RESUMEN
This study was conducted in locally advanced supraglottic and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients to ascertain the efficacy and toxicity profile of a two drug combination neo adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) schedule containing Taxane and Platinum; prior to definitive concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (Def CCRT); sixty patients with stage III, IVA and IVB locally advanced squamous cell cancers of larynx and hypopharynx were randomised to two arms. Thirty patients in study group were treated with NACT with Paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) and Carboplatin (AUC 5-7) for 3, 3 weekly cycles; followed by CCRT in the patients who showed at-least a partial response (PR). These patients were compared with the 30 patients of control group who received upfront CCRT. More patients in Study arm developed grade 3 dysphagia (p = 0.001) and mucositis (p = 0.003). Renal, hematogenous and skin toxicities were identical in two arms. At 3 months post treatment complete response (CR) at primary site was 83.3% and 66.6% (p = 0.245) in study and control arms respectively. At 6 months post treatment; 20 patients (66.6%) in the study group and 17 patients (56.6%) in the control group continued to be in clinic-radiological CR (p = 0.20). NACT with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin is tolerated with manageable toxicities in patients with LAHNSCC (Locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma), with increased Grade 3 dysphagia and mucositis as compared to patients getting upfront CCRT. A longer follow-up period with a larger sample size is required to further evaluate any statistically significant benefit of adding NACT prior to CCRT.
RESUMEN
Objective: PET/CT scan has been increasingly used in assessment of Head and Neck cancer prior to treatment for evaluation and for surveillance. In this study we aim to assess the utilization of PET/CT scan at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: Retrospectively data was reviewed of all patients of Head and Neck cancer who underwent PET/CT scan for workup or for follow-up between July 2018 and December 2019. PET/CT scan done in the pre-treatment assessment and post-treatment surveillance were analyzed for its utility. Results: A total of 145 patients were included. The main indication for pre-treatment PET/CT scan was loco-regionally advanced disease (62 of 90 patients, 68.8%). No specific indication was noted in 19 patients (21%). A significant change in treatment decision was seen in pre-treatment patients based on M stage following a PET/CT scan. However, no change was noted on the basis of T or N stage. In the post-treatment surveillance there was a significant correlation of type of recurrence with clinical assessment and indication for PET/CT scan. 37 out of 87 patients (42.5%) underwent PET/CT scan for no specific reason, of which, 07 patients (18.9%) were detected to have distant metastasis. Conclusion: Role of PET/CT in the pre-treatment assessment is very limited and maybe confined to advanced local or regional disease. Post-treatment surveillance with PET/CT scan has a promising role and must be done as a baseline during 1st follow up at 03 months in all patients who have advanced disease and have undergone multi-modality treatment for the same.
RESUMEN
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) urinary bladder is known to metastasize to regional lymph nodes (LNs), liver, lung, bone, adrenal glands, and intestine. However, an asymptomatic TCC bladder manifesting as metastatic axillary LN mass and extensive retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy is rarely heard of. A 46-year-old male, smoker, presented with 8 cm × 6 cm right axillary swelling of 1-month duration. Aspiration cytology revealed metastatic deposits of poorly differentiated carcinoma favoring TCC. Metastatic evaluation with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) scan showed mass lesion urinary bladder, conglomerate right axillary mass and extensive retroperitoneal LNs with significant metabolic activity, biopsy from which revealed deposits of TCC. Transurethral-resection of bladder confirmed TCC and was exhibited palliative chemotherapy on which he progressed. Received palliative radiotherapy to axilla to which he showed significant symptomatic clinical response. He developed obstructive uropathy and was kept on supportive care. Review of literature reveals that our case may be the second case of TCC bladder with generalized lymphadenopathy and the first case of asymptomatic bladder carcinoma manifesting with upfront disseminated abdominopelvic lymphadenopathy detected by 18FDG-PET scan ever reported in world literature.