ABSTRACT
Background: Detection of regional lymph nodes in head and neck cancers greatly modifies the staging, treatment and prognosis of the patient and helps in planning the management of these patients. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of E.N.T., S.M.G.S. Hospital, G.M.C. Jammu, in collaboration with the Department of Radio diagnosis and Imaging, G.M.C. Jammu & Department of Radiation Oncology GMC, Srinagar from 2008 to 2012 in which patients attending / admitted in the Department of E.N.T., with cancer of head and neck, were assessed for lymph node metastasis (at different levels). 16 patients, all cases of squamous cell carcinoma head and neck, underwent appropriate neck dissections. The patients were examined clinically as well as with ultrasonography for detection of various enlarged lymph nodes at different levels. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were done, wherever indicated. Patients were subjected to fine needle aspiration cytology in cases of palpable lymph nodes. The removed lymph nodes were examined histopathologically. Results: The findings of clinical, radiological and histopathological studies were compared. We concluded that clinical palpation should be supplemented by ultrasonography in every case of head and neck cancer. However, since computed tomography picks up lymph nodes missed by ultrasonography in a significant number, is important in imaging primary tumour and picks up necrosis and extracapsular spread at the most, it should be included in each case of head and neck cancer. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging being equivalent to computed tomography in picking up the nodes, but lagging behind the criteria such as picking up of nodal necrosis and extra capsular spread of lymph nodes, and is too costly, so may be included as an imaging modality wherever computed tomography is contraindicated.
ABSTRACT
Background: Rectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in Kashmir, India. The clinical course of patients treated with surgery alone has been characterized by a high death rate and also by the pain and disability associated with pelvic recurrence of the tumor. Adjuvant radiation combined with chemotherapy has been studied for prevention of such recurrences. We treat more than 200 rectal cancer patients annually at our center. Most of the patients registered at our center are those who have been already subjected to surgery at the peripheral hospitals. We studied role of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and calcium leucovorin concurrently with radiotherapy in Dukes’ stage B2 and C and toxicities thereof in the adjuvant setting. Objective: To assess the outcome of concurrent chemoradiation in operated locally advanced treated cancer patients. Materials and Methods: In operated Dukes’ B2 and C rectal cancer patients, we conducted a prospective non-randomized study comprising of 40 patients between 2012 and 2014. Patients were treated with two hours protracted infusion of calcium leucovorin 500 mg/m2 on day 1 followed by 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 on days 1 to 5 and repeated four weekly for total of six cycles. Radiotherapy of 45 Gray in 20 fractions was delivered concurrently with chemotherapy for first two cycles. Results: Combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in a concurrent setting appears to be more efficient in reducing local recurrence rates and improving survival than either modality alone. Toxicities with this schedule were mostly gastrointestinal mucositis, but no treatment interruption was needed. Conclusion: A combination of 5-fluorouracil and radiotherapy can be administered in operated locally advanced rectal cancer patients.