Outcomes of the National Head and Neck Cancer Awareness and Screening Campaign in Oman.

OBJECTIVES: The prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) depends substantially on disease stage at the time of diagnosis. Unfortunately, the majority of HNC patients present at relatively late stages. In Oman, a national screening campaign was conducted to increase public awareness of HNC and encourage early detection. This study aimed to report the outcomes of that campaign. METHODS: The campaign took the form of biannual events conducted at a tertiary care centre and in public malls in Muscat, Oman from April 2015 to July 2019. Data were collected from participants using the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance screening form. Otolaryngologists and oral maxillofacial surgeons performed a thorough physical evaluation of the head and neck region. RESULTS: Of the 1,500 individuals visiting the hospital and malls during the campaign events, a total of 509 agreed to undergo screening (response rate: 33.9%). Of these, 12.8% had positive screening results and 5.9% required further evaluation. However, none of the cases with suspicious findings were found to be malignant after a thorough evaluation. Overall, 16.9% of the participants were aware of the early signs of HNC; in addition, 5.5% knew how to perform an oral self-examination. CONCLUSION: Screening is a simple and safe method for the prevention and early detection of HNC. Mass screening and public awareness programmes may help to reduce the burden of this disease in Oman.

Allergic fungal sinusitis: can we predict the recurrence?

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to find out if recurrence can be predicted in cases of allergic fungal sinusitis. We also studied the influence of postoperative corticosteroid therapy on recurrence following surgery. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: This study was conducted at the ENT Department of Al Nahdha Hospital, which is a tertiary referral and teaching hospital in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. The study is a retrospective analysis of 32 cases of allergic fungal sinusitis. Age, sex, extent of disease, and preoperative serum IgE levels were compared in patients who had recurrence with those who did not. We also studied the incidence, onset, and severity of recurrence in patients who received systemic corticosteroid as postoperative therapy and compared these values to those who received nasal corticosteroid spray only. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was noted in the parameters of age, sex, extent of disease, and preoperative serum IgE levels when these values were compared in the group of patients who had recurrence (8 patients) with the group of patients who did not (32 patients). No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of recurrence in patients in whom systemic corticosteroids were used postoperatively (17 patients) compared with patients who used nasal corticosteroid spray only (15 patients). However, when the patient had a recurrence, when it occurred it was earlier and more severe in patients who used nasal corticosteroid spray only (4 patients). CONCLUSIONS: At the present time, it is not possible to predict recurrence using parameters of age, sex, extent of disease, and serum IgE levels. Larger number of patients preferably in a prospective multicenter meta study are required to address this issue. Though use of systemic corticosteroid does not decrease the incidence of recurrence, it may delay the onset of recurrence and decrease the severity of recurrence.