The ventricular systems of 178 fetal heads, ranging from 13 weeks gestation to term, were examined with ultrasonic "B" scans. The width of the frontal horns and of the third ventricle was measured. The distances between the temporal horns and between the sylvian fissures were also examined. The most important clinical measurement is that of the frontal horns. The combined width of the two frontal horns averaged 1.1 cm at 13 weeks and grew to an average of 2.4 cm at term. The 99% upper limits of confidence for these measurements were 1.45 cm and 2.78 cm, respectively. The frontal horn to BPD ratio decreased from 0.48 at 13 weeks to 0.25 at term. These measurements are considered important for the evaluation of possible ventricular dilatation in utero.

Patients with suspected bladder abnormalities were examined by noninvasive suprapubic sonography to define the accuracy of ultrasound for detecting and staging bladder carcinomas. In 103 patients, 65 tumors were found by cystoscopy, of which sonography detected 61 (94%). Four lesions less than 2-3 mm were missed at the bladder dome, the ventral wall, and side wall. The sonographic staging was correct in 83% of all tumor stages with the lowest value of 69% for T2/T3a tumors; excluding recurrent tumors, the overall accuracy increased. From these results, suprapubic sonography is considered to be a reliable noninvasive technique for detecting bladder tumors and for preoperative local staging. The staging results are comparable with reports in the literature on the accuracy of intravesical sonography.

Im Rahmen zweier klinischer Phase-II- bzw. -III-Studien wurden Patien-ten mit einem histologisch gesicherten metastasierendem Nierenkarzinom entweder mit γ-Interferon in zwei unterschiedlichen Dosierungen (100 μg/m² 3 × pro Woche über 4 h i.v. jede 2. Woche, oder 500 μg/m², 5 × pro Woche über 24 h i.v. jede 2. Woche) oder mit α-2-Interferon allein (18 × 10⁶ E 3 × pro Woche, jede Woche i.m.) oder in Kombination mit Vinblastin (0,1 mg/kg Körpergewicht i.v. jede 3. Woche) behandelt. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Ansprechrate, die Ansprechdauer, die Überlebensrate, die Toxizität sowie die Verträglichkeit beider Therapie-formen zu eruieren. Die Ansprechrate lag in der γ-Interferonstudie beí beiden Dosierungen insgesamt bei 30%, in der Studie mit α-Interferon in Kombination mit Vinblastin bei insgesamt 31%. Die Ansprechdauer lag in der γ-Interferon-Studie bei 2–34+Monaten, bei der α-2-Interferon-Studie bei 2–24 + Monaten. Patienten, die unter der γ-Interferon-Therapie eine Tumorreaktion auf-wiesen, überlebten statistisch signifikant länger als diejenigen, die nicht auf die Therapie ansprachen (p = 0,0056). Die Behandlung mit der nie-drigen Dosis des γ-Interferon sowie mit α-2-Interferon war ambulant gut durchführbar. Die Interferon-Therapie stellt u. E. derzeit bei Patienten mit einem metastasierenden Nierenkarzinom die Therapie der Wahl dar.

No abstract

Prostatic adenomas and carcinomas were examined by suprapubic transvesical prostatic sonography. The value of the method is comparable with transrectal prostatic sonography. Adenomas and carcinomas can be differentiated on the basis of their echo patterns and marginal contours. In the presence of carcinomas, sonography is a valuable addition to clinical staging and staging by CT. Compared with CT, the ability to perform longitudinal sections permits good evaluation of the bladder base. Sonography is also valuable for serial observations after treatment and for diagnosing recurrences.