Most normal donors receiving G-CSF experience side effects, but these are mild to moderate in degree. Some alterations in blood chemistries occur, but none were clinically serious. Because of the symptoms associated with G-CSF, these individuals must be monitored closely. The treatment of normal donors with G-CSF for more than 5 days significantly decreased the number of circulating CD34+ cells and the quantity collected by apheresis.

Chronic ulcer present for decades that then undergoes malignant change is a disease of developing countries where patients only consult physicians when they have developed complications such as pain, bleeding or tissue necrosis. Chronic ulcers may require to be biopsied at regular intervals as malignant change in these ulcers is directly related to their duration.

These results suggest significant differences between accurate pre-operative "T" staging by CT and MRI for rectal cancer. MRI has the potential however, to accurately assess mesorectal envelope invasion. Further analysis is required to assess whether MRI can be used as the sole modality in pre-operative staging of rectal cancers.

In a review of more than 1000 patients with osteogenic sarcoma of bone, the vertebral column was the site of the primary tumor in 10 patients. The vertebral osteogenic sarcoma in 4 of the 10 patients was secondary; to Paget's disease of bone in 3, and to irradiation received for a prior cancer in 1. Frequently, cord compression caused severe neurologic symptoms. Prognosis was always poor. Seven patients died of their disease within a year of histologic diagnosis. The differential diagnoses between osteogenic sarcoma and three benign tumors are reviewed, osteoblastoma being the tumor most frequently confused with osteogenic sarcoma. The radiologic and histologic criteria for distinguishing between the two are discussed.

No abstract

Fifty eight patients seen at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center over a 50-year period were reviewed for lesions of the clavicle. A variety of malignant neoplasms, benign neoplasms, and tumor-like lesions were seen. There were 30 malignant neoplasms, the commonest of which were plasmacytomas, osteosarcomas, and Ewing sarcomas. There were five postradiation sarcomas. An unusual granulocytic sarcoma with dense sclerosis was described. Among the benign lesions were two osteochondromas, two hemangiomas, and a giant cell tumor secondary to Paget disease. The tumor-like lesions included six aneurysmal bone cysts and five eosinophilic granulomas. There were two patients with chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis and one each with sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis (Sonozaki syndrome) and condensing osteitis. An unusually large lesion of pseudogout and a large brown tumor were also included in the series.

No abstract

One year after the administration of G-CSF to healthy people, their blood counts were normal and unchanged from pretreatment counts. If healthy people donate blood progenitor cells after a second G-CSF course the quantity of CD34+ cells collected will be similar to that obtained in the first collection.