VOA标准英语2008年-US Senator Edward Kennedy Diagnosed With Malign

By Carol Pearson
Washington
21 May 2008
 

Doctors performed a biopsy on U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy and announced Tuesday that they found a malignant¹ brain tumor². The Democrat³ and elder statesman of American liberal politics suffered a siezure last Saturday morning at his home in Massachusetts. VOA's Carol Pearson reports on this type of cancer.

Senator Edward Kennedy's doctors found a tumor in tissue that supports the nerve structure in the brain and spinal⁴ cord. The term for it is malignant glioma. And one of the common symptoms is a seizure⁵.

Senator Kennedy was rushed to the hospital after having one. The National Cancer Institute says malignant gliomas are the most common type of brain cancer among adults.

No one knows the cause of brain tumors but there are several risk factors: Men are more likely to get them than women. And they occur more often in whites than in people of other races. Age is also a factor. They are more likely to be diagnosed in people 70 years old or older.

Brain tumors can be diagnosed by several means including a C-T scan or an MRI or a biopsy. They can be challenging to treat, but new technology can help.

At Duke University Medical Center in [the southeast state of] North Carolina, doctors perform precise radiosurgery on tumors with a machine called the Novalis Tx.

Dr. John Kirkpatrick says the technology is almost like magic, "We can deliver a higher dose to tumors which means we can get better control of the tumor and at the same time, avoid the normal structures in the body."

 

 

 

Still, it recommends surgery for all operable brain tumors followed by radiation or chemotherapy.But the U.S. National Cancer Institute says the outlook for patients with malignant gliomas is poor. Senator Kennedy's doctors are still determining the best course of treatment for him.

1 malignant   

adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的

参考例句：

• Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。
• He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。

2 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

3 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

4 spinal   

adj.针的，尖刺的，尖刺状突起的；adj.脊骨的，脊髓的

参考例句：

• After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天，就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
• Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。

5 seizure   

n.没收；占有；抵押

参考例句：

• The seizure of contraband is made by customs.那些走私品是被海关没收的。
• The courts ordered the seizure of all her property.法院下令查封她所有的财产。