Objective To evaluate the effect of bladder volume change on the doses to normal tissues in cervical cancer patients undergoing external three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DRT)plus 3D conformal brachytherapy (3DCBT).Methods The study included 56 patients with cervical cancer who were admitted to our hospital from 2012 to 2013 and received radical external 3DRT and 3DCBT.During 3DCBT,the doses to 0.1,1.0,and 2.0 cm3(D0.1 cm3,D1.0cm3,and D2.0cm3,respectively) for the rectum,small intestine,sigmoid colon,and bladder under different bladder filling status (empty,50,100,and 150 ml) were compared and analyzed by paired t-test.Results The rectum D0.1cm3 with bladder volumes of 50and 100 ml were significantly reduced compared with that with an empty bladder (P =0.000,0.000).The D0.1 cm3,D1.0cm3,and D2.0cm3 for the small intestine with bladder volumes of 50,100,and 150 ml were significantly reduced compared with those with an empty bladder (P =0.008,0.000,0.000 and 0.000,0.000,0.000 or 0.000,0.000,0.000).The D0.1 cm3,D1.0cm3,and D2.0cm3 for the bladder with bladder volumes of 100 and 150 ml were significantly increased compared with those with an empty bladder (P =0.000,0.000 and 0.000,0.000 or 0.000,0.000).Conclusions The doses to the bladder and small intestine are influenced by different bladder filling status,but the doses to the rectum and sigmoid colon show no significant variation.The increase in bladder volume is helpful in reducing the dose to the small intestine.Without any change in the bladder dose,the bladder volume of 50 ml is more beneficial to reduce the dose to the small intestine than those of 100 and 150 ml.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of Hashimoto's disease(HD) accompanying with thyroid cancer,and to explore the experience of diagnosis and treatment.Methods Clinical data of 41 cases of HD accompanying with thyroid cancer were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were diagnosed by postoperative paraffin pathological examination from Jan.2002 to July 2011.Results 10 cases of HD,37cases of thyroid cancer,and 8 cases HD accompanying with thyroid cancer were diagnosed before operation.The rate of preoperative diagnosis was only 19.51％.All patients underwent surgical treatment,including 22 cases total thyroidectomy,14 cases subtotal thyroidectomy,and 5 cases lesion side lobe resection.24 cases underwent ipsilateral neck dissection,and 4 cases underwent bilateral neck dissection (ipsilateral radical resection,contralateral selective resection).Postoperative paraffin pathological examination proved that there were 39 cases of HD accompanying with thyroid cancer,1 case of focal cancer and 1 case of B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated thyroid.All patients were followed up.Conclusions The preoperative diagnosis rate of HD accompanying with thyroid cancer is low and great attention should be paid to its diagnosis.For HD patients,if carcinoma can not be excluded,surgical exploration is recommended.Appropriate surgical method should be chosen according to intraoperative frozen section results.Postoperative thyroid hormone treatment is usually taken.

Objective To study the epidemiological and clinical features of primary hyperthyroidism complicated with thyroid cancer.Methods Clinical data of 30 cases of hyperthyroidism complicated with thyroid cancer(hyperparathyroidism group)were retrospectively analyzed.They were chosen from the 365 cases of primary hyperparathyroidism treated by operation from Jan.2002 to Jun.2011.At the same time,30 cases of thyroid cancer without hyperparathyroidism were randomly taken out as the control group.Results The incidence of thyroid cancer in primary hyperparathyroidism was 8.22％ (30/365).The median course,preoperative diagnostic rate of thyroid cancer,and lymph nodes metastasis rate for hyperparathyroidism group and control group was 875.00 vs 120.00 days(z =-2.501,P ＜0.05),40.0％ (12/30) vs 66.7％ (20/30) (x2 =4.286,P ＜0.05),and 20.0％ (6/30) vs 46.7％ (14/30) (x2 =4.800,P ＜ 0.05) respectively.All patients were followed up with the average of 4.5 years,ranging from 1 month to 9 yeas and a half.1 case(3.3％)in hyperparathyroidism group recurred hyperthyroidism 5 years after surgery.1 case(3.3％)recurred thyroid cancer 1 year after surgery and received operation again,and 1 case(3.3％)died half a year after operation from respiratory failure caused by lung metastasis of thyroid cancer in the control group.Conclusions Hyperthyroidism complicated with thyroid cancer has the characteristics of high incidence rate of thyroid cancer in the hyperthyroidism patients,long course,high preoperative misdiagnosis rate,low lymph node metastasis rate,favorable prognosis and so on.

Objective To investigate the correlation between ICRU reference point dose and dosevolume parameters of organs at risk (OARs) under different bladder and rectal filling status in threedimensional conformal brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods A total of 31 patients who received magnetic resonance imaging-guided three-dimensional conformal brachytherapy for cervical cancer in 96 fractions were enrolled.The ICRU rectal and bladder reference points were determined in the treatment planning system,and the doses at these points were recorded and compared with the dose-volume parameters of the rectum and bladder.The paired t-test was used to analyze the differences between them.Results Bladder DICRU was lower than bladder D0.1cm3 and D1 cm3 (P=0.000 and 0.000),higher than bladder D5 cm3 and D10cm3 (P=0.000 and 0.000),and similar to bladder D2 cm3 (P=0.345).Under the bladder filling status,bladder DICRU was lower than D2cm3.Rectal DICRU was lower than rectal D0.1 cm3 and D1cm3 (P =0.000 and 0.002),higher than rectal D5 cm3 and D 10 cm3 (P =0.000 and 0.000),and similar to rectal D2cm3 (P=0.058).The ICRU bladder and rectal reference point doses were positively correlated with corresponding D2 cm3.In the case of bladder volume ≥ 200 cm3,the ICRU bladder reference point dose underestimated bladder D2 cm3.In the case of rectal volume ≥ 37 cm3,the ICRU rectal reference point dose overestimated rectal D2 cm3.Conclusions In three-dimensional conformal brachytherapy,it is generally safe to use D2 cm3 as an index to evaluate OARs,but when the bladder or rectum is in an empty status,the ICRU bladder or rectal reference point doses should be considered.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of Utrecht applicator in three-dimensional image-guided brachytherapy (3D-IGBT) for locally advanced cervical cancer,as well as its application discipline in intracavitary/interstitial (IC/IS) therapy.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 45 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who received radical radiotherapy,and the patients received external beam radiotherapy followed by 3D-IGBT.A total of 130 times (n =45) of IC/IS therapy were performed,and the patients who received such therapy were all enrolled.The patients who met the target dose fractionation defined in the plan were enrolled as group A (n=37,86 times),and the other patients were enrolled as group B (n=22,44 times).Two groups difference was analyzed with Group t-test.Results The frequencies of use of 15-,20-,and 25-mm ovoids by the applicator were 50.0％,20.0％,and 30.0％,respectively,and the 30-mm ovoid was not used.A total of 499 needles were used,and the frequencies of use of 6,7,10,and 11 insertion holes were 23.1％,21.2％,21.2％,and 24.1 ％,respectively.Group A had a significantly lower mean number of the needles than group B (3.7 vs.4.2,P=0.008).Compared with group B,group A had a significantly lower mean high-risk clinical target volume (CTV)(40.71±18.43 cm3 vs.51.81±14.74 cm3,P=0.001),as well significantly lower width and height of high-risk CTV (P=0.011 and 0.006),but the thickness of high-risk CTV was similar between the two groups (P=0.595).The difference between height and insertion depth (DH) was similar between the two groups (P=0.366).Group A had a smaller difference between width and pinhole distance Dw than group B (P=0.007).Conclusions When IC/IS therapy is performed for locally advanced cervical cancer,the 15-,20-,and 25-mm ovoids of Utrecht applicator and 6,7,10,and 11 insertion holes are frequently used.When the number of needles is no less than 4 and the depth is no less than 3 cm,width is the major factor which affects the planned dose.

Objective To explore the correlation between the dose measured in the rectum and reference dose in three?dimensional brachytherapy ( 3DBT ) for cervical cancer, and to evaluate the significance of the dose measured in the rectum. Methods Fifty patients receiving radiotherapy for cervical cancer were selected, and 3DBT was performed after pelvic external beam radiotherapy. According to the rectal monitoring method recommended in the report ICRU38, in vivo monitoring was applied to obtain the dose measured in the rectum, reference point dose ( DICRU ) , and D2 cm3 , and the planned dose was obtained from the planning system. The differences in these values were determined by the paired t?test and correlation analysis was performed with Pearson test. Results The dose measured in the rectum was higher than the planned dose (3. 48 vs. 3. 25,P=0. 000), and lower than DICRU(3. 48 vs. 3. 71,P=0. 000) and D2 cm3(3. 48 vs. 3. 87,P=0. 002). A linear relationship existed between the dose measured in the rectum and the planned dose, with a deviation percentage of-20% to 40% and an average deviation of 8. 16%;63%of the patients with cervical cancer had a deviation of<± 10%;the maximum deviation was 60%. The dose measured in the rectum had a strong correlation with DICRU(r=0. 722), but a weak correlation with D2 cm3 ( r=0. 284) . Conclusions During 3DBT for cervical cancer, the dose measured in the rectum has certain deviations, but has a linear correlation with the planned dose. Both the dose measured and the planned dose underestimate the dose at the reference point in the rectum, and in vivo rectal monitoring may be an effective method for quality control.

Objective To investigate the dosimetric differences between Utrecht applicator and ring applicator in three-dimensional (3D) conformal brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods Twenty-five patients with locally advanced cervical cancer were treated with magnetic resonance imaging-guided 3D conformal brachytherapy.Utrecht applicator and ring applicator were used interchangeably for 96 cycles.Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of applicator.Each group received 48 cycles of treatment, in which ring applicator was first applied for 26 cycles and Utrecht applicator was first applied for 22 cycles.High-risk clinical target volume ( HR-CTV) , width, thickness, and D90 at the point A level, D2 cm3 of organs at risk (OARs), V7 Gy , W7 Gy,A, V7 Gy ,A, and W/T7 Gy were evaluated and analyzed using paired t-test.Results There were no significant differences in HR-CTV and the width, thickness, and D90 at the point A level between the Utrecht group and the ring group ( P=0.487;P=0.340;P=0.857;P=0.921);there were no significant differences in D2 cm3 values of bladder, rectum, sigmoid, and bowel between the two groups ( P=0.136;P=0.802;P=0.985;P=0.458);there were no significant differences in V7 Gy and T7 Gy,A between the two groups ( P=0.076;P=0.435) .The Utrecht group had a significantly larger W/T7 Gy,A than the ring group ( P=0.002 ) .Conclusions Utrecht applicator is appropriate for patients with relatively large width and width/thickness ratio of HR-CTV at the point A level.

Objective To compare target volume and dosimetry between computed tomography (CT)?and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)?guided three?dimensional (3D) conformal brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer, and to provide evidence for optimization of the image?guided approach and improvement of treatment regimen. Methods Thirteen patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who were treated with radical radiotherapy in our hospital in 2014 were enrolled as subjects. All patients received MRI?guided 3D conformal intracavitary/ interstitial brachytherapy. All patients received MRI and CT scans for each brachytherapy fraction, based on which the target volume delineation, intracavitary/ interstitial regimen design, and intracavitary?only treatment regimen design were performed. Comparison of data between MRI and CT scans was performed using paired t test. Results The width and volume of the high?risk clinical target volume ( HR?CTV) were significantly smaller in the MRI simulation than in the CT simulation ((38.0±9?? 4) mm vs. (45.1±8?? 7) mm, P= 0?? 000;(34.2±15?? 3) cm3 vs. (42.9±20?? 4) cm3 , P= 0?? 002), and the width, thickness, and volume of the intermediate?risk clinical target volume (IR?CTV) were also significantly smaller in the MRI simulation than in the CT simulation ((58.8±9?? 4) mm vs. (65.4±10?? 3) mm, P= 0?? 000;(34.8±6?? 3) mm vs. (37.5±6?? 3) mm, P= 0?? 001;(90.9±28?? 5) cm3 vs. (109.0±36?? 4) cm3 , P= 0?? 000). The D90 values for HR?CTV and IR?CTV were significantly higher in the MRI simulation than in the CT simulation (87?? 6 Gy vs. 85?? 8 Gy, P= 0?? 013;67?? 7 Gy vs. 66?? 3 Gy, P= 0?? 005), while the average D2 cm3 values for the bladder and rectum were significantly lower in the MRI simulation than in the CT simulation ( 73?? 1 Gy vs . 75?? 5 Gy , P= 0?? 011 ; 61?? 0 Gy vs . 65?? 7 Gy , P= 0?? 000 ) . Conclusions Compared with the MRI simulation, the CT simulation overestimates the width of target volume. MRI has substantial advantages in dosimetry for target volume and normal tissues. The intracavitary/ interstitial treatment can make up the reduced dose for the target volume resulting from the CT simulation.

Objective To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumors ( SMTs ) . Methods Clinicopathological data of 1 743 patients with 1 775 upper gastrointestinal SMTs in our department from January 2008 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The first finding was that in 702 esophagus cases,leiomyoma(92?59%,650/702) was the most common type of esophageal SMTs. Second, in 1 045 gastric cases, there were 405 lesions at gastric fundus, the most common type of SMTs were 249 ( 61?48%) GISTs and 144 ( 35?56%) leiomyoma. In 307 lesions located at body,the most common type of SMTs were 143( 46?58%) GISTs and 90( 29?32%) leiomyoma. In 191 lesions located at antrum, the most common type of SMTs were 83( 43?46%) heterotopia pancreas and 45(23?56%) hamartoma, followed by 28(14?66%) lipoma and 20(10?47%) GISTs. In 142 lesions located at cardia, the most common type of SMTs was 110 ( 77?46%) leiomyoma. Third, in 28 duodenum cases, there were 19 lesions at duodenal bulb, the most common type of SMTs was 10 heterotopia pancreas, 4 Brunner gland adenoma and 3 GISTs. In 9 lesions located at descending duodenum,the most common type of SMTs was 4 lipomyoma, followed by 2 ectopic pancreas,1 GISTs and 2 others. Conclusion Leiomyoma is the most common type of esophageal SMTs. In gastric fundus and body, the most common type of SMTs are GISTs and leiomyoma. In antrum, the most common type of SMTs are heterotopia pancreas and hamartoma, but in cardia, that is leiomyoma.In duodenal bulb, the most common type of SMTs are heterotopia pancreas, Brunner gland adenoma and GISTs,and in descending duodenum, is lipomyoma.

Objective To detect and compare the pH value of different locations in esophagus and trachea of mice.Methods 40 male Kunming mice of clean grade were randomly divided into two groups,of which the esophagus(esophageal group) and trachea(windpipe group) were measured,before the experiment two groups kept 12 hours abrosia.The esophagus and trachea of the rats in two groups were dissected and separated out,the distance from the central incisors were 0.3 cm,0.5 cm,0.7 cm,the incision was like 'T'.The sensitive grade of pH test paper was used for the determination,and the data was recorded in each group and analyzed.Results All the mice were measured successfully.The pH of the esophagus group were (6.10±0.17),(5.84±0.11),(5.44±0.11),and the pH value of the trachea group were(7.44±0.11),(7.19±0.11),(6.97±0.07),respectively.There was a significant difference in the same segment between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion The results showed that the differences in the pH values of trachea and esophagus and the pH values of different segments,which provides a theoretical basis for the design of model mice by intragastric administration of pH to identify the value of trachea and esophagus.