Assessment of perineural infiltration and spread of oral squamous cell carcinoma: A clinicohistopathologic study.

Background : As the tumor spreads through the pathway of least resistance, the present study was carried out to evaluate the presence of perineural infiltration and spread of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) along the perineural spaces in gingivobuccal sulcus tumors infiltrating into the mandible. AIMS and objectives : (1) To investigate the incidence of perineural invasion of OSCC along the inferior alveolar nerve and (2) to investigate the neurovascular bundle as a potential route of spread of OSCC. Materials and Methods : Twenty-six patients with histopathologically proven OSCC of the gingivobuccal sulcus with radiographic infiltration of the mandible were included. The surgical specimens were decalcified and serially sectioned. Each section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and was screened for the presence of perineural invasion and spread. Results : Twenty-five specimens showed perineural infiltration but none of the cases showed perineural spread along the inferior alveolar canal. Also, not all cases showed any neurologic deficit. Follow-up of these cases showed early recurrence (6-8 months) in the study group. Conclusion : Perineural infiltration is present in OSCC but perineural spread along the inferior alveolar canal is absent. It is a bad prognostic indicator.

Prolactin and cortisol levels in seizure disorders.

Levels of prolactin (PRL) and cortisol were estimated to find out the acute effects of generalised tonic clonic seizures (GTCS), partial seizures and pseudoseizures in 60, 18 and 9 patients respectively. Prolactin levels were estimated at 20, 60 and 120 minutes whereas, cortisol was estimated at 20, 60, and 120 minutes postictally. Cortisol and PRL estimation was also done in 10 healthy controls and 11 patients of epilepsy during interictal phase. Serum PRL levels were elevated (> 25 ng/ml) in 68.33% of GTCS and 11.11% of partial seizure cases. The peak levels were achieved in first 30 minutes after the seizures with a gradual return to base line during subsequent one hour. None of the patients with pseudoseizure showed any rise in serum PRL levels. The interictal PRL levels were normal in all the epileptics. Plasma cortisol levels were elevated during 60 to 120 minute postictal period in 45% of GTCS, 55.55% of partial seizures and 66.66% of pseudoseizure patients. Cortisol appears to be non-selectively triggered by all stressful events but postictal PRL estimation can help in differentiating pseudoseizures from GTCS. While an elevated PRL indicates the occurrence of grandmal seizure, a normal postictal PRL level does not always exclude epileptic seizure, specially a partial seizure.

Left ventricular mass in normal adult Indians & its correlation with anthropometric parameters.

Important differences were found to exist between male and non-pregnant female Indian adults in the echocardiographically determined left ventricular mass (170.58 +/- 51.91 g vs 131.14 +/- 42.84 g, P less than 0.001) and relationship of left ventricular mass (LVM) to age, body weight, height, body surface area (BSA) and body mass index (BMI). In males, LVM has a fair to good correlation with age, body weight, height, BSA and BMI (P less than 0.001). However, in female subjects, LVM correlates modestly with age, weight, BSA, BMI (P less than 0.01) but not with height. LVM can be best expressed by indexing to body weight in both sexes, but differences persist when other anthropometric parameters are used as denominators.

Electrophysiologic effects of oral propafenone in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome studied by programmed electrical stimulation.

We studied the electrophysiologic effects of oral propafenone on induction of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in 10 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (5 manifest and 5 concealed accessory pathways). Nine patients had orthodromic SVT and one patient had atrial fibrillation with preexcited QRS (shortest RR 220 msec). Electrophysiologic studies were performed during control and 48 hours after oral propafenone administered in a dose of 300 mg every eight hours. Propafenone caused complete anterograde accessory pathway conduction block in 4 of 5 patients with manifest delta waves. Retrograde conduction through the accessory pathway was abolished in 6 of 9 patients in whom it was present during control. Sustained SVT was inducible in all 9 patients during control. Propafenone prevented induction of SVT in 8 of 9 patients (88.9%) and slowed the rate of induced SVT in one patient. In the patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) the accessory pathway was blocked and AF was not inducible. There was a significant increase in the effective refractory period (ERP) of the atrium (208 +/- 40 msec to 257 +/- 25 msec, p less than 0.01), atrioventricular (AV) node (less than or equal to 256 +/- 34 msec to greater than or equal to 324 +/- 35 msec, p less than 0.001) and ventricle (204 +/- 14 msec to 262 +/- 51 msec, p less than 0.01). The atrial paced cycle length at AV nodal block also increased from 288 +/- 51 msec to 389 +/- 51 msec (p less than 0.01) after the drug. Thus propafenone has potent inhibitory effects on accessory pathways and has additional significant effects on atrial, AV nodal and ventricular refractoriness.

Evaluation of aortic aneurysms and dissection of aorta by intravenous digital subtraction angiography.

Intravenous (IV) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in 12 patients with suspected aortic aneurysm/dissection. Bolus injection of 30-40 ml of contrast in mid right atrium/main pulmonary artery at a flow rate of 18-20 ml/sec. during DSA accurately localised the site and extent in all 7 patients of aortic aneurysm and in 4 patients of aortic dissection. In one patient, radiological opacity was unrelated to aorta. There were no complications. IV-DSA should be the preferred mode of evaluation for aortic aneurysm and dissection of aorta.

Coronary arterio-venous fistula from left main stem to pulmonary artery.

We describe a patient with coronary arteriovenous fistula discovered during routine coronary angiography for evaluation of ischaemic heart disease. Angiography revealed a rare anomaly connecting left main stem to pulmonary artery.