Surgical management of patients with distant metastasized adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and malignant tumor of the salivary glands. Despite its slow-growing nature, this clinical entity is notorious for presenting with distant metastasis (DM) which significantly worsens patient outcomes. The role of surgery in patients with ACC and distant metastasis (DM) remains controversial. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 47 patients with ACC who underwent surgery for the primary tumor and presented with DM at baseline or developed DM during follow-up. We compared survival outcomes between patients with DM at baseline (Group A) and those who developed DM during follow-up (Group B). RESULTS: The median overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort was 88%. Patients with DM at baseline (Group A) had significantly worse OS (51%) compared to those without DM at baseline (Group B) (91%; P = .04). Local recurrence (LR) was associated with poor survival in both groups. However, salvage surgery for LR+DM was associated with improved OS compared to palliative treatment (100% vs 77%; P = .79). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that surgery for the primary tumor of ACC may provide survival benefits in patients with DM. Salvage surgery should be considered particularly for patients who develop local recurrence and distant metastasis during follow-up.

A prospective health economic evaluation to determine the productivity loss due to premature mortality from oral cancer in India.

INTRODUCTION: India contributes two-thirds of the global mortality due to oral cancer and has a younger population at risk. The societal costs of this premature mortality are barely discussed. METHODS: Using the human capital approach, we aimed to estimate the productivity lost due to premature mortality, valued using individual socioeconomic data, related to oral cancer in India. A bottom-up approach was used to prospectively collect data of 100 consecutive patients with oral cancer treated between 2019 and 2020, with a follow-up of 36 months. RESULTS: The disease-specific survival for early and advanced stage was 85% and 70%, with a median age of 47 years. With 671 years lost prematurely, the loss of productivity was $41 900/early and $96 044/advanced stage. Based on population level rates, the total cost of premature mortality was $5.6 billion, representing 0.18% of GDP. CONCLUSION: India needs to implement tailored strategies to reduce the economic burden from premature mortality.

Health-related quality of life, psychological issues and concerns among sarcoma survivors: a mixed method study.

Purpose: We aimed to explore the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), psychological issues and concerns among sarcoma survivors in India and assess their satisfaction with nursing care. Methods: This study employed a sequential mixed-methods design, enrolling 100 sarcoma survivors from July to December 2021, with data collected using standardised questionnaires for HRQoL, depression, anxiety, stress, cognitive impairment and self-structured satisfaction with nursing care. Qualitative data were gathered through focused group discussions. Results: The mean global health score among sarcoma survivors was 79.48 ± 16.26. A significant number of survivors had symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression (30%), severe anxiety (12%), stress (16%) and mild cognitive impairment (5%). Significant mean rank differences were observed between anxiety and financial difficulty (p < 0.05), emotional functioning (p < 0.001), cognitive functioning (p < 0.001), pain (<0.05), insomnia (p < 0.001), fatigue (p < 0.001), anorexia (p < 0.05) and nausea/vomiting (p < 0.001). Educational qualification had a significant association with depression and anxiety while family history of cancer emerged as a significant factor associated with anxiety and stress among survivors. Qualitative analysis revealed themes related to body image, societal discrimination, socio-economic impact, marriage concerns and fertility issues. Survivor satisfaction with nursing care was good. Conclusion: A substantial number of sarcoma survivors had an average HRQoL and experienced depression, anxiety and stress. Our study emphasizes the importance of holistic survivorship care, involving nurses in post-treatment support, and addressing societal discrimination and psychosocial concerns to enhance their quality of life. Implications for cancer survivors: Our study calls for a holistic approach to sarcoma survivor care and emphasizes the importance of personalised survivorship care plans led by nurses to address the diverse needs of sarcoma survivors in India. Such plans should encompass strategies for managing depression, anxiety and stress, along with addressing body image concerns and social support.

Knowledge, attitude, and practices among caregivers of children with Cystic Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Caregivers have crucial role in the care of the children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), but there is limited knowledge about their knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) regarding chronic disease. This pilot study aimed to validate a self-developed KAP questionnaire for caregivers of young children with CF in India and determine factors associated with KAP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 caregivers of children with CF attending the specialty clinic of the pediatric outpatient department (OPD) in Northern India. Participants possessing certain characteristics such as willingness to participate and ability to understand Hindi or English language were enrolled in the study. Caregivers of children reported to the OPD with acute exacerbation requiring immediate hospitalization were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The self-developed KAP questionnaire had good content validity (CVI- 0.87-1.0) and internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient = 0.70, 0.71, 0.75 respectively). The majority of participants belonged to the Good KAP group (85.3%), while the remaining were in the Poor KAP group (14.7%). A χ2 test showed that KAP clusters vary significantly with sociodemographic variables like gender, marital status, educational status and monthly family income (p < .05). A weak negative correlation was found between knowledge and attitude scores in the Good KAP group (p < .001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the KAP of the caregivers was significantly influenced by knowledge related to clinical manifestation and complications, and attitude. CONCLUSION: All three sections of the KAP tool demonstrated good content validity and internal consistency. Caregivers had good knowledge, a positive attitude, and appropriate practices related to CF. However, targeted interventions are necessary to address specific areas for improvement, particularly for male caregivers with lower educational levels belonging to poor socioeconomic strata.

Malignant Minor Salivary gland neoplasms ofLarynx: Our Experience.

<br><b>Introduction:</b> Malignant minor salivary gland tumors are rare, accounting for fewer than 1% of all laryngeal cancers.</br> <br><b>Aim:</b> This study aims to share our experiences regarding clinical, radiological, pathological profiles and their management.</br> <br><b>Materials and methods:</b> The current study reviews 11 cases of malignant minor salivary gland tumors of the larynx treated surgically at our Institute between 2005 and 2019.</br> <br><b>Results:</b> The mean age of the patients was 54 years (range 38-75 years) with six females and five males in the series (1.2:1). Subglottis and trachea were the sites of origin in 54% of the cases, and hoarseness with dyspnea were the most common presenting symptoms. There were nine Adenoid cystic and two Mucoepidermoid carcinoma patients. Surgery was the primary mode of treatment.</br> <br><b>Conclusions:</b> Most of the larynx's malignant minor salivary gland tumors are submucosal in origin. The outcome and prognosis vary considerably based on the tumor's histology, grade, and stage.</br>.

A qualitative study to assess the psychological experiences and coping strategies of families affected with Li-Fraumeni syndrome in the Indian population.

Background: Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary cancer syndrome. Due to the high risk of occurrence of multiple cancers, families with LFS may have an overwhelming psychosocial burden. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center using face-to-face interviews through a grounded theory approach. Statistical analysis was done using Smith's Interpretative Phenomenological Approach. Themes and sub-themes were extracted, and a thematic schema was developed. Results: A total of five themes were identified. The extracted themes were psychological experiences, behavioural responses, stressors, coping strategies and perceived needs. The interlay of the themes deepened the impact of LFS on the affected ones and brought into light the turmoil of emotions and difficulties that these individuals were going through in the face of the disease. Conclusions: LFS-affected individuals had a range of experiences with this rare and little-known disease. The lack of information seems to be a precursor to the denial of diagnosis. Their experience with the illness sheds light on the grey areas like guilt and helplessness that demand immediate attention. Future policies need to be developed in accordance with the identified perceived needs to potentially guide the treatment and rising needs of LFS-affected individuals.

Development of Mobile Application-Based System for Improving Medication Adherence Among Cancer Patients Receiving Palliative Therapy.

Objectives: Cancer patients seeking palliative care faces distressing symptoms which affect their quality of life adversely. Patients' lack of adherence to analgesics is one of the major factors contributing to the undertreatment of cancer pain. The objective of this paper is to outline the development of a mobile application-based system to develop a physician-patient relationship and to improve adherence to medications prescribed for cancer pain management. Material and Methods: The mobile application-based system is developed using alarm and cloud based data sysncronisation for improving medication adherence and self-recording symptoms among cancer patients receiving palliative therapy at a palliative care clinic. Results: Ten palliative medicine physicians tested the project website and the mobile application thoroughly instead of patients. The physician recoded the prescription and other details on the project website. The data transferred from website to mobile application. The mobile application reminded scheduled medication by alarm, collected medical adherence details, daily symptom observation, and their severity and SOS medication details. The data from the mobile application was transferred back to project website successfully. Conclusion: The developed system can directly improve the physician-patient relationship, and improve better communication and sharing of information between physician and patient. This will impact the quality of life of the patient, improve the awareness of the patient about the disease, and may reduce rate of hospitalisation. This will also help physicians to treat patients efficiently. The developed system is being tested under a randomised control trial study. The findings of the study can be generalised to all patients suffering from chronic illnesses and on long-term medications.

Evaluation of Root Anatomy and Canal Configuration of Human Permanent Maxillary First Molar Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this paper is to review the literature on root canal configuration (RCC) and the frequency of occurrence of a second mesiobuccal canal (MB) in human permanent maxillary first molars where cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is used. Online electronic databases such as PubMed-Medline, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane Library were searched using appropriate keywords from the earliest available date until 12th June 2022, without restriction on language. In the mesiobuccal root, type I was the most frequent (33.29%), followed by types II and IV (27.18% and 26.36%, respectively). Moreover, 68.2% of maxillary first molars had a second MB canal. For both the distobuccal and palatal roots, type I was the most prevalent, with 99.08% and 97.83% occurrence, respectively. All other types were infrequent. Type I RCC is most frequent in all the roots of the maxillary first molars. Hence, care must be taken during biomechanical preparation of the MB roots.

Submandibular gland in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: Can preservation during neck dissection be a pragmatic option?

Context: The submandibular glands (SMGs) excision during head-and-neck oncosurgeries lead to significant morbidity and degradation of quality of life (QOL). The preservation of SMGs during head-and-neck oncosurgeries, without affecting oncological safety, will improve QOL by preventing xerostomia in these patients. Aims: The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the involvement of SMG by malignancy during neck dissection being done for the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of tongue and to evaluate oncological safety of SMG preservation in SCC of the tongue. Settings and Design: The study design was a retrospective analytical study. Subjects and Methods: The study included 391 patients of SCC of tongue operated at Quaternary oncological center from January 2016 to February 2020. The treatment records of 371 patients were reviewed for demographical data, nodal metastasis, and histopathological involvement of SMG by SCC. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS 22. Results: A total of 555 necks dissected were assessed, out of which 95 necks dissected were positive for nodal metastasis at level Ib. The SMG was involved by SCC in only two cases, both of which were poorly differentiated SCC. No intraglandular lymph nodes were detected in any of the SMG dissected. Conclusions: The study showed that involvement of the SMG by SCC of the tongue is not very common, and it may be possible to preserve the SMG during neck dissection in selected cases in SCC of the tongue. The preservation will definitely improve QOL of the patients, as excision of the SMG is one of the prominent factors, resulting in xerostomia.

In Vitro Comparison of the Wettability of a Bioceramic Root Canal Sealer on Dentin With and Without Erbium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) Laser Irradiation.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate and compare the wettability of bioceramic root canal sealer (BioRoot™ RCS, Septodont, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France) on dentin with and without erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser irradiation using different frequencies and energies. METHODS: A hundred single-rooted tooth samples were divided into five groups of 20 samples each. Each group was treated with different methods before sealer application as follows: Group 1: Treated with 2 ml 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) irrigant for one minute (control group); group 2: Irradiated with Er:YAG laser for one minute (8 Hz frequency and 200mJ energy); group 3: Irradiated with Er:YAG laser for one minute (8 Hz frequency and 400mJ energy); group 4: Irradiated with Er:YAG laser for one minute (16 Hz frequency and 200mJ energy); group 5: (n=20) samples irradiated with Er:YAG laser for one minute (16 Hz frequency and 400mJ energy). Bioceramic root canal sealer application was done onto the treated dentin specimen using a micropipette. The contact angle of the drop of the sealer with the dentin surface was measured after five minutes using a contact angle analyzer. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in wettability between Er:YAG laser using 8Hz frequency and 200mJ energy and Er:YAG laser using 8Hz frequency and 400mJ energy. However, there was a significant difference between the other two groups of Er:YAG laser using 16Hz frequency and 400mJ energy and Er: YAG laser using 16Hz frequency and 200mJ energy. CONCLUSION: Contact angle was found to be lowest in the group that was irradiated with Er:YAG laser for one minute (16 Hz frequency and 400mJ energy) before the sealer application. The test findings demonstrated that the control group had the highest contact angle (low wettability) and it was statistically significant with all other groups.

Glaucoma in Adults-diagnosis, Management, and Prediagnosis to End-stage, Categorizing Glaucoma's Stages: A Review.

Importance: Most frequent worldwide cause of permanent blindness is glaucoma. Early in the course of the disease, glaucoma affects many patients without any symptoms. In order to examine for indications of glaucoma and to ascertain whether systemic illnesses or drugs can raise a patient's risk of developing glaucoma, primary care practitioners should be aware of which patients to send to an eye care specialist. A review of the pathogenesis, risk factors, screening, disease monitoring, and treatment options for open-angle and narrow-angle glaucoma are included. Observations: The optic nerve and retinal nerve fiber layer (rNFL) are damaged in glaucoma, a chronic, progressive optic neuropathy that can result in a permanent loss of peripheral or central vision. The only risk factor that is known to be controllable is intraocular pressure (IOP). A family history of glaucoma, older age, and non-white race are additional significant risk factors. Numerous systemic diseases and drugs, such as corticosteroids, anticholinergics, certain antidepressants, and topiramate, can put people at risk of developing glaucoma. Open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma are the two main types of disease. Measurement of IOP, perimetry, and optical coherence tomography are diagnostic procedures to evaluate glaucoma and track the course of the condition. In order to treat glaucoma, IOP must be decreased. This is possible with a variety of glaucoma medication classes, laser surgery, and incisional surgery. Verdicts and relevance: By identifying systemic illnesses and drugs that raise a patient's chance of developing glaucoma and referring high-risk individuals for a thorough ophthalmologic examination, vision loss from glaucoma can be reduced. Clinicians should make sure that patients continue taking their glaucoma drugs as prescribed and should keep an eye out for any negative side effects from any medical or surgical procedures used to treat glaucoma. How to cite this article: Joshi P, Dangwal A, Guleria I, et al. Glaucoma in Adults-diagnosis, Management, and Prediagnosis to End-stage, categorizing Glaucoma's Stages: A Review. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2022;16(3):170-178.

Surgical Site Infections in patients undergoing major oncological surgery during the COVID-19 paNdemic (SCION): A propensity-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are reports of outcomes of elective major cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated if reinforcement of hand hygiene, universal masking, and distancing as a part of pandemic precautions led to a decrease in the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in major oncologic resections. METHODS: Propensity score matching using the nearest neighbor algorithm was performed on 3123 patients over seven covariates (age, comorbidities, surgery duration, prior treatment, disease stage, reconstruction, and surgical wound type) yielding 2614 matched (pre-COVID 1612 and COVID 1002) patients. Conditional logistic regression was used to identify if SSI incidence was lower amongst patients operated during the pandemic. RESULTS: There was a 4.2% (p = 0.006) decrease in SSI in patients operated during the pandemic. On multivariate regression, surgery during the COVID-19 period (odds ratio [OR] = 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.61-0.98; p = 0.03), prior chemoradiation (OR = 2.46; CI = 1.45-4.17; p < 0.001), duration of surgery >4 h (OR = 2.17; 95%CI = 1.55-3.05; p < 0.001) and clean contaminated wounds (OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.09-2.18; p = 0.012) were significantly associated with SSI. CONCLUSION: Increased compliance with hand hygiene, near-universal mask usage, and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic possibly led to a 23% decreased odds of SSI in major oncologic resections. Extending these low-cost interventions in the post-pandemic era can decrease morbidity associated with SSI in cancer surgery.

Surgical Management of Parapharyngeal Tumors: Our Experience.

Context Tumors of parapharyngeal space (PPS) are rare and histologically diverse. The management of these tumors requires diligent assessment and planning with due consideration of various anatomical and pathological aspects of the lesion. Aims This retrospective study aims to present our experiences in the clinical and pathological aspects of PPS tumors with a critical evaluation of management. Settings and Design Retrospective analytical study. Methods and Material The electronic medical records of 60 cases of PPS tumors, managed surgically from 2007 to 2017, were reviewed and analyzed using SPSS 22 software. The mean follow-up duration was 44 months. Results The mean age was 45 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.7 (38:22). The majority of the tumors were benign (71.7%) and the most common presentation being upper neck mass or oropharyngeal mass. Histologically, neurogenic tumors were most common (43.3%) PPS tumors, followed by tumors of salivary gland origin. Magnetic resonance imaging was used as a diagnostic modality in 70% of cases, and computed tomography scan and positron emission tomography/CT were used in 26.7 and 3.3% of cases, respectively. In our study, the diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology was 71% for benign and 47% for malignant lesions. The most common approach for surgery used was transcervical (72%). Conclusion The study reveals that cranial nerve palsy is the most common complication associated with PPS tumors. Completely resected, malignant tumors originating within PPS have a good prognosis, as compared with tumors extending or metastasized to PPS.

Fibromatoses of Head and Neck: Case Series and Literature Review.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to retrospectively review clinical data, management protocols, and clinical outcomes of patients with fibromatoses of head and neck region treated at our tertiary care center. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 11 patients with confirmed histopathological diagnosis of fibromatosis registered in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at Tata Memorial Centre, India, between 2009 and 2019. Various clinical and pathological features and treatment modalities were evaluated. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis ranged between 18 and 74 years, with a median age of 36 years. The female-to-male ratio was 5:6. Supraclavicular fossa (n=4) was the most common subsite of origin in the neck (n=8). The lateral (n=2) and posterior cervical regions (n=2) were other common neck subsites. Less commonly involved sites were the mandible (n=1), maxilla (n=1), and thyroid (n=1). A total of eight patients underwent surgery at other centers before being referred to us for further management. Out of a total 11 patients, nine patients had unresectable disease at presentation. Six of the patients with unresectable disease received a combination of weekly doses of vinblastine 6 mg/m2 and methotrexate 30 mg/m2 for a median duration of 6 months (range 6-18 months) followed by hormonal therapy with tamoxifen. Three patients received metronomic chemotherapy followed by hormonal therapy. One treatment-naive patient with fibromatosis of posterior cervical (suboccipital) region underwent R2 resection (excision of bulk of the tumor with preservation of critical structures) at our center along with adjuvant radiotherapy. One pregnant patient reported to us after undergoing surgery outside and defaulting radiotherapy. During median follow-up of 29 months (range 1-77 months), six patients had stable disease, and four patients had disease reduction. Disease progression was seen in one patient. The two-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 90% (95% CI 70%-100%). CONCLUSION: Gross residual resection (R2) was the mainstay of surgical treatment in our series, as obtaining clear surgical margins is seldom possible in these locally aggressive tumors. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy are the other preferred and more conservative treatment modalities. The goal of surgery should be preserving function with minimal or no morbidity. As fibromatoses in the head and neck region are extremely rare, their treatment awaits the development of standard treatment protocols.

Can BMI be a predictor of perioperative complications in Head and Neck cancer surgery?

<b>Introduction:</b> The effect of BMI on development of perioperative complications in head and neck cancer surgeries is not welldefined. </br></br> <b> Aim:</b> This study aims to evaluate the effect of body mass index (BMI) on the development of surgical complications during the perioperative period in head and neck carcinoma (HNC) patients. </br></br> <b>Materials and methods:</b> This study was conducted from 2019 to 2020. Electronic medical records of 210 patients undergoing major (clean-contaminated) surgeries were analysed. Chi-square test or Fisher exact test for determining association in categorical data and independent T-test or Mann-Whitney U test for comparison between the presence of complications and relation with continuous clinical parameters were used. </br></br> <b>Results:</b> The majority of patients were within normal-weight range (68.57%). Only 12.85% of patients had BMI under 18.5 kg/m2 and 18.57% of patients had BMI equal to or more than 25 kg/m2. Coexisting comorbidities were present in 48.7% of patients with BMI of more than 25 kg/m2. Major and minor complications were present in 10.5% and 16.7% of all patients, respectively. Surgical site infections were present in 18.1% of patients. There was no statistical difference in the rate of complications (major, minor and SSI) in underweight, normal weight and overweight categories. The complications were significantly associated with the extent of surgery (P = 0.00413) and blood loss of more than 775 mL (P-value 0.005). </br></br> <b> Conclusions:</b> In conclusion, the rate of surgical complications in head and neck onco-surgeries is not related to BMI of the patients. The perioperative management of these patients might require some modification due to co-existing comorbidities, but the overall impact on the development of complications could not be proven in this study.

The impact of peritumoral depapillation in cancers of the tongue.

OBJECTIVES: We observed that a prominent strip of depapillated mucosa surrounded tongue carcinomas. This study evaluates its correlation with other prognosticating factors. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study included treatment naïve squamous carcinomas of tongue operated between January and December 2018. Patients with any disorder that could possibly influence the presence of depapillation were excluded, and stratified based on the presence (Group A) and absence (Group B) of depapillation surrounding the tumor. Data sets included biochemical test, clinical variables, and postoperative histologic features. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the association of these factors. RESULTS: Group A comprised 62.8% (n = 76/121) of the entire cohort, which was reasonably distributed for tumor and host factors. A greater number of inadequate margins were found in Group A. Clinical factors significantly associated with depapillation included higher preoperative platelet count (>250.5), infection rates, and Clavien-Dindo scores. Perineural invasion and lymphocytic infiltrate were significantly associated with Group A, particularly in early tumors (P = .040). CONCLUSIONS: Local invasion and inflammation results in papilla dysfunction clinically appearing as depapillation, leading to accumulation of neurotransmitters and a favorable environment for neural infiltration. We suggest peritumoral depapillation to be a clinical surrogate for perineural invasion, especially in early tongue cancers.

Comparison of the seventh and eighth editions American Joint Committee Cancer classification system in oral cavity squamous cell cancers.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the predictive ability of the American Joint Committee Cancer (AJCC) eighth edition (AJCC8) staging system for oral cavity cancers and validate these changes rendering the hypothesis of improving prognostication. We conducted a retrospective study including all oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients visiting our tertiary center from 2012 to 2015, staged as per the AJCC seventh edition (AJCC7) and AJCC8 systems. Stage-specific disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Concordance index (CI) and Akaike information criterion (AIC) were used to calculate the predictive accuracy of the both systems. The study sample consisted of 863 subjects followed up for a median of 24 months. Buccal mucosa complex (BMC) was the most common site (n = 496). We observed a 25.8% (n = 222) overall upstaging in the eighth edition, significantly seen in early tongue cancers (TCs) (Stage I) and advanced BMC cancers (Stage III). An increase in CI and reduction in AIC scores were indicative of a superior predictive accuracy for the eighth edition in assessing DFS (confidence interval [CI*] = 0.650-0.654; AIC = 3,022-3,014) and OS (CI* = 0.643-0.648; AIC = 2089-2086) across all stages. The accuracy was higher for TCs as compared to BMC. Although not statistically significant, we observed an increase in soft risk factors at higher stages in the eighth edition as compared to its predecessor. We concluded that the AJCC8 has a higher predictive accuracy than the AJCC7 edition, making it a reliable prognosticative tool.

Intraoperative frozen section for detection of occult metastasis in clinically N0 neck does not improve outcome in oral cavity carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of frozen section (FS) in detecting occult nodal metastasis in cN0 OSCC and its impact on regional failure and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical records of patients of OSCC operated from January 2013 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were divided into two groups-Group A comprised of patients who underwent selective neck dissection (SND) (level III/IV) and FS based completion (level IV ± V); Group B included patients who underwent SND I-III/IV without FS. The sensitivity and specificity of FS in detecting occult metastasis was calculated. The regional failure rates and overall survival (OS) between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV (positive predictive value) and NPV (negative predictive value) of FS in detecting occult metastasis were 64.06%, 100%, 100%, and 92.15%, respectively. There was no significant difference in regional failure rates (p = 0.219) and OS (p = 0.08) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: FS has a poor sensitivity in detecting occult nodal metastasis. FS-guided neck dissection does not have a significant impact in reducing regional failure or improving OS in clinically node-negative neck in oral cavity carcinomas.

Frozen section is not cost beneficial for the assessment of margins in oral cancer.

BACKGROUND: Routine use of frozen section (FS) is a costly procedure and sparsely available in resource poor countries. A proper cost benefit analysis may help to reduce its routine use and would empower surgeons to perform oral cancer surgeries without having FS facility. FS is performed to identify microscopic spread beyond gross disease that cannot be assessed clinically. OBJECTIVE: Our primary aim was to determine the cost benefit analysis of FS in the assessment of margins in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of prospectively collected data of 1311 consecutive patients who were operated between January 2012 and October 2013. The gross and microscopic margin status of each patient was extracted from the patient's chart. The cost estimates were performed to calculate the financial burden of FS as well as expenses incurred on adjuvant treatment resulting from inadequate margins. RESULT: Microscopic spread changed the gross margin status in 5.2% (65/1237) patients. Of this entire cohort of 1237 patients, FS helped 29 (2.3%) patients to achieve tumor free margin, and it changed the adjuvant treatment plan in 9 (0.7%) patients. The cost of FS for each patient was INR 11052. The cost-benefit ratio of FS was 12:1. Gross examination alone could have identified majority of the inadequate margins. CONCLUSION: Frozen section for assessment of margin status bears poor cost-benefit ratio. Meticulous gross examination of the entire surgical specimen is sufficient to identify majority of inadequate margins.

Developmental Status of Children Operated for Esophageal Atresia with or without Tracheoesophageal Fistula Along with Maternal Stress, Their Quality of life, and Coping Abilities at AIIMS, New Delhi.

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA with or without TEF) is one of the neonatal surgical emergencies requiring surgical intervention in the early neonatal period, influencing the developmental outcome in the operated children. This study was aimed to assess the developmental status of children operated for EA with or without TEF along with maternal stress, their quality of life (QOL), and coping abilities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 51 children aged up to 5 years after EA with or without TEF repair and their mothers' in a tertiary care facility. The tools used were, namely, demographic datasheet of child and mother, anthropometry assessment, Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants, and modified Vineland Social Maturity Scale for the developmental evaluation, Child Behavior Checklist (1.5-5 years) caregiver report form, Parental Stress Scale, WHOQOL BREF, and Coping Strategies Checklist. RESULTS: The majority of children had low weight (47.1%) and height (31.4%), for reference age. The overall and social developmental delay was observed in 40.7 and 37.5% of children, respectively, and few children (7.4%) had behavioral problems in the borderline range. Among the mothers, 47% had moderate stress and relatively poor QOL in environmental (60.1 ± 18.9) and psychological (60.8 ± 18.8) domains. The most commonly used coping strategy by the mothers was an emotional outlet (29.4%). CONCLUSION: Developmental delay was present in children operated for EA with or without TEF caused significant stress among mothers, affecting their QOL for which the emotional outlet was the most commonly used coping strategy.