ABSTRACT
Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women and also the leading cause of cancer related deaths in women. The patterns of failures in carcinoma breast seem to differ by cell type, pathological stage and by the treatment modality instituted. Breast cancers can recur locally, regionally and distantly. Survival rates decrease progressively as the stage of the disease increases. Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the patterns of failure in patients with Breast Carcinoma after definitive treatment modalities. Methods: We conducted an analytical, nonrandomized, cross-sectional study on the Patterns of Failure in 1238 patients with primary breast cancer who reported to our Regional Cancer Centre from 2002 to 2010. Results: A total of 1238 patients with 1189 females and 49 males were evaluated. Most of the patients were above fifty years of age with breast lump being the most common presentation. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the most common histology and stage II being the commonest stage of presentation. Most of the patients were hormone receptor positive and Her 2 neu receptor negative. Overall local failure was 3.9%, regional failure 2.7% and distant failure 22.5%. Overall 5 year disease free survival was 78.4%. Conclusion: The most common form of local failure is chest wall recurrence, regional failure is supraclavicular lymphadenopathy and distant failure is bone metastasis. The 5 year disease free survival is lower for all the stages when compared to world scenario. This may be attributed to more aggressive disease behaviour in our patients.
ABSTRACT
To compare the results of sequential with concurrent chemo radiotherapy in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus in terms of loco regional control, toxicity profile and overall survival,65 patients were enrolled between Jan 2008 and Dec. 2010, of which 37 were male and 28 female. Patients had histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma with locally advanced disease with no prior treatment in the form of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Patients were divided into two groups and were comparable in terms of patient characteristics. In Group-I, 35 were given sequentially paclitaxel 175mg/ m2, cisplatin 75mg/m2 on day 1 of every 21 days for 3 cycles followed by external beam Radiotherapy followed by 3 more cycles of same chemotherapy. In Group-II, 30 patients were given two cycles of Induction chemotherapy same drugs and dosage as in Group-I and was followed by EBRT concurrent with paclitaxel 30mg/m2 given on day 1 of every week during radiation therapy treatment. The overall objective response rate at the end of treatment was superior 93.33% in Group-II as compared to 74.28% in Group-I. Thrombocytopenia was 73.33% and 17.14% in Group-II and Group-I respectively. Similarly, mucosites was higher 56.66% in Group-II as compared to 22.85% in Group-I. At 2 years of follow up, there was no statistically significant difference seen in overall and disease free survival.
ABSTRACT
Rhinoscleroma is an uncommon chronic granulomatous disease of the upper airways affecting nasal cavity, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi. The oral cavity, para nasal sinuses, and soft tissues of the lips and nose can be affected. In rare cases, rhinoscleroma spreads to the orbit. We present a case that was being evaluated for bilateral neck nodal mass, was confused with malignancy and subsequently, on thorough clinicopathological evaluation, was diagnosed as rhinoscleroma. This case underlines the importance of thorough clinical evaluation and diagnostic workup before instituting any sort of treatment in oncology.