Ovarian Germ Cell Tumors in North-Western India: A Comprehensive 3-Year Retrospective Study of 145 Cases at a Tertiary Cancer Hospital.

Germ cell tumors encompass a broad spectrum of neoplasms arising from germ cell lineage, demonstrating varying histological profiles and clinical presentations. These tumors encompass a range of benign and malignant entities. While global trends provide insights into their prevalence, specific regional variations, such as those within North-Western India, remain less explored. This study seeks to bridge this knowledge gap by examining the prevalence and characteristics of germ cell tumors within a tertiary cancer hospital. In this retrospective analysis, all cases of germ cell tumors diagnosed over a 3-year period in the specified tertiary cancer hospital were included. Cases with incomplete records or inadequate pathological data were excluded. Data encompassing histological subtypes, patient age distribution, clinical presentations, and histopathological features were collected and analyzed. The study comprised 145 cases of germ cell tumors. Teratomas were the most prevalent subtype, with mature teratomas accounting for the majority. The highest incidence occurred within the 21-30-year age group with a mean age of 24.77 years. Abdominal mass (56%) and abdominal pain (34%) were the prominent clinical presentations. Benign cases constituted the majority 85.5%. Solid tumors (p < 0.00001) and tumors more than 10 cm (p .029028) were found to have a high propensity to be malignant, which was proven to be statistically significant. This study comprehensively explains germ cell tumors' prevalence, clinical features, and histopathological subtypes in a tertiary cancer hospital in North-Western India. The predominance of teratomas, particularly mature ones, aligns with global trends. The age distribution and clinical presentations reflect common patterns. The diverse histopathological appearances underscore the heterogeneous nature of germ cell tumors. This study offers valuable insights for clinical management and further regional research.

Association Between Pre-operative 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Deficiency and Surgical Site Infection After Oral Cavity Oncology Surgery: a Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Cancer Center in Northwestern India.

Surgical site infections (SSI) following head and neck oncology surgery can lead to significant morbidity and healthcare costs. This cross-sectional study was used to investigate a potential link between pre-operative 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of surgical site infections in patients undergoing oral cavity oncology surgery. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary center in northwestern India from May 2022 to May 2023. Patients scheduled to undergo oral cavity oncology surgery during this period were eligible for inclusion. Patients with complete pre-operative 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels and documented post-operative wound infection status were included in the analysis. A total of 85 patients who underwent oral cavity oncology surgery were included in the study. Among them, 30.58% (26 patients) had pre-operative vitamin D deficiency, The overall incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) was 36.47% (31 patients). Among the patients with pre-operative vitamin D deficiency, 23 (88.5%) developed surgical site infections. Finally, pre-operative levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, pre-operative poor oral hygiene, and low albumin were confirmed as statistically significant independent predictors of SSI. After doing multivariate analysis, vitamin D deficiency was found to be a significant predictor of post-op wound infection [adjusted odds ratio - 0.71 (95% CI 0.61-0.82); p value < 0.001]. This study highlights the significant association between pre-operative 25-hydroxy vitamin D deficiency and an increased risk of surgical site infections in patients. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in modulating the immune response, promoting antimicrobial peptides, and enhancing wound healing. These findings support the importance of assessing and addressing vitamin D deficiency in patients scheduled for oral cavity oncology surgery to potentially reduce the incidence of SSIs.

Intraoral Basal Cell Carcinoma of Soft Palate: A Diagnostic Dilemma and Review of Literature.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common cancer worldwide. Most of basal cell carcinoma can be detected in the early stages and are generally well controlled with local resection. Despite the high incidence of BCC, intramucosal BCC is a very rare clinical entity. We hereby present a rare case report of pigmented BCC on soft palate and review the literature of this entity.

Submental Artery Island Flaps (SAIF) for Oral Cavity Cancer: Surgical Technique and Tertiary Care Experience.

In oral cancer surgeries, oncological outcomes take precious driverseat. But the copassengers like reconstruction, cosmesis, swallowing and speech outcomes deserve equivalent importance. Submental Artery Island Flaps (SAIF) provide an underutilized and extremely versatile option for reconstruction of defects following early stage oral cavity tumour resections. In this prospective observational analysis, we describe the technique, challenges and outcomes of SAIF at our tertiary care institute. Sixteen patients with Stage I and II oral cavity cancers were enrolled between June 2020 to May 2021. Verrucous carcinomas were five and well differentiated carcinomas were 11 patients. After tumour excision and neck dissections, defects were reconstructed with Pedicled submental flaps. Complications and functional outcomes were analyzed over two years. Nineteen percent were ladies and 81% were gentlemen. Median age was 52 years. Tongue tumours formed majority with 56% cases. Largest skin paddle taken was 36 cm2. Flap survival was 88%. There were variations in venous drainage of flaps which have been depicted in case figures. There was no report of orocutaneous fistula. Grade 3-4 speech satisfaction was achieved by 81.2% patients at 6 months. Swallowing was excellent, grade 4-5 for 100% of patients at 6 months. One patient had distant metastasis at 7 months and died. SRLR (Submental flap Recurrences) and trismus were zero percent at two years. The unexplored field of submental flaps can be used for oral cancer reconstructions in a versatile way. Donor site easy closures, no scars on face, early resumption of daily activities and short hospital stay makes it one of the ideal options in early stage oral cavity defects.

Epidemiological and Histopathological Analysis of Head and Neck Cancers in Northern India- A Retrospective Review.

INTRODUCTION: Head and neck malignancies are responsible for 30% of all cancers in India with a dramatic increase in numbers due to widespread tobacco consumption. This study aims to assess the epidemiological and histopathological spectrum of these tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A large retrospective review of 5469 biopsy-proven patients presenting between 2018 and 2022 with head and neck cancers was done. Tumors were analysed for distribution according to sites of presentations, gender, age and histopathological profiles. RESULTS: With a male-to-female ratio of 4.2:1, men constituted 80.80% of the study population. Mean age of presentation in women was 53.5 years, whereas men presented at an earlier age of 47.2 years. Oral cavity was the commonest site involved (59.7% cases) followed by the oropharynx (23.8% cases). Buccal mucosa was the commonest subsite involved with 1112 cases followed by tongue lesions with 1088 cases. Larynx was responsible for 17.04% of cases. All subsites were more commonly affected in men with the highest Male: Female ratio of 8.29:1 seen in larynx. The lowest ratio of 1.02:1 was seen in lesions of the face and scalp. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most common histopathological diagnosis encountered in 88.97% of cases followed by basal cell carcinoma which was seen in 2.10% lesions. CONCLUSION: Oral cavity lesions constitute the bulk of head and neck cancer presentations in India. The disease is more prevalent in men overall and men present at a younger age in comparison to women. SCC is the most prominent histopathology encountered in our study.

Bipaddle Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap (PMMC) for Complex Composite Oral Cavity Defects: An Experience of a Tertiary Cancer Centre.

Although microvascular free flaps are considered the first choice in head and neck cancer defect reconstruction, their use is limited in developing regions by availability of resources and the expertise .The Bipaddle pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMC flap) is a commonly used flap in head and neck cancer reconstruction, but in literature flap is associated with high incidence of drawbacks including donor site morbidity and added bulk of the flap reducing cosmetics and function. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the Bipaddle PMMC flap reliability, operative technique and outcome in reconstructive head and neck cancer surgery in the era of microvascular free flaps. Its a prospective study in which the records of 50 patients treated with Bippadle PMMC flap reconstruction between January 2022 to July 2022 were systematically collected and reviewed. Data of recipient site, serum albumin, history of adjuvant, recurrence, defect dimension, type of donor site closure, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications and outcomes were analysed. There were 45 males and 5 females with a mean age of 41 years (31-60). Bipaddle PMMC flap reconstruction was done in all patients of advanced squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity. There were two males with complete necrosis of flap salvaged with latissimus dorsi flap and forehead flap. Minor infections were noted in two female and one male patient, managed conservatively and recovered well with acceptable final outcome. The Bipaddle PMMC flap is reliable for large defects in head and neck reconstructive surgery, particularly when a bulky flap is required to reconstruct composite defects where the lesion is involving the skin. Placing the flap horizontally with inclusion of nipple and areola in most of the patients increased the reach and size of available flap.

A Rare Case of Angiosarcoma of Tibia in a Young Age-a Case Report.

Angiosarcoma of bone is very rare entity, accounting for less than 1% of all primary bone sarcomas with associated poor prognosis. We hereby present a case report of angiosarcoma of tibia in a young boy and reviewed its literature and management of the disease. A 21-year young male presented to us with complaints of pain and swelling over left lower leg since last 3 months. On evaluation, MRI lower leg revealed multiloculated lesion of size 32×36×52 mm showing multiple fluid-fluid levels which was hyperintense on T2 images in left distal tibial metaphysis showing endosteal scalloping with cortical destruction along lateral border and abuts the physis. Image-guided biopsy was done. PET CT revealed no evidence of metastasis. Histopathology report revealed tumor involving bone and soft tissue comprising of plump ovoid to epitheloid/spindled cells in nests and focal fascicles with marked nuclear atypia, prominent nucleoli and mitotic figures with vascular pattern with thick walled vessels, many haemosiderophages. Differentials of telangiectatic osteosarcoma/adamantioma was made. On further IHC studies, tumor cells were found positive for SATB2, CD31, ERG while negative for CK, P40, DESMIN, MYOGENIN, TLE-1, S-100. Diagnosis of angiosarcoma of tibia was confirmed. Decision to give neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubin/Ifosfamide-based regimen was made followed by later with limb salvage surgery. He received 5 cycles of chemotherapy 3 weekly regimen which he tolerated well. Repeat MRI leg showed partial reduction in tumor size but there was presence of pathological fracture seen with some extraosseous component of tumor. Limb salvage surgery was not possible and he underwent below knee amputation. His postoperative recovery was eventful. Final histopathology confirmed diagnosis of angiosarcoma tibia. Case was discussed in multidisciplinary tumor board and he was started on alternate chemotherapy with Injection docetaxel and gemcitabine-based regimen. He had received 3 cycles of this regimen till now and is disease free from last 3 months. Angiosarcoma of bone is a very rare entity; the literature is limited regarding treatment and outcome of patients with this tumor. Most information is currently available from case reports, and treatments are based on guidelines for other types of primary bone sarcomas. We hereby present a case report of angiosarcoma of tibia in a young boy and reviewed its literature, diagnostic dilemmas associated with it and management of the disease after discussing in multidisciplinary board. Role of chemotherapy, surgery, and their sequencing is not well defined. Prospective trials are required to manage this rare entity.

Unusual Presentation of Tonsillar Spindle Cell Neoplasm: A Case Report.

Spindle cell neoplasm of the tonsil are rare (Minami et al. in Am J Otolaryngol 29(2):123-125, 2008) and can be difficult to diagnose due to their non-specific clinical presentation and histological characteristics (Su et al. in J Chin Med Assoc 69(10):478-483, 2006). Differential diagnoses include lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma (Hyams in Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci 3(2):117-126, 1978). Oropharyngeal spindle cell neoplasms were more likely to occur in the tongue base and tonsil (58%) (Gerry et al. in Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 123(8):576-583, 2014). In this article, we report a case of tonsillar spindle cell neoplasm which is extremely rare.

Reconstructing Small-Medium Sized Oral Cavity Defects- Our Experience with the Versatile Famm Flap.

Background: Restoration of form and function of the oral cavity post resection for oral cavity malignancies is an enormous challenge in head and neck reconstructive surgery. The facial artery musculo-mucosal (FAMM) flap is an unexplored, underutilized yet an extremely versatile option for such defects. In this analysis we review the performance of the FAMM flap used to reconstruct tongue/floor of mouth (FOM) defects following tumor resection. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective analysis, demographic and disease profiles of 15 patients with Tongue and Floor of Mouth carcinomas reconstructed with a FAMM flap between January 2019 to January 2021 were studied. Complications and functional outcomes were analyzed. Results: Fifteen patients (10 men, 5 women) were reconstructed using a FAMM flap. Mean age of the study sample was 46.46 years (28-60 years). One flap was lost due to complete flap necrosis following venous congestion, two other flaps suffered distal tip necrosis. Three patients developed an Oro-cutaneous fistula, with one going on to develop a surgical site infection of the neck wound. Patients reconstructed for FOM defects had an excellent functional outcome. For patients reconstructed for a tongue defect, 33.33% of patients complained of restricted tongue mobility and 44.44% were dissatisfied with the quality of speech post operatively. Conclusion: The versatile FAMM flap is a reliable, easy to harvest and scarless flap. It provides excellent cosmetic and functional results FAMM flap allowing early resumption of normal daily activities making it an ideal option to reconstruct small to medium sized oral cavity defects.

Predicting recurrence in oral cavity cancers: a review of 116 patients with buccal mucosa carcinoma in northwestern India.

BACKGROUND: Oral cavity cancers, the second most common type in India, are responsible for 10% of the overall cancer burden. With a recurrence rate of 30% to 40% and a 5-year survival rate of 50%, these malignancies account for substantial morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in treatment modalities, survival rates following treatment completion have not improved significantly. The present study aimed to establish specific epidemiological and pathological factors responsible for recurrence after treatment completion in buccal mucosa cancers. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the data of 116 patients treated for biopsy-proven cancers of the buccal mucosa was undertaken 1 year after treatment completion. Factors such as age, sex, education, lymphovascular invasion, extranodal extension (ENE), perineural invasion, depth of invasion, and pathological margin status were compared between patients who presented with recurrence and those who did not. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 116 patients, 40 (34.5%) developed a recurrent disease within 1 year. The mean age of the study population was 43.3 years, and males constituted 91.4% of the included patients. Ipsilateral buccal mucosa was the commonest site of disease recurrence. Neck node metastasis, ENE, and margins of resection < 5 mm were significantly related to the recurrence of disease. However, surprisingly, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and depth of invasion > 10 mm did not show statistically significant associations. CONCLUSION: Neck node metastasis, ENE, and margins of resection < 5 mm were the histopathological factors associated with recurrence in cancers of the buccal mucosa.

"Flap of Hope: a Pectoralis Major Muscle Solution for Tracheal Resection Closure": Case Report.

Medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is a rare type of thyroid cancer that arises from the parafollicular cells or C-cells, which produce calcitonin. It accounts for approximately 5-10% of all thyroid cancers (Leboulleux et al. in Clin Endocrinol 61(3):299-310, 2004). The main treatment for medullary thyroid carcinoma is surgery, which involves the removal of the thyroid gland and any affected lymph nodes. In advanced cases where the cancer has spread to nearby structures such as the trachea (Gupta et al. in Indian J Surg Oncol 11(1):75-79, 2020), tracheal resection followed by reconstruction may be necessary to remove the cancer (Chernichenko et al. in Curr Opin Oncol 24(1):29-34, 2012) and restore proper breathing, closure of large tracheal defect can be done with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (Salmerón-González et al. Plast Surg Nurs 38. 162-165, 2018). In this article, we report a case of recurrent medullary carcinoma thyroid with tracheal infiltration and tracheal resection was done, both of which is extremely rare. A 38-year-old male patient with a history of total thyroidectomy presented with recurrence was referred to our department, his previous biopsy and IHC revealed medullary carcinoma thyroid. Ga-68 DOTA PET CT scan was done which showed PET avid residual mass over right side, multiple bilateral cervical nodes, and tracheal infiltration (Fig. 1) then underwent a bronchoscopy showing involvement of the second, third, and fourth tracheal ring. Bilateral neck dissection with sleeve resection of trachea with overlying residual tumor was done and was sent for frozen which revealed positive margins and re-excision of margins was done, which lead to large defect (Fig. 2) which could not be closed primarily with a Montgomery T Tube. A de-epithelized pectoralis major myocutaneous flap used to close the tracheal defect followed by placing the Montgomery T Tube (Fig. 3).Post-operative period was uneventful. The final histopathology report showed R0 resection of tumor. T tube was removed after 4 weeks.

Assessment of Operative Time for Lip and Oral Cancers: A Tool to Improve Operative Room Efficiency.

Operation theatre (OT) time utilisation rates can be improved with an assessment of the procedure time that will result in effective scheduling of cases. Our study is the first of its kind to audit the amount of OT time required for a particular surgery in lip and oral cavity cancers, depending on the various components of this complex procedure. This prospective cross-sectional study, based on an operative room database of 323 OT sessions, was conducted in the Department of Surgical Oncology at a tertiary care centre on lip and oral cancer patients from January 1st, 2019 to December 31st, 2020. Various components of the surgery, like the primary site, operating surgeon, type of neck dissection, bone resection, and reconstructive procedure, were noted. The time of entry and exit of the patient from the OT was noted. Operative time and OT time utilisation rates were calculated. SPSS 21.0 statistical tool; Students 'T', ANOVA and Games-Howell tests were applied. In 323 OT sessions, while 303 surgeries were done for primary cases (93.8%), the remaining 20 cases were for recurrent cases (6.2%). Buccal mucosa and the floor of the mouth were the most and least common sites, respectively. The mean OT time was 212.42 ± 73.83 min, the maximum being the primary at alveolus. The mean OT late start time was 70.03 ± 23.41 min and the mean OT runover time was 37.62 ± 43.53 min. The mean time varied significantly with the type of neck dissection, bone resection, and reconstructive surgery done and the operating surgeon. The mean OT time was highest for free flap reconstructive surgery (328.71 ± 62.02 min), but it didn't vary with its type. Considering only the lip and oral cancer surgeries, the OT time utilisation rate was 57.1%. Assessment and quantification of the operative duration of lip and oral cancer surgeries will help in accurate prediction of surgical duration, better OT list planning, and thus improved OT time utilisation rate. Our research not only provides data on the historical mean of procedures, but it may also encourage other centres to adopt our quantitative approach to OT scheduling.

Worst Pattern of Invasion as a Predictor of Nodal Metastasis in Early-Stage Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

About one-third of early stage oral cancer patients have occult nodal metastasis. High grade worst pattern of invasion (WPOI) is associated with an increased risk of nodal metastasis and poor prognosis. However, it still remains unanswered whether to perform an elective neck dissection for clinically node-negative disease or not. This study aims to evaluate the role of histological parameters including WPOI in predicting nodal metastasis in early-stage oral cancers. This analytical observational study comprised 100 patients of early-stage, node-negative, oral squamous cell carcinoma, admitted in the Surgical Oncology Department from April, 2018 till the sample size was reached. The socio-demographic data, clinical history, and findings of clinical and radiological examination were noted. The association of nodal metastasis with various histological parameters like tumour size, degree of differentiation, depth of invasion (DOI), WPOI, perineural invasion (PNI), lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and lymphocytic response was determined. SPSS 20.0 statistical tool; student's 't' test and chi-square tests were applied. While the buccal mucosa was the commonest site, the rate of occult metastasis was highest in the tongue. Nodal metastasis was not significantly associated with age, sex, smoking and primary site. While the nodal positivity was not significantly associated with tumour size, pathological stage, DOI, PNI and lymphocytic response, it was associated with LVI, degree of differentiation and WPOI. Increasing WPOI grade correlated significantly with the nodal stage, LVI and PNI, but not with DOI. WPOI is not only a significant predictor of occult nodal metastasis but can also be a novel therapeutic tool in the management of early-stage oral cancers. In patients with an aggressive WPOI pattern or other high-risk histological parameters, the neck can be addressed with either elective neck dissection or radiotherapy after wide excision of the primary tumor; otherwise, an active surveillance approach can be followed.

Rare Case Report of Neuroendocrine Tumor in Axilla-Metastasis from Unknown Primary or De Novo?

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are the neoplasm arising from neuroendocrine cells which are present throughout the body. It can be benign, being more common or malignant. Gut is the most common site, but they can be seen in any part of the body. We had a case of grade III NET in axilla presented with a fungating lesion with unknown primary. Clinical behavior of such tumor is predicted by tumor grade or differentiation. We treated this patient by surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.

An observational study on safety and efficacy of povidone-iodine for pleurodesis in cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION: Pleurodesis is a time-honored procedure for malignant effusion as one of the palliative procedures to treat recurrent effusions. Various agents have been used in the past such as tetracycline, talc, bleomycin, and povidone-iodine. This paper aims at evaluating safety and efficacy of povidone-iodine for the procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and four patients underwent of pleurodesis with povidone-iodine done at our center for malignant effusion between June 2008 and August 2015. The safety and efficacy of the procedure was analyzed. RESULTS: One hundred and four patients of malignant effusion with mean age of 53 years and a mean follow-up of 7.8 months were evaluated. A total of 79% patients did not show any reaccumulation of fluid in their follow-up. There was no periprocedural mortality. Eight patients had severe pain; eleven patients had fever, while one patient had arrhythmia. CONCLUSION: Povidone-iodine is a simple, cheap, and effective method of pleurodesis with no major complication and a high success rate.

Intussusception: a Rare Complication After Feeding Jejunostomy; a Case Report.

Feeding jejunostomy (FJ) is a commonly done surgical procedure for enteral nutrition. Intussusception is one of the rare complications of FJ. Clinical presentation may be similar to other causes of small bowel obstruction. Intussusception should be suspected if a patient with jejunostomy tube develops upper gastrointestinal obstructive symptoms, which are relieved by nasogastric tube drainage. CT or ultrasonography (USG) can help to confirm the diagnosis. It can be relieved spontaneously or sometimes requires laparotomy. We have encountered such complication in one patient. The patient developed intestinal obstruction after removal of FJ tube and was diagnosed as having intussusception radiologically. On exploration, intussusception was identified at FJ site for which surgical reduction was done.

PMMC Patch Pharyngoplasty Reconstruction After Laryngectomy: Our Experience at a Regional Cancer Institute.

To evaluate our results of post laryngectomy pharyngeal defect reconstruction by pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap. Retrospective analysis of 48 patients who underwent laryngectomy and PMMC patch pharyngeal reconstruction from year 2009 to 2013 was done. Patient and tumor characteristics were noted, CT scan and histopathology reports were reviewed. 46 (95.8 %) patients were male and 2 (4.2 %) were female. Mean age was 57.2 ± 8.5 years and mean postoperative stay was 22.6 ± 12.0 days. Most common complication was pharyngocutaneous fistula, seen in 13 (27.1 %) cases. Postoperative mortality was low (2.1 %). Post surgery rehabilitation in respect to swallowing and tolerance to radiotherapy was satisfactory in most patients. PMMC patch pharnygoplasty is a reliable option for pharyngeal reconstruction with acceptable complication.

Pharyngocutaneous Fistula Incidence After PMMC Patch Pharnygoplasty for Post Laryngectomy Defect Reconstruction - Predictive Factors, Our Experience at KMIO.

To analyse pharyngocutaneous fistula, post Pectoralis major myocutaneous patch pharnygoplasty, and its association with various tumor, patient and treatment related factors. It is a retrospective study that included 48 patients who underwent laryngectomy and PMMC patch pharyngeal reconstruction from year 2009 to 2013. We studied the previously reported factors that could influence fistula formation such as age, gender, previous radiotherapy, previous tracheostomy, location of tumor, extent of tumor, tumor volume, tumor stage and surgical margins. Pharyngocutaneous fistula was observed in 13(27.1 %) cases. In 84.6 % (n = 11) patients, fistula closure was achieved by conservative measures. No statistically significant association was found between tumor location, extent and size. There was no association between history of previous tracheostomy and postoperative microscopic margin status. Patients with T4 disease showed increased association (36.7 %) compare to T3 stage (11 %) (p value-0.0362). Postoperatively 6 patients presented with dysphagia out of which 4 patients (66.7 %) had history of leak. It also showed significant increase in post operative stay and delay in oral feeding in fistula patients. There is still no consensus regarding the most significant risk factors, our data showed that, most disease and treatment related parameters were not predictive for fistula occurence. Prabably a larger number of patient cohart need to be analysed for additional information.