Impact of transarterial chemoembolization on 1 year survival rate of patients suffering from non-resectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Treatment of nonresectable HCC remains unsatisfactory and different therapeutic regimes have been tested. Transarterial chemoembolization [TACE] is the most promising palliative modality for unresectable HCC and determination of the survival rates of patients after TACE is important to guide clinicians for proper management of advanced HCC. So objective of our study was to determine 1 year survival rate in patients with unresectable HCC treated by TACE. Retrospective Study. This study was conducted at Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore from July 2009 to June 2010. 90 patients with unresectable HCC who underwent TACE treatment were identified from a prospectively collected database. Patient survival from the first TACE session was calculated at 6 and 12 months duration after TACE, with Kaplan-Meier analysis. A total of 90 patients were studied. All patients underwent TACE with appropriate technical measures. The age range of patients was 34 years to 84 years. Mean age of patients was calculated to be 59.67 years and median to be 58 yrs. 59 were males and 31 were females. In all 90 patients, none died because of the complications of TACE. 3 out of these 90 patients died within 6 months of procedure, while 11 died within 1 year. So this resulted in 14 patients out of 90 [15%], who could not survive after 1 year of TACE. 76 patients remained alive with survival rate of 84.4%. TACE is an effective treatment option for advanced unresectable HCC. Our study showed that, the overall survival benefit for such patients is tremendously improved if they are managed with TACE

Chest radiographic findings in bronchogenic carcinoma in Pakistani population

To observe the common radiographic findings in histologically confirmed cases of bronchogenic carcinoma. This descriptive study comprised of 35 consecutive histopathologically / cytological confirmed cases of bronchogenic carcinoma that were admitted from January 2000 to April 2003 in Bahawal Victoria hospital Bahawalpur. Plain chest radiographs were obtained in all cases. Two radiologists blinded to the cell types were asked to interpret the radiographs. Hilar mass was the major manifestation in 62.8% cases. Chest radiographs showed 7 different types of lesions in four cell varieties in 35 cases, these included hilar mass in 62% cases of squamous cell carcinoma. Cavitation and rib erosion were found exclusively in squamous cell type carcinoma. In small cell carcinomas, hilar involvement was present in 83.3% cases. Half of large cell carcinomas and one case of adenocarcinoma presented with a peripheral mass. Hilar mass was seen in 50% cases with adenocarcinoma. Wide mediastinum was seen only in cases with small cell carcinoma. The chest radiograph findings in brochogenic carcinoma has more or less a standard patterns which can help the physician in better suspicion and diagnosis