Predictors of toxicity after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced gall bladder cancer

Background: The present study evaluated the correlation of hepatobiliary toxicity and radiation dose received in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) for locally advanced unresectable gall bladder cancers (LAGBC). Methods: Twenty-six patients with LAGBC, treated with NACRT (55–57 Gy/25 fractions/5 weeks and weekly gemcitabine 300 mg/m2) within a phase II study, were included. Whenever feasible, surgery was performed after NACRT. Acute and late hepatobiliary toxicity was recorded. Treatment scans were retrieved to delineate central porto-hepatobiliary system (CPHBS), resected liver surface, segment IV B and V, and duodenum. The doses received by these structures were recorded and correlated with toxicity. Results: Of 26 patients, 20 (77%) had partial or complete response and 12 (46%) had R0 resection. At the median follow-up of 38 months, overall survival was 38%. Eight (30%) patients had post-treatment toxicity, of which most common was biliary toxicity (30%). A correlation was observed between the biliary leak and V45Gy CPHBS >50 cm3 (P = 0.070). Higher toxicity was observed in those with metallic stents (P = 0.072). Conclusion: The incidence of the biliary leak was 46%. CPHBS dose was found to correlate with biliary leaks. Restricting V45Gy CPHBS <50 cm3 and using plastic stent may facilitate a reduction in hepatobiliary toxicity in patients undergoing NACRT and surgery.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in HIV, HBV and HCV seropositive patients - Prognosis and its predictors

Introduction: Patients receiving treatment for head-and-neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) also may have coexisting viral infections caused by HIV, HBV, and HCV (seropositive). There is scarce literature regarding the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes for these patients with coexisting viral infections (seropositive HNSCC). We conducted this study to assess the clinical presentation and treatment outcomes (overall survival [OS] and disease-specific survival [DSS]) of seropositive HNSCC patients. Methodology: This was a retrospective cohort study on seropositive HNSCC patients registered at our center from 2012 to 2014. The viral infections were identified by the presence of the antibodies to these viruses in the patient's blood samples. Results: Out of the 19,137 HNSCC patients registered, 156 patients had HBV, HCV, and/or HIV infection. Among these, HBV infection was the most common (n = 86/156, 55.1%) followed by HIV infection (n = 36/156, 23.1%) and HCV infection (n = 29/156, 18.6%). The oral cavity was the most common subsite involved. Majority of these patients presented at an advanced stage (advanced T stage – 71.8% and node positive – 62.2%). The majority of the patients received curative-intent treatment (65.4%). The OS at 3 years for these HNSCC patients with coexisting HIV, HBV, and HCV infection was 60%, 62.6%, and 57.5%, respectively, and their DSS at 3 years was 58.8%, 78.6%, and 53.8%, respectively. Conclusions: Seropositive patients with HNSCC often present in the advanced stage but have a good survival if treated appropriately

A clinical study of preterm labour

Background: There has been a rising incidence of preterm labour in India. Preterm labour poses greater risks of morbidity and mortality of the preterm neonates. Various factors contribute towards risk of preterm labour and its outcome. Addressing these factors appropriately improves the outcome in pregnant women.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted in department of obstetrics and gynaecology from the period of July 2017 to July 2018.Results: The present study was in 98 patients admitted in our hospital with preterm labour. Clinical profile of those patients was studied. Statistically significant association was found between administration of antibiotics and tocolysis in prolongation of pregnancy (p value=0.00). There was an association found between gestational age at birth and immediate neonatal outcome (p value=0.00). Preterm labour was more common in multigravidae (62.4%) and women with cervical length less than 3 cm (85.17%).Conclusions: Preterm labour can be expected more commonly in multigravidae, pregnant women with cervical length less than 3 cm and in presence of high-risk factors. Anticipation of preterm labour, judicious use of antibiotics, tocolytics can improve the outcome of preterm labour.

Management of colon cancer at a tertiary referral center in India - Patterns of presentation, treatment, and survival outcomes

AIM: To define the patterns of disease presentation, treatment strategies, and outcomes for patients with colon cancer at a tertiary referral center in India over 1 year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database. All consecutive patients with proven or suspected colonic adenocarcinoma between July 2013 and July 2014 were evaluated in a dedicated analysed multidisciplinary clinic at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. The demography, treatment plan, pathology, stage, and survival data were examined. RESULTS: The median age of presentation was 49 years with 60.1% male patients. In total, 151 cases (57.4%) underwent treatment with curative intent consisting of surgery with adjuvant chemotherapy as indicated. The rest were offered either palliative chemotherapy (36.9%) or best supportive care (5.7%). Approximately, 70% patients had advanced stage disease (Stage III/IV) at presentation and 41.8% presented with metastatic disease with the liver being the most common site of disease dissemination. With a median follow-up of 29 months, the estimated 3-year disease free survival for patients treated with curative intent was 67.1%. The median progression free survival was 12.3 months for patients treated with palliative intent. The estimated 3-year overall survival was 89.7%, 65.5%, and 22.8% for Stage I/II, Stage III, and Stage IV, respectively. CONCLUSION: Indian patients with colon cancer, at a tertiary referral center, tend to present at more advanced stages of the disease as compared to the West. However, curative treatment with surgery and chemotherapy offers similar survival outcomes when compared stage for stage

A rare case of hydrocele in a female

Vulval swellings have always been a case of a difficult and a puzzling situation and more so when they are huge in size. Vulvar swellings are of various types such as Bartholin cyst, sebaceous cyst, cyst of canal of nuck, inguino-labial hernia and vulval varicosities. Most common vulvar cysts are epidermal inclusion cysts. Usual location is beneath the epidermis. An alternative histogenesis is embryonic remnants or occlusion of pilosebaceous ducts of sweat glands. Cutaneous cysts which are lined by ciliated epithelium are very rare, and authors present a rare case of a cyst arising from a left labium majus resembling a hydrocele seen in males with histopathology suggestive of ciliated cyst of the vulva.