An unusual presentation of a malignant jejunal tumor and a different management strategy.

BACKGROUND: Malignant small bowel tumors are very rare and leiomyosarcoma accounts for less than 15% of the cases. Management of these tumors is challenging in view of nonspecific symptoms, unusual presentation and high incidence of metastasis. In this case report, an unusual presentation of jejunal sarcoma and management of liver metastasis with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is discussed. CASE PRESENTATION: A 45-year-old male presented with anemia and features of small bowel obstruction. Operative findings revealed a mass lesion in jejunum with intussusception of proximal loop. Resection of bowel mass was performed. Histopathological findings were suggestive of leiomyosarcoma. After 3-years of follow-up, the patient developed recurrence in infracolic omentum and a liver metastasis. The omental mass was resected and liver lesion was managed with radiofrequency ablation. CONCLUSION: Jejunal leiomyosarcoma is a rare variety of malignant small bowel tumor and a clinical presentation with intussusception is unusual. We suggest that an aggressive management approach using a combination of surgery and a newer technique like RFA can be attempted in patients with limited metastatic spread to liver to prolong the long-term survival in a subset of patients.

Surgical management of skin cancers: experience from a regional cancer centre in North India.

AIMS: To review the disease profile and treatment outcome of patients with primary skin malignancies treated at a regional cancer centre. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Surgical oncology unit of a tertiary care regional cancer centre. Evaluation of treatment outcome of patients with skin cancer from Surgical Oncology database was done. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of records of 77 patients with skin cancers treated between 1995 and 2002 was conducted. Profile of patients with skin cancer, surgical details including the management of primary tumour, regional lymph nodes and reconstructive procedures performed and survivals were analysed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All computations were done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-9). Descriptive statistics were calculated in a standard fashion and survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Skin cancers constituted 2.4% (77/3154) of patients with cancer treated in the surgical oncology department. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most common histological type (55.8%) followed by melanoma (26.1%) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC, 18.1%). Forty one percent of patients had undergone some form of intervention elsewhere before being referred. Reconstruction was required in 55.8% patients with large postresection defects. Regional lymph nodal dissection was required in 32.4% of total patients. Five-year median disease-free survival for the entire study population was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Skin cancers constitute a small but significant proportion of patients with cancer. Unlike in the Western countries, SCC is the commonest histologic variety. Primary level inadequate intervention is very common. Optimal results can be obtained with radical surgery and optimal surgical margins along with a reconstructive procedure when needed.

Salivary gland tumours: profile and management at a tertiary cancer centre.

Salivary gland tumours comprise a varied group of benign and malignant neoplastic lesions posing a challenge to surgeon. To review the profile of salivary gland tumours presenting to a referral cancer centre and their overall management, a retrospective analysis of prospective head and neck cancer database of the surgical oncology department of Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) was performed. Forty patients of salivary gland tumours treated between 1995 and 2003 were analysed. All computations including recurrences and survival were carried out using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for windows software (SPSS Inc, USA). The profile of salivary gland tumours presenting to a cancer centre setting was found to be different - 77.5% being malignant tumours and the remaining 22.5% werebenign tumours. Most common site of involvement was the parotid gland (72.5%). Muco-epidermoid carcinoma and adenocarcinomas were the most common histological types. Conservative resection was adequate for benign tumours. For primary malignant tumours, radical surgery with or without neck dissection and appropriate reconstruction, combined with postoperative radiotherapy was effective in achieving good locoregional control. Optimal management of primary tumour along with appropriate neck dissection including resection of the involved salivary gland is necessary for the management of metastatic salivary gland tumours.

A prospective randomized trial comparing harmonic scalpel versus electrocautery for pectoralis major myocutaneous flap dissection.

BACKGROUND: Conventionally, the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is raised using electrocautery and/or other sharp instruments. The reported morbidity rate using conventional techniques of flap dissection varies from 16 to 63 percent. The purpose of this study was to consider the feasibility of myocutaneous flap dissection using the harmonic scalpel and to compare operative time, blood loss, drainage volume, and morbidity between patients undergoing flap dissection with the harmonic scalpel and those being treated with electrocautery. METHODS: Thirty patients with oral cancer, for whom resection and reconstruction using a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap was planned, were recruited in a prospective, randomized two-arm trial. Patients in arm I (n = 15) had flap dissection using electrocautery and patients in arm II (n = 15) had flap dissection using the harmonic scalpel. RESULTS: The mean operative duration for flap dissection (84 versus 47 minutes), blood loss (129 versus 36 ml), and total drainage volume (551 versus 302 ml) were found to be significantly less in the harmonic scalpel group. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that it is feasible to dissect pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps using the harmonic scalpel with less operative time, blood loss, drainage volume, and morbidity in comparison with electrocautery.

Post-mastectomy chylous fistula: anatomical and clinical implications.

A chylous fistula after a modified radical mastectomy is a rare occurrence; however, major anatomical variations in the termination of the thoracic duct may occur, rendering it susceptible to injury. High output chylous fistulae are difficult to manage and have local, metabolic, and immunologic complications with a mortality rate varying from 12.5-50%. Herein such a case of postmastectomy chylous fistula and its management are discussed. A 56-year-old postmenopausal woman with invasive duct carcinoma of the left breast underwent modified radical mastectomy with complete axillary clearance (Level I, II, III nodes). The operative procedure was uneventful. On the commencement of a normal diet, however, the patient started exuding milky fluid from the axillary drain and analysis of the fluid revealed biochemical features compatible with chyle. After 2 weeks of failed conservative management, the axilla was re-explored. A continuous flow of clear fluid was observed originating from a single major lymphatic trunk inferior to the axillary vein in the region of the former Level II nodes. The leak was controlled by the application of multiple mass ligatures using 2-0 silk suture. A part of the pectoralis major muscle was rotated and sutured over the area of the leak as additional reinforcement. Suturing a muscle flap over the leak has been described previously and functions theoretically by causing fibrosis. The chylous fistula in the present case was managed successfully with mass ligatures and muscle flap reinforcement.

Surgical management of skin cancers: experience from a regional cancer centre in North India.

AIMS: To review the disease profile and treatment outcome of patients with primary skin malignancies treated at a regional cancer centre. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Surgical oncology unit of a tertiary care regional cancer centre. Evaluation of treatment outcome of patients with skin cancer from Surgical Oncology database was done. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of records of 77 patients with skin cancers treated between 1995 and 2002 was conducted. Profile of patients with skin cancer, surgical details including the management of primary tumour, regional lymph nodes and reconstructive procedures performed and survivals were analysed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All computations were done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS-9). Descriptive statistics were calculated in a standard fashion and survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Skin cancers constituted 2.4% (77/3154) of patients with cancer treated in the surgical oncology department. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the most common histological type (55.8%) followed by melanoma (26.1%) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC, 18.1%). Forty one percent of patients had undergone some form of intervention elsewhere before being referred. Reconstruction was required in 55.8% patients with large postresection defects. Regional lymph nodal dissection was required in 32.4% of total patients. Five-year median disease-free survival for the entire study population was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Skin cancers constitute a small but significant proportion of patients with cancer. Unlike in the Western countries, SCC is the commonest histologic variety. Primary level inadequate intervention is very common. Optimal results can be obtained with radical surgery and optimal surgical margins along with a reconstructive procedure when needed.