The diagnosis of cancer in a child is a devastating finding not only to the parents but often to the child. Even though the situation is relatively easy to accept among adults, it is difficult to accept among children because of their general helpless state. The advances that have been made in the management of a child with cancer in the last 20 years have been dramatic in character. These have occurred not only by virtue ofthe contributions from early diagnosis and more precise staging but also from the contribu­ tions made by surgery, radiation therapy, and the more widespread utilization of chemotherapy regimens. This volume by J. Robert Cassady sets forth the position of radiation oncology in the management of the child with cancer. Radiation therapy remains an important and significant part of the treatment of this group of diseases. The book presents the basic knowledge with regards to pediatric oncology and how it relates to radiation therapy. It gives a timely overview on the topic and is essential for all radiation oncologists involved in the management of children with cancer. Hamburg/Philadelphia, June 1994 H. -P. HEILMANN LUTHER W. BRADY Preface This book provides a thorough review of the role that radiation therapy currently plays in the management of most childhood tumors. Extensively augmented with figures and tables where appropriate, it also provides a concise review of current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for major childhood malignancies. Extensive and up-to-date reference lists are an added benefit.

Inhalt

1 Pediatric Radiation Therapy: Introduction.- 2 Etiology, Clinical Associations, and the Possibility of Prevention of Childhood Malignancies.- 3 Acute and Chronic Normal Tissue Effects and Potential Modification in Pediatric Radiation Therapy.- 4 Molecular Biology and Genetic Advances in Childhood Malignancies.- 5 Principles of Damage Interactions Between Radiation and Chemotherapeutic Agents.- 6 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.- 7 Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia.- 8 Biologic and Physical Principles of Total Body Irradiation for Allogeneic and Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation in Children with Leukemia and Lymphoma.- 9 Role of Radiation Therapy in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the Child.- 10 Effects of Therapy on Central Nervous System Functions in Children.- 11 Hodgkin's Disease.- 12 Neuroblastoma.- 13 Malignant Brain Tumors Including Medulloblastoma, Embryonal Neuroectodermal Tumors, and Tumors of the Pineal Region, with a Special Discussion of the Management of Brain Tumors in Children of 3 Years and Younger.- 14 Brain Stem Gliomas in Children.- 15 Gliomas of the Supratentorium, Ventricular System, and Visual Pathways, and Tumors of the Sellar Region.- 16 Tumors of the Spinal Cord in Children.- 17 Wilms Tumor.- 18 Ewing's Sarcoma.- 19 Rhabdomyosarcoma.- 20 Osteosarcoma and the Less Common Sarcomas of Childhood.- 21 Retinoblastoma.- 22 Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.- 23 Epithelial Carcinomas in the Child.- 24 Unusual Neoplasms of Childhood.- 25 Future Prospects in Childhood Cancer.- List of Contributors.