Concurrent Low Dose Carboplatin with Radiotherapy Versus Radiotherapy alone in Management of Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

A prospective study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemotherapy with single agent low dose Carboplatin and radiotherapy on survival, functional and quality of life outcomes in locally advanced head and neck cancer patients. Material and Methods : Sixty inoperable, previously untreated locally advanced head and neck cancer patients were planned to be treated with radical radiotherapy 66 Gy with concurrent single agent chemotherapy with low dose Carboplatin 150 mg IV weekly up to 6.3 weeks (Group A) and conventional radical radiotherapy alone (Group B). Results : After completion of therapy in Group A complete response was observed in 19/30 (63%) patient and in control group B in 10/30 (33%).Grade II mucosal toxicities were observed in 40% of cases and 33 % of cases in study and control group respectively. Conclusion : Concomitant single agent chemo radiotherapy with low dose Carboplatin could be a better choice in advanced stage of Head and Neck carcinoma in terms of survival, acceptable toxicities together with enhanced response and quality of life.

Breast Metastasis From Carcinoma of The Posterior Pharyngeal Wall.

The head and neck malignancies constitute five percent of all the cancers world-wide. With increasing local regional control and survival rates, the incidence of distant metastasis is increasing. The most common site for distant metastasis from head and neck cancers is lung followed by the bones, liver, and mediastinal nodes. Breast metastases from extramammary malignancies are uncommon, constituting about two per cent of all breast tumors. We present a case of carcinoma of the posterior pharyngeal wall metastatic to breast in a male patient.