Summary The radiosensitivity of solid tumours in anaemic rats treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO, epoetin beta) was studied. Anaemia was induced by a single dose of carboplatin (45 mg kg-' i.v.), resulting in a reduction in the haemoglobin concentration by 30%. In a second group, the development of anaemia was prevented by rhEPO (1000 IU kg-1) administered s.c. three times per week starting 6 days before the carboplatin application. Three days after carboplatin treatment, DS-sarcomas were implanted subcutaneously onto the hind foot dorsum. Neither carboplatin nor rhEPO treatment influenced tumour growth rate. Five days after implantation, tumours were irradiated with a single non-curative dose (10 Gy), resulting in a growth delay with a subsequent regrowth of the tumours. In the rhEPO-treated group, the growth delay lasted significantly longer (9.5 days vs. 4.5 days) and the regrowth was slower (6.0 days vs. 4.1 days) compared with the anaemic group. These data suggest that the correction of chemotherapy-induced anaemia by rhEPO (epoetin beta) treatment increases tumour radiosensitivity, presumably as a result of an improved oxygen supply to tumour tissue.

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Five patients had persistent, pulling pain in the sternum, clavicles, and upper ribs that was exacerbated by cold and dampness. Clublike, symmetrical enlargement of the clavicles was seen and, in two patients, venous congestion of the upper half of the body. All patients had a constantly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Radiologically there was symmetrical hyperostosis of the sternal and middle portions of the clavicles, synostosis of the sternoclavicular joints, a widened and thickened sternum, and varying degrees of involvement of the upper ribs. X-ray findings did not change over several years. Phlebography showed bilateral subclavian vein occlusion in three patients and unilateral occlusion in one. Biopsies of the clavicles showed a characteristic hyperostotic sclerosis of the spongiosa. The cause of this sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis is unknown, but clinical, radiologic, and histologic findings indicate that it may represent a distinct, hitherto undescribed entity.

Twenty-three patients with Graves ophthalmopathy who underwent radiation therapy were monitored by means of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. T2 relaxation times of extraocular muscles and orbital fat, areas of extraocular muscles, and degree of exophthalmos were measured by means of MR imaging at the beginning, at the end, and 3 months after completion of radiation therapy. As a result, patients with primarily elevated T2 times of extraocular muscles showed a better therapy response regarding muscle thickening than patients with primarily normal T2 times. Elevated T2 times, which probably represent acute inflammatory changes, were markedly decreased at the end of therapy. Therefore, quantitative MR imaging favors the choice of anti-inflammatory therapy regimens in patients with elevated T2 times of extraocular muscles. However, the clinical response (activity scores) to the low-dose treatment protocol that was used did not correlate well with primarily elevated T2 times. Furthermore, T2 times increased again after cessation of therapy. Whether a higher radiation dose or a different fractionation scheme leads to better results must be clarified by means of further study.

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