XTbe Bristol
flI>ebtco==Gbu'uiYjtcal Journal "
Scire est
nescire,
nisi id
me
Scire alius sciret."
JULY,
I924.
the therapeutic
of
uses
radium.
BY
A. E.
Hayward Pinch, F.R.C.S., of the Radium Institute. London.
Director
^
dEsire first
Paid Ch"
in
rns
to express my
inviting
me
appreciation
of the
compliment
to lecture before the Bristol Medico-
lrurgical Society, and to voice the very keen and heartfelt I experience in meeting once again my former *eachers and fellow-students. I spent six of the happiest
P^asure
^ears ?f my life
Sclent and
^eallghly 1 .
at the old Bristol Medical
and later
as
lasting
School, first
as
Medical Tutor, and made many very friendships, which I value more and more as
the years roll
on.
"^he subject
"
Radium Therapy," and of my address is is manifestly impossible to deal with it comprehensively
the time Slide* ?t
disposal, I propose to throw on the screen patients suffering from various conditions which arnenable to radium, to say something of the history of r
Vol ^Ll.
at my ,
.
^ No.
t
98
MR. A.
HAYWARD PINCH
E.
the cases, and to indicate
adopted
to
produce
briefly
the treatment which was
the results shown.
Radium treatment may be carried out either with radium salt or radon (radium emanation) apparatus, their therapeutic
properties being identical. At the Radium Institute itself radium salt apparatus is chiefly used; but when tubes or applicators are sent out of the Institute for employment in various parts of the British Isles the radon apparatus is supplied, the actual intrinsic value being so small that if mislaid or destroyed the pecuniary loss is but trifling. The tubes are charged with radium sulphate at least 90 per cent, pure, and there is
admixture with barium
no
or
any other
inert material.
applicators are made of three strengths : Full strength," containing 0.5 centigram radium element to each square centimetre; "half strength," containing 0.25 centigram radium element to each square centimetre; quarter strength," containing 0.125 centigram radium The flat surface
"
"
element to each square centimetre. The strength of all radon (radium
emanation) apparatus expressed in millicuries, a millicurie being the amount of radon in equilibrium with a milligram of radium elementWhen dealing with superficial or subcutaneous lesions the apparatus is employed either unscreened, or lightly
is
screened,
to cut out the soft and medium beta rays.
screens most
generally
Aluminium, Lead, Silver,
used for this purpose
0.01
0.1 mm. 0.2 mm.
In the treatment, of where a
and
0.02 mm.
The
are :?
thick.
thick. and
1.0 mm.
thick.
deeply-seated growths,
or
in cases
prolonged radiation of gamma type only is necessary* screen of lead 2.0 mm. in thickness is utilised, as such a
screen
a
practically
cuts off all beta radiation.
*
THE THERAPEUTIC USES OF RADIUM.
When
tubes
1,0 nimof
generally :n
0.3 and 0.5
silver,
,
^he patient
6n?e^y
or tumours screens
platinum
are
of
the most
place
and divers forms of disease. I.
j fri
mm.
before you a series of lantern the results obtained by radium treatment to
now
illustrating
many
buried in tissues
useful.
I proceed
slides
are
99
LICHENIFICATION
was
neurotic
a
OF NECK.
young married
subject,
a
nuisance to
woman
herself,
of a
thirty,
an
trial to her
her husband. ^Th anc* is most interesting, it affords history of the to the theory that the affection is supp?rt der?n^ ^he condition appeared about two weeks after thenia*1.'^s' shock from seeing ,?,a1:ient had sustained a curse
case
str
as
a
a
a
severe
neuro-
nervous
billed in a street accident. All remedies had failed the incessant and maddening irritation, and when eYe the Patient came to the Institute, the disease having then e_ S*x nionths, her mental condition was deplorable. She ?ne exposure of fifteen minutes' duration with h ,receivecl .strength applicators screened with 0.01 mm. of ai lniUm- The irritation rapidly subsided, and within thr Wee^s the skin was normal in character. Subsequently she e-i two recrudescences of the trouble. The first was ay cjet rrnined the shock of the loss of a relative on the Titanic, by ^ by an air-raid during the war. The same treatment 011 ?P eac^ occasion, with an equally successful to
r
?
"
"
tyasSec?nd
result
2.
PSORIASIS.
Th
f0r o.(2 Patient, a man of fifty, had suffered from the disease een years. He had received all kinds of treatment and oCca?. l0nahy experienced temporary benefit, but had never "been Radium Institute he had the trunk and upper exposures, each of five minutes' duraf 011 three successive half strength" days with S appropriate shape and number. No screening Was P lesions had cleared up within three \Veeks^ie an _
1SfCase
"
100
?
MR. A.
E.
LUPUS
HAYWARD PINCH
ERYTHEMATOSUS.
Patient a married woman of thirty-two. The disease had existed for seven years, and had proved most intractable, and resistant to all remedies, constitutional and local. The condition was of the bat's wing type, and very extensive, implicating the nose, both cheeks, and both lower eyelids. She was treated with half strength apparatus, screened with o.oi mm. aluminium, the exposure being of forty-five minutes' duration. Great improvement followed, enabling the patient almost completely to hide the disfigurement by a slight application of face powder, and permitting her to take part insocial functions. No cure of the condition was obtained, and exacerbations occur from time to time, but are always greatly benefited by the treatment above indicated. "
"
"
LUPUS VULGARIS.
4. Patient
a woman
"
of
fifty-six,
an
inmate of
one
of the London-
The disease had existed since childhood, was of a strongly ulcerative type, and had destroyed much of the nose and adjacent portions of the cheek. Scraping, cauterisation, X-rays and Fmsen light had all proved ineffective. Poor Law Infirmaries.
"
"
applicators unscreened, varying from one hour to one and a half hours duration, repeated at intervals of six weeks over a period of six months. Complete healing resulted, and the disease was She
was
treated with
half
the exposure
strength
arrested. Patient was afterwards fitted with an artificial nose, and remained free from further trouble until her death si* years later. 5.
SENILE
Two patients, a man of Each patient had a
two.
on a
KERATOMATA.
sixty-four and a woman of seventy'' large fiat oval pigmented keratoma
of the face. of one and exposure " "
conspicuous portion
a half hours' duration with a suitable sized half strength applicator unscreeneda effected a complete disappearance of the lesion, leaving smooth, supple and scarcely perceptible scar. There was n?
In each
case an
recurrence.
6.
KELOID ACNE.
Patient a man of forty-two. Not a coloured individualThe disease had existed for nine years, and implicated the right half of hairy margin of scalp at the neck. Three exposures of one and a half hours' duration with half strength applicators unscreened were given at intervals of two month5" Complete cure resulted. "
THE
THERAPEUTIC USES OF RADIUM.
KELOIDS.
7.
One case of ree, followed
IOI
in a young woman of twentyburn. The face and hands were ery severely affected. Patient was compelled to wear a thick ack veil when out of her home, and was scarcely able to use ^er hands. She was under treatment for two years. Half extensive upon
a
degree,
petrol
"
rength
"
Ployed,
applicators,
screened with 0.1
mm.
of
silver,
were
and exposures varying from twelve to eighteen ^ urs duration given at intervals of six weeks. Improvement as slow, but steadily progressive, the keloidal tissue became sorbed, and the skin gradually assumed its normal PPearances. At the present date scarcely any sign of the ?uble is appreciable on the face or hands. ^no^her case, a schoolgirl of fourteen was playing in some when some cotton wool which enveloped her neck upper part of the chest was accidentally ignited. Keloidal anges occurred in the scar, drawing the chin down to the rnum, and preventing the patient from closing her mouth. ^ similar line of treatment was adopted and an equally successful result obtained. i
grades,
^ is advisable
to treat
keloids at
early a stage as collagen have developed
Possible, and before the bundles of fu% organised connective tissue.
as
lnto
Sh?uld a
J
be
attention
Special
to the
edges of the lesion, as increase proceeds peri-arterial fibrosis, which is most active at the paid
Periphery. ^ is
interesting
to note that when once
a
keloid has
eceived an adequate radiation all tendency to further ?r?wth is checked, though it may require several exposures bring about a complete disappearance of the mass. 8.
^ )
Capillary
Ncvvi
("
ISLE VI.
Port Wine
"
Stains).
Considerable
^Ppearance face and
of
e
improvement may often be effected in the patients disfigured by "port wine stains of "
neck, but the rprocess is a tedious one and the ures have to be It is never very carefully calculated. ssible to restore the skin to its normal colour, but a very
?vn
102
MR. A.
definite
E.
HAYWARD PINCH
of the tint may
lightening the
enabling patient completely slight application of face powder. The best results from
thirty applicators
to
being given
on
sixty
are
usually
frequently
to hide the
obtained
minutes' duration with
screened with
o.i mm.
each of three successive
at intervals of two months.
be of
intensity
with
a
exposures of " half strength
by "
days,
exposures
and this series
The reaction
should
that
produces desquamation without any stopped when the discoloration salmon-pink tint.
The treatment is
vesication.
is reduced to
(b)
patch
of lead, three
repeated an
be obtained,
a
Cavernous Ncevi.
The slides exhibited show very clearly the remarkably satisfactory results of radium radiation in the treatment of these In
growths. one
case,
a
child of
size of
one
year,
a
large
oval
pendulous
small cocoanut, implicated the lower half of the right cheek and the right sub-maxillary region. Its weight was such as to drag the child's head down to the right shoulder, and it was growing rapidly. Under appropriate treatment the naevus steadily decreased in size, and two years
growth,
the
a
later it had completely disappeared, leaving only a very small flaccid area of skin over the right lower jaw. The second case, an infant of five weeks, was brought with a very extensive prominent cavernous naevus implicating the lobe of left ear and the left pre-auricular region. Fifteen months later no traces of the growth remained. The procedure adopted in both instances was cross-fire half strength irradiation with applicators screened with o.i mm. of lead, three exposures each of from twenty to fifty minutes' duration being given on three successive days, the series being repeated at intervals of six weeks. "
"
"
The treatment of
cavernous
undertaken at the earliest
naevi with radium should be
possible opportunity,
as
infants
prove much more susceptible than children approaching their 'teens, and if due care be taken no untoward result can occur.
THE THERAPEUTIC USES OF RADIUM.
105
RODENT ULCER.
9.
Three distinct types may be recognised :? (a) Lesions of the excavating type with thin overhanging edges and a soft gelatinous base, no rolled edge being present.
(^) Lesions of the hypertrophic and exuberant type, with slight superficial ulceration, and often limited by a distinct rolled edge.
(c) Lesions affecting
the
palpebral
mucosa,
outer and
inner canthi.
Ulcers a
of the first group are the most difficult to treat the absence of the rolled edge indicating that
isfactorily,
Patient's power of resistance
and that ls
no
protective
important
niargins
to the disease is deficient
reaction is
occurring.
to radiate some distance
beyond
cases
the visible
of the lesion, in order to deal with any outlaying columns of cells which will almost certainly be
nvasive Present in
those situations.
Repair ^Perfect,
in these
always slow, and sometimes a very strong tendency to they so that they should be subjected to inspection frequent intervals, even if an apparent cure has cases
and
is
exhibit
J~Currence, fairly een
In these
"
"
Produced.
^cers
of the second group usually do exceedingly well, the dose and exposure be correctly calculated one rnen1: ma^ suffice to bring about an apparent cure.
Th e
tendency many 1
^
111
ute in which the
any
^ th
t
to recurrence in these instances is but
patients
have remained
recurrence since their treatment
years ago. m ^IC treatment of this
^
the
slight,
cases are recorded in the case sheets of the Radium
most
striking,
particular
remarkable and
quite
eight,
free
ten
or
class of lesion
permanent
results of
MR- A.
104 radium of
an
therapy
are
extensive
E.
HAYWARD
obtained.
The
hypertrophic
PINCH
complete disappearance
ulcerated mass, and its
re-
placement by a smooth, soft, supple scar, differing but little surrounding skin, is often amazing, and might be regarded as incredible but for photographic evidence. In one of the slides shown an irregular hypertrophic ulcerated growth is seen to occupy the left side of nose and cheek and completely to occlude the eye. When the growth had from the
disappeared
under radium treatment the orbital fissure was
found to be narrowed from cicatricial contraction of the affected
eyelids,
Rodent
responds
but the eye
ulcer
affecting
quite healthy. palpebral mucosa
was
the
often
well to radium treatment, which may completely disease, and prevent its extension to the sclerotic
arrest the
and cornea,
Many
cases
and
subsequent
destruction of the
of this nature have been treated most
the movements of the
eyeball being
eyeball-
successfully*
unaffected and the vision
unimpared. Cases of rodent ulcer which have not
previously received
any active treatment with X-rays, ionization, C02 snow, etc., usually receive an unscreened exposure of from one and
according to the thickness of the lesion, with a full strength applicator. The reaction is generally fairly severe, producing a degenerative necrosis* and removal by ulceration of all the malignant tissue, and possibly of a small surrounding layer of normal tissue. The ulceration is followed by the formation of a limpe* shell" crust, underneath which repair occurs, leaving a smooth, soft, supple scar, particularly rich in elastic tissue a
half to two hours' duration, "
"
"
fibres.
great
In cases of very long standing, accompanied by destruction and invasion of the cartilaginous or bony tissues, unscreened exposures should not be given. irradiation of any kind is powerless to cure rodent
RadiuU1 ulceration
Figs,
i
and 2.
Rodent ulcer of the orbit before and after
lymphosarcoma
treatment
by
and 4. Figs. 3 and of the neck before and after treatment
radium.
by by
radium.
THE THERAPEUTIC USES OF RADIUM.
105
bone, and the same is almost equally true with respect to Cartilage. For this reason the affected portions of these lssues should, be removed
treatment
far
as
possible
as
before radium
A gamma radiation from heavilyScreened apparatus applied to the borders of the growth and deeper extensions will often serve to arrest the progress is commenced.
the disease, diminish the pain, and induce
degree of repair,
but it will not and cannot do 10.
Patient
some
more
slight
than this.
LYMPHADENOMA.
The disease had developed of the left cervical region w Principally affected, and in that situation they formed mass of firm, discrete, movable glands, oh c^n? the venous flow from the head and pressing upon the sympathetic ; the patient's face was congested and dusky, a there was some respiratory embarrassment from distrachea. hours' treatment was given with surface applicators w-
young girl of fifteen. rapidity. The glands
a
?reat
a^re
+?enormous
,
co
a