Economic Impact of Head and Neck Cancer in India at an Individual Level and the Factors Affecting It.

Head and neck cancer is a significant public health concern in India and globally, with substantial social and economic consequences for affected individuals and their families. The study aimed to assess the socioeconomic impact of head and neck cancer. This paper presents the results of a questionnaire-based study involving 178 head and neck cancer patients who were evaluated at least two years post-completion of their treatment. The questionnaire data collected data on various factors, including site of cancer, treatment modality, speech and diet impairment, changes in earning capacity, occupation, and salary. This was collected from all patients visiting our tertiary cancer care center outpatient department in Ahmedabad, India, between January 2023 and August 2023. The findings highlight the diverse and profound socioeconomic consequences of head and neck cancer. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive support systems for affected individuals and their families.

Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation Followed by Surgery for Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma Esophagus: Demographics and Evaluation of Prognostic Factors at a Tertiary Care Center in India.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by surgery has been the standard of care for locally advanced carcinoma esophagus. We present our experience and inference of various factors associated with the same treatment and the prognostic influence of the same. A retrospective analysis of a cohort of 132 squamous cell carcinoma esophagus patients post neoadjuvant chemoradiation operated with curative intent was carried out. The 2-year overall survival rate was 64.5%. A pathological complete response was achieved in 32.5% of patients and was the only factor that significantly determined overall survival (p = 0.048). Neoadjuvant chemoradiation before surgery for locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the esophagus remains the standard of care with a pathological complete response being a significant factor in predicting overall survival. More prospective randomized studies are necessary to analyze factors affecting and predicting a pathological complete response which would help organ preservation in patients with a complete response.

Surgery for lung cancer: insight from a state cancer centre in India.

Purpose: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in India. However, less than half receive treatment with a curative intent and very few undergo surgery amongst them. We present our surgical experience with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis of a cohort of 92 non-small cell lung cancer patients operated with curative intent. Results: Less than 2% patients of lung cancer were operated on at our centre. Adenocarcinoma was the most common histological subtype. Right upper lobectomy was the most common surgery performed. Two- and 3-year overall survival was 74.3% and 70.6% respectively. Two- and 3- year disease-free survival was 65.4% and 60.8% respectively. Conclusion: The fraction of patients who are operated for lung cancer is very less. There is a definite missed window of opportunity. We have comparable survival to international data.

Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Single Institute Experience.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a rare tumour that is anatomically located in the thyroid gland but is functionally a neuroendocrine tumour. It is usually a disease of older age group but manifests in a young patient in familial form. It is derived from parafollicular c cells and has a predilection for lymph node metastasis. It is associated with slow growth in thyroid gland with early nodal metastasis. Serum calcitonin is useful as a preoperative marker of disease burden and prognosis. In the preoperative period serum levels of calcitonin can guide regarding the need for compartment wise lymph node dissection and the possibility of distant metastasis. It is used as a tool of surveillance in the postoperative period. The levels of serum CEA and calcitonin and their doubling time is a useful guide in the detection of early recurrence or distant metastasis. Imaging modality useful for diagnosis is USG in a majority of patients. Thus, the initial diagnosis and preoperative assessment of medullary thyroid carcinoma is similar to other forms of thyroid cancer but further management of disease differs significantly form other forms of differentiated thyroid carcinoma or even anaplastic carcinoma. Prognosis however differs according to age, gender, presence or absence of lymph node metastasis at presentation, metastatic disease at presentation and levels of biochemical markers.

Oral Carcinoma Cuniculatum: A Variant of Squamous cell Carcinoma with Unique Histological Characteristics and a Diagnostic Challenge.

Oral carcinoma cuniculatum (OCC) is a rare squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) variant with low incidence often due to misdiagnosis. This report aims to highlight this unique variant of SCC which is suggested to have a better prognosis with a focus on its histopathological features in comparison with similar clinical entities.

Ruptured Left Ovarian Teratoma Presenting as an Irreducible Right Inguinal Hernia.

Teratomas of the ovary rarely present as inguinal hernias. Teratomas most commonly occur in the gonads or along with midline structures. Although the majority are asymptomatic, complications such as spontaneous rupture are known to occur. We present a previously unreported case of a ruptured ovarian teratoma presenting as an irreducible inguinal hernia. The patient underwent an open exploratory laparotomy with left oophorectomy, and the right inguinal hernia was repaired in the same setting with a separate inguinal incision.