Comparison of external beam radiation therapy and radioactive implants in the management of nonmetastatic oral squamous cell cancer: an analysis of the surveillance epidemiology and end results database.

OBJECTIVE: Radiotherapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) could be either through external beam (EBRT) or brachytherapy (BT). In third-world countries, access to novel treatment like BT is limited. This study aimed to compare survival in patients with OSCC treated with EBRT with BT recipients. METHODS: We examined cases of nonmetastatic OSCC between January 1, 1987, and December 31, 2007, in the surveillance epidemiology and end results (SEER) registry. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the adjusted relationship between radiation type and survival. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in survival (adjusted) between patients who were treated with BT and those treated with EBRT (P = .330). However, combining EBRT + BT was associated with significantly better survival compared with EBRT alone (hazard ratios [HR] = 0.61, P < .001) or BT alone (HR = 0.70, P = .024). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of BT on survival was not significantly different from EBRT.

Evaluation of factors influencing intention to quit smokeless and cigarette tobacco use among Nigerian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Smokeless and cigarette tobacco use is becoming increasingly popular among Nigerian adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate predictors of intention to quit tobacco use among adolescents that currently use tobacco products in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 536 male and female high school students in senior classes in Benue State, Nigeria were enrolled into the cross-sectional study. The survey instrument was adapted from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) questionnaire. RESULTS: Among adolescents with tobacco habits, 80.5% of smokeless tobacco users and 82.8% of cigarette smokers intended to quit tobacco use within 12 months. After adjustment, significant predictors of intention to quit cigarette smoking were parents' smoking status (P<0.01), peers' smokeless use status (P<0.01) and perception that smoking made one comfortable at social events (P<0.01). For intention to quit smokeless tobacco use, significant predictors after adjustment were parents' smokeless use status, (P=0.03) perception that smokeless tobacco use made one more comfortable at social events (P=0.04) and perception of harm from smokeless use (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the intention to quit smokeless and cigarette tobacco use is significantly predicted by perception about the societal acceptance of tobacco use at social events, parents and peers' tobacco use status as well as the perception of harm from use of tobacco products. Providing social support may increase quit attempts among youth smokers.

Paediatric head and neck cancers in Nigeria: Implications for treatment planning in resource limited settings.

BACKGROUND: The head and neck (H/N) is a common site for childhood cancers. This study examined all cases of H/N childhood cancers diagnosed in a major teaching hospital in Nigeria over 18 years to determine patterns of broad lineage cancer groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary pediatric childhood malignancies diagnosed between 1990 and 2008 were analysed. Logistic regression models were fitted to determine significant clinical correlates of childhood cancer. RESULTS: Lymphomas were the commonest cancers (49.5%). After controlling for site and age, there was no significant difference in the incidence of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) by sex (P=0.423). The jaw bones (mandible and maxilla) were the commonest sites in the H/N for involvement of BL, with over 20 times the odds of occurrence when compared to other non-jaw sites of the H/N region (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=21.41, P<0.001). Among the jaw bones, there was no significant difference in the occurrence of BL (P=0.860). CONCLUSION: Lymphomas are the commonest cancer group among children in Nigeria. In resource limited settings where diagnoses depend majorly on clinical intuition, an awareness of predictors of a disease can shorten the time spent on arriving at a working diagnosis and guide the immediate choice of investigations and treatment.

Paediatric head and neck cancers in Nigeria: implications for treatment planning in resource limited settings

Background: The head and neck (H/N) is a common site for childhood cancers. This study examined all cases of H/N childhood cancers diagnosed in a major teaching hospital in Nigeria over 18 years to determine patterns of broad lineage cancer groups. Materials and Methods: Primary pediatric childhood malignancies diagnosed between 1990 and 2008 were analysed. Logistic regression models were fitted to determine significant clinical correlates of childhood cancer. Results: Lymphomas were the commonest cancers (49.5). After controlling for site and age; there was no significant difference in the incidence of Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) by sex ( P=0.423). The jaw bones (mandible and maxilla) were the commonest sites in the H/N for involvement of BL; with over 20 times the odds of occurrence when compared to other non-jaw sites of the H/N region (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=21.41; P0.001). Among the jaw bones; there was no significant difference in the occurrence of BL ( P