Role of Selective Neck Dissection in Clinically Single Node Positive Disease in Oral Cavity Cancers.

Management of the neck in oral cavity squamous carcinoma is debatable. There is controversy regarding role of SND in single node positive neck in oral SCC. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of selective neck dissection (SND) for cN1 neck in patients with oral cancer. A retrospective chart review of 266 oral cancer patients who were clinically single node positive from August 2013 to December 2019 was done. Patients having clinical or radiological cN1 disease undergoing SND were included. Two hundred sixty-six patients were analysed with 86% male predominance. Median age was 48 years. The commonest primary site was Bucco-alveolar complex (64%). Total of 319 SNDs were done in 266 patients. At median follow-up of 29 months, 29 patients (9%) had neck recurrence among which 4 patients had recurrence at level V, along with recurrence at other nodal levels. Three-year regional control was 86%, while DFS and OS were 66% and 68% respectively. For oral cancer with single clinically node positive neck (cN1), SND is an effective and oncological safe treatment. Outcomes are similar with modified neck dissection reported in the literature.

A case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed after 35-month of initial presentation as recurrent vitritis with multiple negative biopsies.

To report a case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that was diagnosed 35-month of initial ocular manifestation. Retrospective chart review. A 53-year-old male presented with painless diminution of vision in both eyes. He subsequently underwent extensive laboratory investigations including multiple vitreous biopsies with a suspicion of intraocular lymphoma. Cytology from the vitreous aspirate failed to diagnose any relevant pathology. After 35-month from the onset of his ocular symptom, a brain biopsy revealed a round cell tumor suggestive of NHL. Even with high index of suspicion, consultation with ocular oncologist, imaging, and diagnostic vitrectomy, the diagnosis of lymphoma remains challenging.

Pedicled Flap vs. Free Flap Reconstruction in Head and Neck Cancers: Clinical Outcome Analysis from a Single Surgical Team.

Head and neck cancers are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Indian population. Reconstruction and restoration of function are also of paramount importance in these patients. The aim of this study was to report outcomes for free flaps and pedicle flaps in patients with oral cavity cancers. A retrospective analysis of 628 patients with oral cavity cancers who underwent reconstruction with either free flaps or pedicle flaps during 2014-2020 was done. The median age of the cohort was 49 years. The free flap reconstruction was performed in 481 (76%) and pedicle flap in 147 (24%) patients. Among free and pedicle flaps, 27 (5.6%) and 3 (2.1%) respectively had major flap complications and 25 (5.1%) and 14 (9.9%) respectively had minor complications. CCI score > 4 was associated with higher events (p = 0.02) in free flap group. The outcomes of free flaps are similar in comparison to pedicle flaps in patients with oral cavity cancers. The higher CCI score is significantly associated with increased flap-related complications for the free flap group.

Compartmental Clearance of Infratemporal Fossa for T4b Carcinoma of Buccal Mucosa/Alveolus: Clinical Outcomes.

T4 b carcinoma of oral cavity has poor outcomes. The aim for analysis is to evaluate the clinical outcomes with infratemporal fossa clearance for stage T4b carcinoma of oral cavity. Fifty four patients out of maintained data of 528 patients of oral cavity carcinoma were evaluated for current retrospective analysis. All had T4b disease on imaging and underwent bite composite resection with ITF clearance. The median age of the cohort was 52 years. At last follow-up, 28 patients were alive. Twenty two patients had loco-regional recurrence (ITF recurrence 7), and 16 patients had distant metastasis. At median follow-up of 29 months, 2-year loco-regional control, DFS and OS were 52%, 54% and 54%, respectively. Perineural invasion, pathological tumour stage, node positive and ITF tissue involvement were associated with poor oncological outcomes. ITF clearance is feasible in clinical practice and provides curative option for this group.

Carboplatin hypersensitivity in relapsed ovarian carcinoma: A therapeutic challenge.

Carboplatin and paclitaxel as doublet are the standard therapeutic option for advanced stage ovarian carcinoma in the first line as well as relapse. Carboplatin with its better toxicity profile has replaced cisplatin as the first line drug. However, increase in incidence of carboplatin hypersensitivity is alarming. Severity of carboplatin hypersensitivity varies from a mild rash to life-threatening reactions. With an increase in the number of cycles the risk of hypersensitivity reactions increase, which jeopardizes the use of this highly effective drug in a significant proportion of patients. Prompt diagnosis and rapid therapeutic rescue are the key in severe life-threatening reactions. Managing patients with carboplatin hypersensitivity and planning subsequent therapy is thus a therapeutic challenge.

Palliative chemotherapy in carcinoma penis: Does platinum and taxane combination holds a promise?

AIM: To report safety and efficacy of chemotherapy incorporating the combination of paclitaxel and platinum in patients with advanced penile carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patient with advanced penile carcinoma undergoing palliative chemotherapy with paclitaxel and platinum combination. The demographic profile, indication of treatment, chemotherapy details, toxicity and survival outcome were noted. Statistical analysis was done for estimation of progression free survival and overall survival. Factors affecting these outcomes were sought for. RESULTS: Eighteen patients with a median age of 47.5 years (31-68 years) were offered palliative intent chemotherapy over a period of 2.5 years. ECOG performance was 1 in 12 patients (66.7%) and 2 in 6 patients (33.3%). The grade of tumor was poorly differentiated in 8 patients (44.4%), moderately differentiated in 5 (27.8%) and we1l differentiated in 5 patients (27.8%). Twelve patients had previous surgical treatment (66.7%), with 2 of them having received groin radiation in past. The indication for treatment was metastatic disease in 7 patients (38.9%) and locally advanced disease in 11 patients (61.1%). Out of 18 patients 13 received chemotherapy. Paclitaxel and carboplatin combination was given in 10 patients (76.9%) while paclitaxel and cisplatin was received by 3 patients (23.1%). The median numbers of cycles received were 3 (1-6 cycles). Response rate was 30.8%. The median estimated progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients receiving atleast one cycle of chemotherapy (n = 13) were 96 days and 246 days respectively. Among tested variables the median OS in patients who had received 2 or more cycles was 351 days versus 55 days in those who received less than 2 cycles (P = 0.025). However, after applying Bonferroni correction, the difference was no longer significant. There was no toxicity related death or life threatening complication. CONCLUSION: Our institutional protocol of platinum-based doublet with paclitaxel is effective, well-tolerated and has the advantage being delivered on an outpatient basis alone. Overall, we believe that paclitaxel-platinum is an effective regimen that needs to be investigated further in larger studies.