Correlation between t stage of the tumor and tumor behavior in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Head and neck cancer [HNC] represents more than 550,000 cases annually. It accounts for 380,000 deaths every year. Despite aggressive treatment, only 35% to 55% of patients who present with locally advanced HNC remain alive and free of disease 3 years after standard curative treatment. Thirty percent to 40% of patients develop locoregional recurrences, and distant metastases occur in 20% to 30%. Most recurrences appear quickly within 2 years of initial treatment and an additional 10% of patients will have evidence of distant metastases at the time of first presentation

Purpose: To retrospectively determine the prognostic effect of T stage in locally advanced head and neck cancer

Patients and Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 40 patients diagnosed with locally advanced head and neck cancer. Patients were diagnosed by a tissue biopsy and they were staged by endoscope and CT neck or MRI neck with contrast. They received their treatment and were followed up every 3 months by CTs

Results: We found a statistically significant correlation between T stage and both PFS and OS in HNC [95%, CI 1.00 - 3.10, p=0.04 and 95% CI 1.01 - 2.65, p=0.05 respectively]. We did not find any other statistically significant correlation between other patients’ sub-groups such as age, gender, smoking, affected site, stage, lymph node infiltration, receiving induction chemotherapy, receiving radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, and response to treatment and between PFS and OS

Conclusion: This study confirmed that the T stage of the tumor is an important prognostic factor in locally advanced head and neck cancer

Effect of educational support for children with thalassemia on enhancement of their quality of life

Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder which can be fatal if proper treatment is not received. It is characterized by partial or no production of alpha or beta globin chains which form part of the structure of the hemoglobin in the red blood cells. this study aims at assessing knowledge of children with major thalassemia about their illness and evaluate the effect of educational support on their quality of life, the study sample consisted of 50 thalassemic children. An experimental design was utilized in this study. the study was conducted at out patient clinics, Abo EL-Reech, pediatric Hospital, and Cairo University. Tools of data collection include, Interviewing questionnaire: It was designed by the researchers after reviewing of related literature. It was constructed to elicit personal data about the afflicted child with thalassemia and Quality Of life Instrument [Ferrell 1995]. Results, the study results revealed that, age of 64% of studied children under 12 year, while 24% more than 15 year. Majority of studied children 80%had relative within their families affected with thalassemia. Meanwhile 68% of children had kinship relation between their parents. there is no statistical significant differences regarding the children physical well being as a domain within quality of life as ascribed to test [pre and post tests], Meanwhile there are statistical significant differences in their psychological well being, social concerns and spiritual well being and the entire domains of quality of life for these children as ascribed to test pre and post tests Recommendation, Thalassemia-prevention program must be developed, with the use of better education programs that provide acceptable care, including transfusion of safe blood and supportive therapy including chelating, Premarital counseling to reduce the frequency of births with major thalassemia should be encouraged