Tumour bleeding: Efficacy and outcome of haemostatic radiotherapy.

Background: Management of tumour bleeding remains a challenge in oncology. With a number of methods available, radiotherapy still holds a crucial place. There are no standard guidelines for dose fractionation of haemostatic radiotherapy (HRT), and it varies from case to case. We aimed to study the effectiveness of HRT. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the effectiveness of HRT in 70 patients in terms of control of bleeding and overall survival, who presented to us with advanced cancers from July 2014 to June 2017. Results: The median age was 48 (range 23-76) years, and male to female ratio was 2.18:1. The most common malignancy encountered was lung and gynaecological (both 17.1%). Stage IV was the most common stage (48.6%) of the primary tumour. The site of bleeding was the primary tumour in 50 (71.4%) patients, whereas fungating regional nodes were the cause in the remaining. The median duration between initial diagnosis and HRT was 5 (range 0-19) months. Seventeen patients (24.3%) had a history of prior radiotherapy. Fifty-one patients (72.8%) required at least 1 unit of blood transfusion. Hypofractionated HRT schedules were used in all patients with the most common being 30 Gy in 10 daily fractions for 5 days a week (18, 25.7%). At the end of HRT, bleeding was effectively controlled in 53 patients (75.7%). The median survival was 13 (range 1-26) months. The 1- and 2-year survival rates were 55.7% and 4.3%, respectively. Conclusions: HRT is safe and effective in achieving haemostasis in advanced tumours presenting with bleeding from either the primary or the regional lymph nodes. Although optimal dose fractionation has not yet established, hypofractionated radiotherapy is preferred, with the total dose depending on several factors. However, the overall prognosis remains poor.

Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Palliation in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

CONTEXT: In India, a considerable proportion of patients with head and neck cancer present with locoregionally advanced disease. Symptom palliation becomes a major objective in these cases when they could not be considered for a curative approach. AIMS: The aim of this study is to assess the role of palliative radiotherapy for symptom control in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a retrospective study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Between July 2015 and June 2016, 98 patients with stage IV head and neck cancer were treated with palliative radiotherapy 25 Gray (Gy)/4 fractions (fr)/1 fraction (6.25 Gy)/week. Presenting symptoms were noted. The primary end point was relief of symptoms in the 4th week after radiotherapy. Percentage symptom relief was quantified by the patient using a rupee scale. Treatment response was noted using the WHO criteria. Acute toxicity was graded as per the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. RESULTS: The most common presenting symptom was pain. At 4 weeks after radiotherapy completion, all patients had >50% pain relief. Dysphagia was improved in 82% of patients. Respiratory distress was improved in all the symptomatic patients. Tumor complete response (CR) was seen in 2 patients, partial response in 89, stable disease in 3, and progressive disease in 4. RTOG Grade 2 and 3 acute skin and mucosal toxicities were seen in 29% and 27% cases, respectively. No patient had Grade 4 adverse effect. CONCLUSIONS: Hypofractionated radiation could provide effective symptom palliation in advanced head and neck cancers. The weekly schedule was well tolerated and found convenient by the patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma - an unusual metastatic presentation on the chest wall.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy for which chronic hepatitis B infection has been defined as the most common etiologic factor. The most frequent metastatic sites are the lung, bone, lymphatics, and brain. Metastases to the chest wall have been reported rarely. We report a patient with HCC who presented with an isolated metastatic mass on the right chest wall. Metastasis of HCC should be included in the differential diagnosis of rapidly growing lesions in unusual locations, particularly in patients with chronic liver disease and HBsAg-positive patients, even if a primary tumor cannot be radiologically identified.

Seizure following chemotherapy (paclitaxel and cisplatin) in a patient of carcinoma cervix.

Cisplatin and paclitaxel both can cause peripheral neurotoxicity as an adverse effect; however, central nervous system neurotoxicity in the form of seizures is rare. We report a case of a 36-year-old female patient of metastatic carcinoma cervix, who developed seizure shortly after cisplatin infusion. Her laboratory investigations were within normal limits. Computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain did not reveal brain primary metastasis or meningeal carcinomatosis. She had no complaints of fever, no signs and symptoms of infection, and no history of seizure nor was she on any medication predisposing to such an event. Excluding several causes, seizure was thought to be most likely related to the chemotherapy and cisplatin was the more likely agent in view of observed temporal relationship with the adverse event.

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid changes: case report and review of literature.

Chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a subtype of RCC, accounts for 4-6% of all RCC and has better prognosis then conventional RCC. Sarcomatoid dedifferentiation is thought to represent the high-grade end of all subtypes. This makes chromophobe RCC with sarcomatoid changes a rare entity associated with poor prognosis in most studies. We present a case of a 40-year old female with this rare histology, with the tumour localised to the renal capsule, managed with nephrectomy and with close follow-up thereafter. The patient is free of disease after one year of treatment.

Cancer lung: An unusual presentation.

Phalanx bone metastasis as the initial manifestation of lung cancer is a rare presentation. A 70-year-old man presented with swelling and pain in his right ring finger. He had no other complaints or abnormal findings on clinical examination. A right hand radiograph showed an osteolytic lesion in the first phalanx of the ring finger. Fine needle aspiration cytology of the swelling suggested a metastatic adenocarcinoma. A skeletal survey, hematological, biochemical, and other radiological tests were found to be normal, except for an opacity seen in the right lung midzone. A bronchoscopic biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma of the lung.