Setting Objectives for a Competency-based Undergraduate Obstetrics and Gynecology Curriculum.

INTRODUCTION: Little emphasis on standardization, less stringent outcome measurement and resource constrains can result in deteriorating competencies among medical graduates in a country with rapidly increasing number of medical institutions like India. A competency-based curriculum is where we carefully design curricular experiences to achieve pre-identified outcomes. In this study, we aimed to define the outcome objectives of a competency-based undergraduate Obstetrics and Gynaecology curriculum which is comprehensive, and is based on the present day need of our society. These objectives can serve as the basis for designing a suitable curriculum with aligned teaching learning and assessment methods. METHODS: This is an observational study in which a Delphi technique was used to identify the outcome objectives representing competencies specific to the subject of obstetrics and gynaecology at graduate level. The six core competencies identified by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Council formed the framework to identify these competencies. Then, a cross-sectional countrywide survey was conducted among purposively sampled teachers and clinical experts through a postal questionnaire to know the relative importance of the identified outcome measures and need for their inclusion in a contemporary outcome-based curriculum. RESULT: Ninety four medical teachers and clinical experts, belonging to institutes across the county, with demonstrable interest and expertise in the field of medical education identified 38 outcome objectives for the curriculum. There were twenty one "vital", fourteen "essential", two "desirable" and one "optional" outcome objectives identified. There were eighteen outcome objectives for "patient care" domain, nine for "medical knowledge", four for "Practice based learning and improvement", three for "professionalism", two for "system based practice", and two for "interpersonal and communication skills". CONCLUSION: The outcome objectives for a competency-based obstetrics and gynaecology curriculum in an Indian context were defined.

Continuous low-dose oral chemotherapy in recurrent and persistent carcinoma of cervix following chemoradiation: a comparative study between prolonged oral cyclophosphamide and oral Etoposide.

AIM: To compare the efficacy and toxicities of low-dose oral cyclophosphamide and oral etoposide in patients with persistent and recurrent cervical cancer with gross pelvic disease following full course of chemoradiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 30 patients with recurrent and persistent cervical cancer with gross pelvic disease were enrolled in this trial. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of 15 patients each with one group receiving low dose oral cyclophosphamide (100 mg/day) and the other group receiving low-dose oral etoposide (50 mg/day). Results were statistically analysed by IBM SPSS Statistics 19. RESULTS: Oral etoposide was not well tolerated with grade 2 neutropenia occurring in 33.3% and grade 3 neutropenia in 6.6% and thrombocytopenia occurring in 13.3%. Oral cyclophosphamide group on the other hand was better tolerated with none of the patients having thrombocytopenia and 6.6% patients having grade 2 neutropenia. There were two complete response (15.38%) and one partial response at the end of study (7.6%) in the cyclophosphamide group whereas there was no complete response and two partial response (16.6%) in the oral etoposide group. CONCLUSION: Long-term, low-dose oral etoposide was found to be less tolerated without any significant effect with patients with persistent and recurrent cervical cancer with gross pelvic disease following full course of chemoradiation therapy in contrast to oral cyclophosphamide which was found to be effective and well-tolerated by the patients.

Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the cervix with foci of malignant melanoma.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcomatoid squamous cell carcinoma (SSCC) is a rare malignancy of the cervix. Until date around eighteen cases of SSCC have been reported in the literature. It is an aggressive tumor with poor prognosis. The tumor usually presents at an advanced stage. Similarly, primary melanomas of the uterine cervix are rare tumors with not more than 60 cases reported in the world literature. It also has a poor prognosis. There is no reported case of sarcomatoid carcinoma with malignant melanoma. Here, we are presenting a rare case of cervical carcinoma with histopathology suggestive of SSCC with foci of malignant melanoma proven by immunohistochemistry study. CASE REPORT: The present case report is about a 42-year-old, Mrs. SR, P5 L3 D1 A1 , presented with the complaints of intermittent bleeding per vaginum since last 3 years and severe pain in the right lower limb since 1 month. On examination, there was a proliferative growth in the cervix. Her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed cervical mass lesion with right parametrial extension invading the right ureter and bladder wall causing hydroureteronephrosis with contiguous bilateral pelvic nodes. There were multiple lesions in the left femur. Diagnosis of carcinoma of cervix International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIIB with distant metastasis was made. Histopathology report was suggestive of sarcomatoid carcinoma with foci of melanocytic melanoma. She was planned to be treated with palliative radiation. DISCUSSION: About 90% of cervical carcinomas are squamous cell carcinoma. Adenocarcinoma constitute about 3-4% of all cervical carcinomas. Other rare pathologies are lymphoma, melanoma, sarcoma and metastatic tumors. Our case is a rare combination of sarcomatoid carcinoma with foci of malignant melanoma of cervix.

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: A 6 year retrospective study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical presentations of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia and its response to chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 28 women of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia evaluated over a period of 6 years from January 2004 to December 2009. Patients were evaluated on the basis of their age, number of deliveries, history of abortion or molar pregnancy, and the treatment received. All patients were scored on the basis of WHO scoring system. Patients with low risk (score /=7) received multiple agent chemotherapy with EMACO regimen. After completion of chemotherapy patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. The response to treatment was evaluated during follow-up by clinical examination, beta hCG levels and imaging as and when required. RESULTS: Out of 28 women only 27 could be evaluated, because 1 patient was lost to follow-up. Out of 27 patients, 18 patients (66.67%) achieved complete remission with the first-line chemotherapy and additional 25.92% (7/27) achieved complete remission with second line chemotherapy resulting in complete remission of 92.5% (25/27). CONCLUSION: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia is curable if patient is properly evaluated and scored. It shows good response to chemotherapy.

Hybrid capture 2 assay based evaluation of high-risk HPV status in healthy women of north-east India.

BACKGROUND: High risk HPV (HR-HPV) testing has been recommended as an effective tool along with cytology screening in identification of cervical intraepithelial lesions (CINs) and prevention of their progress towards invasive cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the HR-HPV DNA status by Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) assay in healthy asymptomatic women of North-East India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study examined cervical cell samples of forty three (n=43) healthy women by HC2 assay. A High Risk HPV DNA kit (Qiagen) was used which can detect 13 high risk HPV types: 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 68. RESULTS: The mean relative light units (RLU) for samples was in the range of 141-5, 94, 619. HR-HPV DNA was confirmed in 16% (7/43) of participant women samples. Among demographic and clinical parameters, menstrual irregularity (p=0.039) and infection history (p=0.028) has shown statistically significant differences between the HR-HPV-positive and negative groups. In the HR-HPV positive group, two women were confirmed for CINs after colposcopy and histopathologic examination. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that there may be an association between irregular menstruation and infection history of the urogenital tract with HR-HPV DNA prevalence in North-East Indian asymptomatic women. HC2 assay can be a valuable tool for HR-HPV screening.

Nested multiplex PCR based detection of human papillomavirus in cervical carcinoma patients of North- East India.

BACKGROUND: Persistent infection of one or more of about 15 high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPVs), most commonly HPV types 16/18, has a significant role in cervical cancer initiation and progression. There are limited data available from north-east India about HPV prevalence though this region has high incidence rates of cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the HPV genotypes prevalent in cervical cancer patients of north-east India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 107 cervical cancer patient samples. Nested multiplex PCR assays were employed for detection of 13 high risk and 5 low risk HPV types. RESULTS: HPV was confirmed in 105 samples. The presence of 6 'carcinogenic' HPV types, HPV-16 (88%), -18 (15%), -31(4%) ,-45 (3%), -59 (4%), -58(1%), and one non carcinogenic, HPV-6/11 (6%), was recorded. Among various demographic and clinical factors only tumour stage showed a statistically significant association with HPV type infection (P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that the most prevalent genotype is HPV-16 followed by HPV-18 in cervical carcinoma patients of the north-eastern region of India. Advanced tumour stage may be associated with increased possibility of harbouring multiple HPV genotypes.

Vaginal vault carcinoma as second primary in a treated case of ovarian cancer.

UNLABELLED: With the advances in the treatment of cancer, the chances of survival have increased today. The five-year relative survival rate is about 66%. With the increasing survival rate, it is important to identify the late effects of cancer and its therapy. One of the most serious events experienced by cancer survivors is the diagnosis of a new cancer. CASE: A 32-year-old unmarried female diagnosed as ovarian cancer in the year 2010. She was treated with three cycles of chemotherapy followed by surgery. Histopathology was well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. She received three more cycles of chemotherapy after surgery. She was under follow-up and developed vaginal vault carcinoma after a disease-free interval of 2 years. The biopsy was suggestive of squamous cell carcinoma. She was treated with radiation for vaginal cancer successfully. This case indicates that female gynecological cancers with different histology may occur in minimum period of interval even in the absence of any predisposing factors like human papilloma virus infection.