conserving surgery (BCS) is the treatment of choice in all patients with PTB in Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology in Krakow. The purpose of this study is to present experience with BCT patients with PTB at a single institution in Poland. Materials and Methods: Between January 1995 and December 2011, 101 women with PTB were primarily treated surgically at this center. Of these 101 patients, 87 (86.1%) underwent BCS and in 14 (13.9%) patients the mastectomy was performed. This study focused on a group of 87 patients treated with BCS. In 87 patients resection margins were negative. In 82 patients (94.3%) the surgical margin width ranged between 1-2 cm, but in five (5.7%) cases (three malignant and two borderline) it was less than 1 cm (range 0.2-0.9 mm). Those five patients were postoperatively irradiated. Results: In all 87 patients with PTB who were treated with BCS, 83 (95.4%) patients survived five years with no evidence of disease. Two patients (one benign PTB and one borderline PTB) died due to myocardial infarction. In the presented group during five-year follow-up, only two (2.3%) patients died because of malignant PTB (with lung metastases). None of patients developed a local recurrence. Conclusion: The treatment of choice for patients with PTB is BCS . If surgical margin is < 1 cm, adjuvant radiotherapy should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to present the clinical picture and the effectiveness of treatment patients with atypical medullary breast carcinoma (A-MBC). Materials and Methods: Sixty-five patients with A-MBC were treated between 1975 and 2005. More of them (70.2%) were in Stage I or II and had no expression of c-erb-B2 gene (81.5%), estrogen receptor (87.7%), and progesterone receptor (76.9%). Radical mastectomy was applied in 55 patients (84.6%) and remaining ten (15.4%) patients underwent breast conserving therapy. The treatment effectiveness was evaluated as ten-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate (Kaplan-Meier method). Results: The ten-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 61.5%. Only lymph nodal status was statistically significant prognostic factor. Ten--year DFS rate was 82.1% and 30.8% for pN0 and pN+, respectively. Conclusion: Although A-MBC has probably a slightly better prognosis than invasive ductal breast carcinoma, these patients should be treated according to the same rules as those with breast cancer of basal-like or triple-negative type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: The analysis of acute and late toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) based on review of 120 patients treated in Centre of Oncology in Krakow between 2001 and 2007. Materials and Methods: Medium age of the patients was 52 years (43-66). Overall, 12 patients (10.0%) were in Stage IB2, 54 (45.0%) in Stage II, 43 (35.8%) in Stage III, and 11 (9.2%) in Stage IVA. Squamous cell carcinoma was present in 114 (95.0%) patients. Well-differentiated (grade 1) tumour was found in 39 (32.5%) patients, moderately differentiated (grade 2) in 41 (34.2%), and poorly differentiated (grade 3) in 40 (33.3%). Karnofsky performance status score was 70 in 72 (60.0%) patients, and 80-90 in 48 (40%). External radiation therapy was delivered with high-energy six to 15 MV photon beams using four-field brick technique. The total dose of 50 Gy was given in 25 fractions within five weeks using standard fractionation. Concurrently with external radiotherapy, six cycles of chemotherapy were administered to all the patients as an intravenous infusion of once-weekly cisplatin 40 mg/m². On completion of external beam radiotherapy, low-dose rate brachytherapy with tandem and two colpostats was performed to deliver the dose of 40 Gy to point A in two 20 Gy insertions at weekly intervals. Results: Of the 120 patients in the investigated group, 78 (65%) were disease-free for five years. Symptoms of acute treatment-related toxicity grade 3 or 4 (WHO) occurred in 21.6% of patients including leucopoenia in 7.5%, anaemia in 5.0%, nausea and vomiting in 3.3%, diarrhea in 5.0%, and urinary tract infection in 0.8%. Full planned treatment (teleradiotherapy + chemotherapy + brachytherapy) completed 78.3% of the group; full planned radiotherapy without full chemotherapy completed 20% of the patients. Late treatment complications of grade 3 or 4 were observed in two (1.6%) patients (narrowing of large intestine requiring surgery and recto-vaginal fistula). Conclusions: In patients with LACC treated with CCRT, the most frequent acute toxic effects include: haematological disorders (leucopoenia, anaemia), gastrointestinal disorders (nausea and vomiting, diarrhea), vulvo-vaginal disorders, and urinary tract infection. The most frequent late toxic effects included: rectal bleeding, bowel complications requiring surgery, stenosis or recto-vaginal fistula, and haematuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the study was to present an institutional experience in radiation therapy of primary invasive vaginal carcinoma (PIVC) patients treated in the Krakow Branch of Centre of Oncology, with special regard to treatment effectiveness and failure causes. Materials and Methods: Between February 1967 and January 2007,162 PIVC patients were treated with radical radiotherapy in the Krakow Branch of Centre of Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Institute. Twenty-seven (16.7%) patients in Stage 1° were treated with intracavitary brachytherapy alone; for 127 (78.4%) patients in Stage 1° - IV0 intracavitary brachytherapy was combined with external radiation therapy; and eight (4.9%) patients in Stage IVA0 were given only external radiotherapy. Results: In the investigated group of 162 patients, five-year disease-free survival was observed in 46.3% of the cases. Patient age and FIGO Stage of neoplastic disease were independent prognostic factors. Five-year disease-free survival was observed in 64.9% of the patients < 60 years of age and only in 30.7% > 60 years of age; and in 62.3% of PIVC patients in Stages I and II0 as compared to 19.7% of Stages III0 and IV0 cases. Among 78 patients who died of PIVC, in 60 (76.9%) cases the cause of death was locoregional failure; in six (7.7%), locoregional failure and distant metastasis; and in 12 (15.4%), distant metastasis. Conclusions: Radiotherapy is effective treatment for PIVC patients. Age below 60 years and non-advanced neoplastic disease were independent favourable prognostic factors in the investigated group of patients. The primary cause of treatment failure was failure to achieve locoregional disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the application of a three-phase induction motor as a sensor measuring the force of the electromagnetic field connection between the engine and produced sheet steel. The force interaction between the engine and the manufactured sheet metal treated as a treadmill for a linear motor may be an indicator of damage to the material. Detection of places where the sheet does not meet the quality requirements may be very useful in the production process. FEM calculations were performed in the ANSYS MAXWELL environment. The results suggest the possibility of using this type of construction to test the quality of produced materials. The computational results and their analysis are presented in this article.

This article emphasizes the significance of understanding the actual thermal properties of thermal insulation materials, which are crucial for avoiding errors in building design and estimating heat losses within the energy balance. The aim of this study was to analyse the thermal parameters of selected thermal insulation materials, particularly in the context of their stability after a period of storage under specific conditions. The materials chosen for this study include commonly used construction insulations such as polystyrene and mineral wool, as well as modern options like rigid foam composites. Experimental studies were conducted, including the determination of the thermal conductivity coefficient λ , as well as numerical analyses and analytical calculations of heat flow through a double-layer external wall with a window. The numerical analyses were performed using the TRISCO software version 12.0w, based on the finite element method (FEM). A macrostructural analysis of the investigated materials was also performed. The findings indicated that improper storage conditions adversely affect the thermal properties of insulation materials. Specifically, storing materials outdoors led to a deterioration in insulating properties, with an average reduction of about 4% for the standard materials and as much as 19% for the tested composite material. Insufficient understanding of the true thermal properties of insulation materials can result in incorrect insulation layer thickness, degrading the fundamental thermal parameters of external walls. This, in turn, increases heat loss through major building surfaces, raises heating costs, and indirectly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Objectives: Radiotherapy in patients with sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) was given as alternative treatment to surgery in cases with advanced, inoperable tumors or those not eligible for surgery. We presented the outcomes for patients with SNMM treated with radiotherapy alone., Material and Methods: The retrospective review of 6 consecutive SNMM (nasal cavity - 4 pts. and paranasal sinus - 2 pts.) patients (3 males and 3 females at mean age 64 years) treated between 2008 and 2016 was presented. The stage of disease was: T3 (1 pt.), T4a (3 pts.), T4b (2 pts.); with N0 and M0 in all patients. All patients underwent definitive primary photon radiotherapy (IMRT) alone; dose 66-72 Gy was delivered in 22-24 fractions given in 5 fractions (3 Gy) a week., Results: The complete remission was observed in all our patients but only one patient survived 5 years without disease. Five patients died due to multiple distant metastases; two of those patients developed associated local recurrence 7-8 months after radiotherapy., Conclusion: SNMM has a poor prognosis due to its high metastatic potential. Based on our numerically small report and data from literature we concluded that primary radiotherapy alone assured complete remission and even 5-year disease-free survival in only a few individual patients.

Mucinous breast carcinoma (MBC) carcinoma represents approximately 1-6% of all malignant breast carcinoma and is divided into pure (PMBC) and mixed (MMBC) subtypes. This study presents the comparison of clinical characteristics and treatment results in 70 patients with PMBC and 40 patients with MMBC, treated at a single institution during 25 years. Performed analyses showed that only nodal status was different in both subtypes. Patients with MMBC showed a significantly higher incidence of axillary nodal metastases in comparison to PMBC (25% versus 10%, respectively). Instead, the 10-year disease-free survival rate was significant higher in PMBC than MMBC (85.7% versus 65%, p < 0.02, test log rank). Authors own observations and data from literature proved that MMBC should be considered as subtypes of mucinous breast cancer., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The prognosis for patients with melanoma who have brain metastases is poor, a median survival does not exceed 4-6 months. There are no uniform standards of treatment for patients with melanoma brain metastases (MBMs). The most preferred treatment approaches include local therapy - surgical resection and/or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The role of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) as an adjuvant to local therapy is controversial. WBRT remains a palliative approach for those patients who have multiple MBMs with contraindications for surgery or SRS, or/and poor performance status, or/and very widespread extracranial metastases. Corticosteroids have been used in palliative treatment of MBMs as relief from symptoms related to intracranial pressure and edema. In recent years, the development of new systemic therapeutic strategies has been observed. Various modalities of systemic treatment include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. Also, multimodality management in different combinations is a common strategy. Decisions regarding the use of specific treatment modalities are dependent on patient's performance status, and the extent of both intracranial and extracranial disease. This review summarizes current treatment options, indications and outcomes in patients with brain metastases from melanoma.

Introduction: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) comprises 4-15% of all malignant neoplasms of the breast. The "classical variant of ILC" (C-ILC) constitutes some 60-80% of this cancer. The main cause of treatment failures is dissemination observed in 8-38% patients The disant metastases (DM) are frequently localized in: bones, gastrointestinal tract, uterus, leptomeninges, and ovaries. The aim of this study was to present the methods and results of the treatment of patients with DM from the classical variant of ILC (C-ILC) at a single institution in Poland., Materials and Methods: Between January 1983 and December 2004, 210 women with C-ILC of the breast were primarily treated surgically (mastectomy in 182 (86.7%) patients and breast conserving therapy in 28 (13.3%) patients). Then adjuvant therapy (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonotherapy) was applied according to presence of clinical indications., Results: The present study focused on a group of 41 patients with a median age of 59 that died with DM from C-ILC during the ten-year follow-up. This failure developed on average 65 months (3-186) after surgery of ILC. The most frequently DM developed: bones (39.1%), GI (small bowell, stomach, colon, rectum) - 31.8%, and reproductive organs (ovary, uterus) - 19.1%. In therapy of DM, different configuration surgery, radiotherapy, and chemo-hormonotherapy were used. The median survival after the diagnosis of DM was connected with localization of distant metastases., Conclusion: Patients with classic variant of infiltrate lobular cancer of breast should be regularly follow-up, which could permit early diagnosis of distant metastases and improve treatment results.

In the systemic treatment of brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (BMF-NSCLC) chemo- and targeted therapy are used. Response rates after platinum-based chemotherapy, range from 23% to 45%. Development of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs): gefitinib or erlotinib, was an improvement in treatment of advanced NSCLC patients. EGFR mutations are present in 10-25% of NSCLC (mostly adenocarcinoma), and up to 55% in never-smoking women of East Asian descent. In the non-selected group of patients with BMF-NSCLC, the overall response rates after gefitinib or erlotinib treatment range from 10% to 38%, and the duration of response ranges from 9 to 13.5 months. In the case of present activating EGFR mutation, the response rate after EGRF-TKIs is greater than 50%, and in selected groups (adenocarcinoma, patients of Asian descent, never-smokers, asymptomatic BMF-NSCLC) even 70%. Gefitinib or erlotinib treatment improves survival of BMF-NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation in comparison to cases without the presence of this mutation. There is no data on the activity of the anti-EML4-ALK agent crizotinib. Bevacizumab, recombinant humanised monoclonal antibody anti-VEGF, in the treatment of advanced non-squamous NSCLC patients is a subject of intense research. Data from a clinical trial enrolling patients with pretreated or occult BMF-NSCLC proved that the addition of bevacizumab to various chemotherapy agents or erlotinib is a safe and efficient treatment, associated with a low incidence of CSN haemorrhages. However, the efficacy and safety of bevacizumab used for therapeutic intent, regarding active brain metastases is unknown., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Purpose: The aim of the research was to evaluate of intraocular complications after proton beam therapy of choroidal melanomas, Material and Methods: A total 105 patients (48 female and 57 male) from Department of Ophthalmology and Ocular Oncology of University Hospital in Cracow, who received proton beam radiation due to choroidal melanoma were enrolled. The mean age was 52.3 years (51.8 y. in females, 52.6 y. in males). Total irradiation dose was 60 cGy and it was applied in 4 fractions per 15 cGy (on 4 consecutive days). We evaluated the incidence of complications classifying patients by age, tumor location, tumor thickness, longitudinal and transversal basal diameter and follow-up period, which ranged between 5 and 57 months., Results: Complications of intraocular irradiation were observed in 33 out of 105 treated patients. Retinopathy occurred in 18 cases, including 4 patients with macular edema. Neuropathy was confirmed in 8 patients, secondary glaucoma in 6 cases; we noted 9 cases of initial or progress existing cataract, 4 cases of dry eye syndrome and 1 patient with central retinal vein occlusion. A statistically significant positive correlation was demonstrated between the length of the follow-up period and the incidence of complications, which were more common and more severe with the longer follow-up period. There was no statistically significant correlation between the incidence of complications and patient’s age, tumor location, tumor thickness as well as longitudinal and transversal basal diameter., Conclusion: All forms of radiation therapy used in intraocular tumors are associated with some risk of complications; proton beam radiotherapy is not free of that risk, either.

This article presents methods and results of surgery and radiotherapy of brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (BMF-NSCLC). Patients with single BMF-NSCLC, with Karnofsky score ≥ 70 and controlled extracranial disease are the best candidates for surgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is recommended in patients with 1-3 BMF-NSCLC below 3-3.5 cm, with minor neurological symptoms, located in parts of the brain not accessible to surgery, with controlled extracranial disease. Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) following SRS reduces the risk of local relapse; in selected patients median survival reaches more than 10 months. Whole brain radiotherapy alone is a treatment in patients with multiple metastases, poor performance status, uncontrolled extracranial disease, disqualified from surgery or SRS with median survival 3 to 6 months. There is no doubt that there are patients with BMF-NSCLC who should receive only the best supportive care. There is a debate in the literature on how to select these patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

This article presents methods and results of surgical treatment and radiation therapy of brain metastases in breast cancer patients (brain metastases from breast cancer BMF-BC). Based on the literature data, it was shown that patients with single BMF-BC, aged less than 65 years, with Karnofsky score (KPS) of 70 or more and with cured or controlled extracranial disease are the best candidates to surgical treatment. Irrespective of the extracranial disease control status, there are indications for surgery in patients with symptomatic mass effect (tumour diameter larger than 3 cm) and patients with obstructive hydrocephalus from their BMF-BC. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has some advantages over surgery, with similar effectiveness: it may be used in the treatment of lesions inaccessible to surgery, the number of lesion is not a limiting factor if each lesion is small (< 3) and adequate doses can be delivered, it is not contraindicated in patients with active extracranial disease, it does not interfere with ongoing systemic treatment, and it does not require general anaesthesia or hospitalisation. A disadvantage of SRS, as compared to whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), in patients with BMF-BC is the possibility of subsequent development of new lesion in the non-irradiated field. Thus the majority of the BMF-BC patients are not good candidates to surgery or SRS; WBRT alone or combined with a systemic treatment still plays a major role in the treatment of these patients.

Unlabelled: Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is a novel technique used for detection of tumour vascularity by imaging the moment in which contrast, delivered to the lesion by blood vessels, leaks out of them, and flows out through lymphatic vessels. In our study, we included 174 women for whom spectral mammography was performed for diagnostic purposes. The relationship between enhancement in CESM and blood vessel density (BVD), lymphatic vessel density (LVD) or the percentage of fields with at least one lymphatic vessel (distribution of podoplanin-positive vessels - DPV) and other related parameters was assessed in 55 cases. BVD, LVD and DPV were assessed immunohistochemically, applying podoplanin and CD31/CD34 as markers of lymphatic and blood vessels, respectively. The sensitivity (in detection of malignant lesions) of CESM was 100%, while its specificity - 39%. We found a significant positive correlation between the intensity of enhancement in CESM and BVD (p = 0.007, r = 0.357) and a negative correlation between the intensity of enhancement in CESM and DPV (p = 0.003, r = -0.390). Lesions with the highest enhancement in CESM showed a high number of blood vessels and a low number of lymphatics., Conclusions: 1) CESM is a method characterized by high sensitivity and acceptable specificity; 2) the correlation between CESM results and blood/lymphatic vessel density confirms its utility in detection of tissue angiogenesis and/or lymphangiogenesis.

Optimal treatment for patients with only local prostate cancer recurrence after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) failure remains unclear. Possible curative treatments are radical prostatectomy, cryosurgery, and brachytherapy. Several single institution series proved that high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRBT) and pulsed-dose-rate brachytherapy (PDRBT) are reasonable options for this group of patients with acceptable levels of genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity. A standard dose prescription and scheme have not been established yet, and the literature presents a wide range of fractionation protocols. Furthermore, hyperthermia has shown the potential to enhance the efficacy of re-irradiation. Consequently, a prospective trial is urgently needed to attain clear structured prospective data regarding the efficacy of salvage brachytherapy with adjuvant hyperthermia for locally recurrent prostate cancer. The purpose of this report is to introduce a new prospective phase II trial that would meet this need. The primary aim of this prospective phase II study combining Iridium-192 brachytherapy with interstitial hyperthermia (IHT) is to analyze toxicity of the combined treatment; a secondary aim is to define the efficacy (bNED, DFS, OS) of salvage brachytherapy. The dose prescribed to PTV will be 30 Gy in 3 fractions for HDRBT, and 60 Gy in 2 fractions for PDRBT. During IHT, the prostate will be heated to the range of 40-47°C for 60 minutes prior to brachytherapy dose delivery. The protocol plans for treatment of 77 patients.

Purpose: We report a single-institution retrospective analysis of the outcomes, disease control, and toxicity of high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy used as the only treatment modality (monotherapy) for localized prostate cancer., Methods: Between 2006 and 2012, 77 patients with diagnosed prostate cancer were treated with HDR brachytherapy as a monotherapy. The prescribed dose was 45 Gy in three separate implants 21 days apart, with single fraction per implant. Of the 77 patients, 67 (87%) received hormonal therapy. Prostate-specific antigen failure was defined according to Phoenix consensus, as nadir + 2 ng/mL. Toxicity was scored according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.03., Results: The median followup time was 57 months (4.75 years). The 5-year actuarial overall survival was 98.7%, biochemical control 96.7%, local control 96.9%, and metastasis-free survival 98.4%. Younger age at the beginning of brachytherapy predicted the onset of bounce phenomenon. There were no Grade 3 or higher acute toxicities detected, and Grade 2 genitourinary acute toxicity developed in 19 patients (24.6%). There were no Grade 2 gastrointestinal complications. No Grade 4 or 5 late toxicity was detected. There were also no Grade 3 gastrointestinal toxicities detected. One patient (1.3%) underwent transurethral resection of the prostate because of Grade 3 urethral stenosis and urinary retention. A total of 26 patients (33.8%) developed Grade 2 late toxicity., Conclusions: HDR brachytherapy as monotherapy for localized prostate cancer was feasible, effective, and had acceptable toxicity profile., (Copyright © 2015 American Brachytherapy Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The evaluation of efficacy of palliative thoracic radiotherapy (PTR) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to compare it with efficacy of supportive care (SC) alone., Materials and Methods: Between 2000 and 2012, 235 patients with advanced NSCLC (IIIB and IV) and Karnofsky Performance Status accounted 40-30, were qualified to PTR. In fact, 125 (53.2%) out of them were treated with PTR, and 110 (46.8%)-with SC alone, in accordance with patients expectations. There were no differences between PTR and SC group with respect to patient and tumor characteristics as well as with respect to the type and incidence of symptoms related to the local growth of NSCLC. In all 125 PTR patients the delivered tumor dose was 20Gy given in five daily fractions over five treatment days. All 110 patients who refused PTR were treated with SC in another hospital (28.2%), in a hospice (21.8%) or by general practitioners at home (50.0%)., Results: The 90-day overall survival rate in the group of PTR patients was 20.0%, and in the group of SC patients it was 18.2%. Median survival amounted 58 and 59 days, respectively. The efficacy of PTR and SC, relative to the symptoms associated with the local growth of NSCLC, was comparable. Tolerance of PTR was poor and early toxicity-significant. Moreover 41.6% of irradiated patients received PTR within the last 30 days of their lives and 16.0% of these patients-within the last 15 days prior to death., Conclusion: The life expectancy of patients with advanced NSCLC and poor performance status (Karnofsky 40-30), who presenting moderate or severe symptoms related to the local growth of cancer, is measured in days or weeks. The effective method of treatment for these patients is modern supportive care rather than PTR., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Aim of the Study: Aim of the study is to evaluate the results of postoperative radiotherapy of paragangliomas, prognostic factors and causes of treatment failure., Material and Methods: Forty-four patients (39 females and 5 males) aged 20 to 74 years were treated for paraganglioma between 1970 and 2010 at the Centre of Oncology in Kraków. Patient survival probability was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazard model were used in univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively., Results: The most common locations of paragangliomas were the following: the ear, carotid body and internal jugular vein bulb. Forty (91%) out of them were benign and 4 - malignant. All patients underwent surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. The delivered dose ranged from 50 to 72 Gy, the mean dose was 60 Gy. Five-year overall survival was 84%. Five-year relapse-free survival was 84%, either. The multivariate analysis has shown that the dose in an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival. The univariate analysis has shown significantly higher 5-year overall survival in patients who received a dose of 60 Gy or higher - 92% vs. 70% in patients who received a dose lower than 60 Gy., Conclusions: Postoperative radiotherapy with doses higher than 60 Gy in patients with paragangliomas is associated with longer overall survival.