Experience with telepathology at a tertiary cancer centre and a rural cancer hospital.

BACKGROUND: Telepathology allows quick and timely access to an expert opinion, no matter where the patient is located. We analysed the experience with the use of telepathology between a tertiary cancer centre and a rural cancer hospital. METHODS: Ninety-three cases were analysed in which static telepathology was used to obtain a consultation between Tata Memorial Centre and Nargis Dutt Memorial Cancer Hospital at Barshi, a rural area. RESULTS: Successful teleconsultation was achieved in all cases. A diagnosis was offered in 92 cases (98.9%) and was deferred in 1 case (1.1%). Complete concordance, clinically unimportant minor discrepancy and hedged diagnosis were obtained in 83 cases (90.2%). Major discrepancies were encountered in 9 cases (9.7%). The number of images per case ranged from 3 to 27 (average: 7 images). Images were of diagnosable quality in 89.2% of cases. Most of the cases (77.4%) were reported within 3 days; 32.2% were reported within 8 hours (a single working day) and 45.1% within 1-3 days. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine can be effectively used to bridge the gap between medically underprivileged, geographically distant rural areas and advanced centres using the static store and forward methodology.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy in carcinoma cervix IIIB: Tata Memorial Hospital experience.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To analyze the role of hypofractionated radiotherapy in advanced carcinoma of cervix. BASIC PROCEDURE: Medical records of 62 women with advanced carcinoma cervix III3 treated during 1994-1996 were reviewed. Patients were treated with standard pelvic portals to a total dose of 39Gy in 13 fractions over 17 days followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. Forty-eight patients completed the planned treatment and were considered suitable for analysis of late reactions and survival. MAIN FINDINGS: The 5-year disease free survival was 59% and the overall survival was 50% at the mean follow up of 40 months. Twenty-one (44%) patients developed acute gastrointestinal toxicity of which 5 patients had grade III and one patient had grade IV reaction. Ten patients (21%) developed acute genitourinary complications, 13 patients (27%) had late rectal reactions and 10 patients (20%) had late bladder complications. Three patients had grade I, five had grade II and five had grade III late rectal toxicity. CONCLUSION: Survival in patients treated hypofractionated radiotherapy appears comparable to that of standard fractionation. The acute gastrointestinal and skin reactions were mainly grade I or grade II. Hypofractionated radiotherapy can certainly be considered in a select group of patients where the local disease is extensive and is unsuitable for conventional treatment.

Hodgkin's disease relapse presenting as Pancoast's syndrome.

Among the various infrequent causes of Pancoast's syndrome, Hodgkin's disease is one. A 26 year old man was diagnosed as Hodgkin's disease. Five years later the disease relapsed producing Pancoast's syndrome. The importance of precise aetiological diagnosis before treatment of such cases with similar presentation is emphasized.

Modified MACOP-B chemotherapy for intermediate and high grade non Hodgkins lymphomas.

Combination chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate with leucovorin rescue, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone and bleomycin (MACOP-B) has been extensively used for the treatment of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. However, different results have been reported. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of administration of this regimen on an out patient basis and to confirm the efficacy of MACOP-B. 51 patients with intermediate--and high--grade lymphoma were treated with this regimen in a single institute study. Numerous clinical features predictive of response and disease free survival were analysed. The Median age was 48 years (range 14-77). Diffuse large cell lymphoma was seen in 65%, diffuse small cleaved in 10% and diffuse mixed in 15%. Eight patients (15%) had Stage I disease, 18 (35%) Stage II, 12 (23%) Stage III and 13 (25%) Stage IV. Complete remission was achieved in 65% of the patients. With a median follow up of 18 months, 40% of the patients are alive at 40 months. Sixty percent of the complete responders are disease free at 40 months. Response rates did not differ significantly for age, sex, stage, histology, bone marrow involvement and extranodal disease. However patients with absence of B' symptoms, non bulky disease at presentation and diffuse large cell histology had a higher percentage of complete remission. Hematological toxicity occurred in 90% and was grade IV in 14% patients. Three patients died of sepsis. Severe mucositis occurred in 40% of the patients. In conclusion, while it is possible to give aggressive chemotherapy at the out patient basis in India we failed to confirm the high response rates as originally reported.

Late radiation induced laryngeal oedema in the treatment of vocal cord cancer: analysis using the linear quadratic model.

The incidence of late complications for different size of dose per fraction is analysed in 208 cases with squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cord. The series comprised 156 cases with T1 and 52 cases with T2 lesions. Radical radiotherapy was given with three different regimens having dose per fraction as 3.33, 2.5 and 2.25 Gy. There were 46 cases with persisting radiation induced laryngeal oedema. Using two different statistical methods, an alpha/beta value of 2.38 Gy of linear quadratic model was estimated for late complications of vocal cord. The analysis indicate the increased incidence of late complications with size of dose per fraction. Relevance of linear quadratic model for the prediction of late complication is demonstrated in the present study.

A prospective study of radiation induced damage of pancreatic ducts.

To study radiation-induced pancreatic duct damage, endoscopic retrograde pancreatograms of 11 patients with primary gastric lymphoma who had completed chemotherapy and moderate dose external radiation therapy were compared with those of 22 normal subjects. No significant alteration was seen in the length and caliber of the main pancreatic duct and number of side branches. Clubbing of one or two side branches was observed in four patients who had received radiation (p = ns). We conclude that significant structural changes do not develop in the pancreas following moderate dose upper abdominal radiation.

Out-patient esophageal dilation: an experience in 130 patients using Savary-Gilliard dilators.

Experience of outpatient esophageal dilation using Savary-Gilliard dilators in 130 patients during a 17 month period is reported. The strictures were radiation induced (48), tumoral stenoses (40), anastomotic (16) and due to other causes (26). Both fluoroscopy and endoscopy were used in 58%, endoscopy alone in 23% and fluoroscopy alone in 19% of patients for placement of the guide wire. One hundred and twenty six stricture dilations (97%) were technically successful. Eighty one (62%) patients could be dilated to 14 mm or more. One hundred and nineteen (94%) patients were dilated in one or two sessions. Among the 109 patients who followed up, dilation was successful in providing adequate dysphagia relief in 97 patients and facilitated the performance of other therapies in 9 patients. Major complications included severe continuous chest pain (1 case), hematemesis (2), fever (4) and transient stridor (2). The patient with persistent pain and 9 patients undergoing other therapies required hospitalization. There were no perforations or death. We conclude that esophageal dilation with Savary-Gilliard dilators is safe and effective even in tumors and post-radiation strictures. It can be performed on an outpatient basis in a majority of patients.

Association of esophageal cancer and esophageal varices.

Of the 312 cases of esophageal cancer seen over 2 years, four patients had associated varices. Three patients gave history of alcohol abuse. All had malnutrition and splenomegaly. Endoscopic biopsies were safe in the presence of varices. External radiation did not have any untoward effect on the varices. Prophylactic sclerotherapy was not required in these patients. The association between esophageal carcinoma and varices could be secondary to alcohol consumption or merely coincidental.

Primary pulmonary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a report of four cases.

Four cases of primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the lung are described. Two cases had low and two intermediate grade lymphoma at the time of diagnosis. The patient who had disease for long duration and received pulmonary radiotherapy developed intractable chest infection and died six months after diagnosis; the three patients having short history of disease and treated with surgery and/or chemotherapy have been doing well for 4 to 77 months after the diagnosis. It is concluded that diagnosis of primary pulmonary lymphoma should be suspected in patients with nodular or interstitial lung disease and bronchoalveolar lavage with aspiration cytology should be done to make an early diagnosis.

Gastric metastases from esophageal cancer.

Gastric metastases from esophageal cancer are seldom diagnosed antemortem. Two patients who had endoscopically detected gastric metastases from esophageal cancer are reported. One patient had a metastasis developing 6 months after radiation therapy; the other developed metastasis after surgical resection of the primary tumor.

Radiation therapy in early glottic carcinoma: significance of prognostic factors and dose fractionation.

A retrospective analysis of 208 cases with early glottic cancers treated by radiation therapy is presented. Early T1 (156 cases) and T2 (52 cases) lesions accounted for only 43 per cent of all glottic tumours that presented at the Tata Memorial Hospital between 1975-80. A markedly predominant male to female ratio of 22:1 was noted with 66 percent presenting in the fifth and sixth decades of life. Radical Radiation therapy was delivered with two different regimens according to the then prevalent physician preference. Regimen 1 delivered 50 Gy/15 frs. in three weeks and regimen 2 with 60 Gy/24 frs./5 weeks. The actual total survival and disease free survival was 92 per cent and 85 percent for T1 lesions and 82 percent and 67 percent for T2 tumours respectively. Minimal tumour volume involving a unilateral mobile vocal cord had the best prognosis. With extension to more lengths of cord and/or involvement of the anterior commissure or with tethering or fixation of the cord the prognosis was adversely influenced. In T1 lesions, the shorter course with the higher fractionation dosage levels showed improved local controls. However, the results were not statistically significant. This was not so in the T2 lesions probably due to small number of cases. Treatment failure was recorded in 19 per cent cases of which 90 per cent was seen in the first two years after treatment. Persisting laryngeal oedema confirmed a high index of suspicion towards recurrent disease. A radiotherapeutic technique using proper patient positioning and accurate beam direction with total dosage level above 1850 rets and TDF between 101-106 values is the recommended optimal treatment. In conclusion, an understanding of the prognostic features and an appropriate dose fractionation schedule allows optimization to effectively control early glottic tumours and retain function in the majority of patients.

Hodgkin's disease with bone marrow involvement.

Bone marrow involvement was seen in 11 percent of patients with Hodgkin's Disease which was determined from pre-treatment biopsy specimens using established histopathologic criteria. Analysis of 32 evaluable patients with marrow involvement showed male preponderance with a peak in fourth decade of life. Twenty four cases (75%) had B-symptoms and 15 (46%) presented within six months of onset of symptoms. On categorizing for clinical staging, 21 (65%) belonged to stage III and IV. Hepatomegaly (greater than or equal to 2 cms) was present in seven cases (21%) and splenomegaly in 13 cases (40%). Mixed cellularity and lymphocytic depletion histopathologic subtypes showed the highest frequency of involvement (21 cases; 65%). Out of 28 cases ESR was raised in 27 cases (96%). Eighteen cases (56%) showed elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels. Serum copper levels were determined in 14 cases, out of which 12 (85%) showed elevated levels. These parameters along with anemia (hemoglobin of 12 g/dl or less) in 26 cases (81%), correlated well with the disease activity. Only four cases had leukopenia at presentation pointing to no hindrance for aggressive chemotherapy. All cases received minimum of six courses of standard combination chemotherapy with or without local radiotherapy. Sixteen cases (50%) relapsed subsequently and were managed accordingly. A five year follow-up revealed a minimal 31 percent overall survival, and 18 percent of patients were disease free and well since the time of treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)