Eyelid carcinoma: An experience from a tertiary cancer center.

CONTEXT: Eyelid carcinoma is rare tumors of the head and neck. They are rarely lethal but can be associated with significant morbidity if not treated early and appropriately. There are limited data available from world over and in particular the Indian subcontinent regarding eyelid carcinoma and its prognostic factors influencing treatment outcomes. Setting and Design:Retrospective study of patients treated in a tertiary cancer center between 2005 and 2016. METHODOLOGY: In this study, 51 patients with eyelid carcinoma treated at single tertiary cancer center were included. The demographic, clinical data, which includes the treatment received, histopathology report and follow-up, were recorded. All the relevant variables influencing disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed. RESULTS: Sebaceous carcinoma was the most common eyelid carcinoma followed by squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma in descending order in this series. Lower eyelid was involved most often. The incidence of nodal metastasis was low (14%). Multivariate analysis revealed that margin status influenced the DFS (P= 0.001) (hazard ratios = 15.9 [95% confidence interval: 1.8-135.2]). The 5 years' DFS was 70%. CONCLUSION: Eyelid tumors are less common cancer with good prognosis if treated appropriately. The morbidity associated with treatment can be reduced if treated early.

To Do or Not to Do?-A Review of Cancer Surgery Triage Guidelines in COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a global health emergency involving more than 200 countries so far. The number of affected population is on rising, so is the mortality. This crisis has overwhelmed the healthcare infrastructures in many affected countries. Due to overall rising cancer incidence and specific concerns, a cohort of cancer patients forms a distinct subset of the population in whom a correct and timely treatment has a huge impact on the outcome. During this period, oncology care is definitely affected owing to many factors like lockdowns, reduced beds and deferral of elective cases to halt the spread of the pandemic. Surgery remains the best line of defence in many solid organ tumours especially in early stage and is potentially curative. China, the source of this pandemic, has taken more than 3 months to enter the post transitional phase of this pandemic. Deferring cancer surgeries for this long period may have a direct impact on the long-term outcomes of cancer patients. Many surgical oncology associations across the globe have come up with triage guidelines for surgical care of cancer patients; however, these are based on expert opinion rather than actual data. Herein, we intend to review these guidelines with respect to the risk of disease progression in cancer patients. In the absence of actual data on cancer surgery care during this pandemic, clinical decisions should be based on careful consideration of disease-related and patient-related factors. While some of the cancer surgeries can be safely delayed for some time, how long we can delay surgeries safely cannot be answered/ explained by any means. Thorough evaluation and discussion by an expert and experienced multidisciplinary team appears to be the most effective way forward.

Utility of response assessment PET-CT to predict residual disease in neck nodes: A comparison with the Histopathology.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT) scans to detect residual disease in neck nodes with the Histopathology (HPR) as the gold standard. To obtain a Standardized Uptake Value max cutoff in these patients to predict residual disease in neck. METHODS: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients who underwent Salvage neck dissection with or without primary site surgery post Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy (CCRT) during the period January 2008-December 2017 were included. All patients had response assessment PET-CT scan at 10-14 weeks. Agreement analysis was performed between PET-CT and HPR, fine needle aspiration cytology and HPR. Positive predictive value, Negative predictive value of PET-CT to detect residual neck nodal disease in comparison to HPR was analyzed. A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted between the SUV max values and the HPR. A SUV max cutoff value was obtained from the ROC curve. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients were included. Thirty-one underwent salvage neck dissection along with surgery for primary disease and 45 underwent salvage neck dissection alone. PET-CT showed good agreement with the HPR to detect residual disease in neck nodes (Kappa=0.604). PET-CT had a PPV and NPV of 87.5% and 79.15% respectively as compared against the HPR. A SUV max cutoff of 4.62 had a specificity of 92.3% and sensitivity of 73.5% to detect residual disease in neck nodes on the HPR. CONCLUSION: PET-CT surveillance is an accepted treatment strategy. A neck node with SUV max of 4.62 and above is most likely to harbor residual nodal disease. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2b.

Head and neck cancers in India.

Head and neck cancers constitute a third of the cancer burden in India. These cancers have unique patient characteristics, presentation, and etiological differences from those in the West. Socioeconomic constraints, large patient population, scarcity of trained health workers, and inadequate infrastructure are major challenges faced in the management of these cancers. Despite these constraints, patients are treated with evidence based guidelines that are tailored to the local scenario.

A Logical levothyroxine dose Individualization: Optimization Approach at discharge from Radioiodine therapy ward and during follow-up in patients of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Balancing the Risk based strategy and the practical issues and challenges: Experience and Views of a large volume referral centre in India.

In this communication, the authors discuss the issue of individualization of thyrotropin suppressive therapy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients and share their views with respect to optimizing the dose of levothyroxine (LT) prescription both during discharge from radioiodine therapy ward and during follow-up. The changing management paradigm at our Institute during post-thyroidectomy period and during the preparation for radioiodine scan is also briefly highlighted. Five factors can be identified as important determinants for the dose individualization approach: (1) Persistence or absence of metastatic disease, (2) the risk characteristics of the patient and the tumor (3) patient's clinical profile, symptomatology, and contraindications (4) the feasibility to ensure a proper thyroid stimulating hormone TSH suppression level (depends on patient's socio-economic and educational background, the connectivity with the local physician and his expertise) (5) time period elapsed since initial diagnosis. While discussing each individual case scenario, the authors, based upon their experience in one of the busiest thyroid cancer referral centers in the country, discuss certain unaddressed points in the current guideline recommendations, deviations made and some challenges toward employing them into practice, which could be situation and center specific. In addition to these, the value of clinical examination, patient profile and detailed enquiry about clinical symptomatology by the attending physician in each follow-up visit cannot be overemphasized. According to the authors, this aspect, quite important for dose determination in an individual, is relatively underrepresented in the present guidelines. It would also be worthwhile to follow a conservative approach (till clear data emerges) in patients who have characteristics of "high-risk" disease, but are clinically and biochemically disease free, if no medical contraindications exist and patient tolerates the suppressive therapy well. This would be particularly applicable in the presence of aggressive histopathological variants, where, in the event of recurrence/metastasis, the disease demonstrates adverse prognosis and higher incidence of radioiodine refractoriness. At the end, certain important and noteworthy concepts pertaining to LT prescription that has definitive practical implications for the suppressive therapy in DTC patients are described.

Angiosarcoma of the scalp associated with Xeroderma pigmentosum.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis associated with hypersensitivity to ultraviolet light due to defects in Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair. These patients have more than a 1000-fold increased risk of developing skin cancers. Although multiple cutaneous malignancies are common, the simultaneous occurrence of angiosarcoma and basal cell carcinoma is a rare phenomenon. We report a case of a 25-year-old male with XP with angiosarcoma scalp and basal cell carcinoma of face and occiput and discuss the treatment of this aggressive neoplasm with a review of the literature pertaining to it.

Tuberculosis masquerading as oral malignancy.

Tuberculosis of the oral cavity is a rare condition. A 55-year-old labourer was referred as a case of oral cancer for further management. The patient had no systemic symptoms. Biopsy of the lesion revealed caseating granulomatous inflammation. Chest X-ray and sputum revealed evidence of asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis. The purpose of this paper is to sensitize clinicians to consider oral tuberculosis as a differential diagnosis in patients with an Non-healing oral cavity ulcer.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of non-squamous cell malignancies of the maxillary sinus.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A significant paucity of data exists on non-squamous cancers of the maxillary sinus. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these tumors. METHODS: Retrospective review of 42 patients with complete available data and a diagnosis of non-squamous cancer of the maxillary sinus treated with curative intent between 1994 and 1999 were performed. Information recorded included demography, clinical characteristics, histopathological findings, treatment methods, and outcome. Survival was also compared with that of squamous cancers of the maxillary sinus. RESULTS: The majority of patients presented with locally advanced disease (83%). Malignancies were 14 sarcomas, 8 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 8 mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 2 adenocarcinoma, and 10 miscellaneous tumors. Fifteen (35.7%) patients developed recurrent disease and six developed distant metastases. The most common site of recurrence was local (32.5%). The overall mean survival was 71.7 months and 5-year overall and disease-free survival was 51% and 48%, respectively. In contrast, the mean survival in the selected 62 patients with squamous cancers was 40 months and 5-year survival was 29% (P = 0.01). Tumor stage, histological, and treatment type was not associated with significant survival advantage. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with non-squamous cancers of the maxillary sinus present with locally advanced disease. Local tumor progression remains a significant pattern of failure; however, unlike squamous cancers they have a better prognosis.

Pediatric thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The treatment of pediatric thyroid cancer evokes considerable controversy. The extent of surgery and role of postoperative radioactive iodine are not clearly defined. We analyzed the behavior of pediatric thyroid cancers and its management. METHODS: Eighty-three patients, from 1964-2000, were identified by a search of our database. The clinical course of 26 patients was not evaluated because of inadequate follow-up and the remaining 57 patients were included in the final survival analysis. These 26 patients were included for analyses of epidemiological data. RESULTS: There were 27 males and 56 females. Cervical lymphadenopathy was a common presentation (57.8%). The predominant histology was papillary carcinoma (57%). Sixteen patients (19.2%) had pulmonary metastases at presentation. Patients with cervical nodes had a significantly higher incidence of pulmonary metastasis compared to those who presented with thyroid nodule (P = 0.037). Five patients (31.2%) with pulmonary metastases had a negative chest X-ray and were detected only on the radioiodine scan. At median follow-up of 64 months, all 57 patients were alive, 10 with disease and 47 disease free. CONCLUSION: Despite its advanced stage at presentation, pediatric thyroid cancer is associated with an excellent prognosis. We advocate total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine as the best management option as the incidence of pulmonary metastases is high.

Laryngeal amyloidosis.

Localized amyloidosis is characterized by the deposition of amyloid fibres in a particular site or organ system in the absence of systemic involvement. Patients with localized laryngeal amyloidosis usually present with long-standing hoarseness or dyspnea. The diagnosis is made by a high degree of suspicion on the basis of the history and a characteristic appearance on direct laryngoscopic examination. When such lesions are seen, an adequate deep punch biopsy should be obtained, and an experienced pathologist should be able to identify the lesion on routine staining. However, the slides should be stained with Congo red and examined with polarized light microscopy to establish the diagnosis. Following proper diagnosis and evaluation of the extent of disease, usually by computed tomographic scan, surgery is the treatment of choice. Preservation of the voice and airway should be the aim in all patients. Endoscopic carbon-dioxide laser excision of the mass should be the first line of therapy. Patients may require repeated removal of the amyloid deposits. The results of treatment are excellent.

Simple technique of securing intraoral skin grafts.

Small defects following intraoral resection are often resurfaced by skin grafts. Skin grafting has the advantage of ease of harvest with minimal additional operating time and post-operative hospital stay, an acceptable functional cosmetic result, and the ability to survive post-operative radiation 1. In addition to adequate vascularity of the recipient area, the most important aspect for graft survival is immobilization and adherence of the graft to the defect. However, in the oral cavity due to the uneven wound bed and constant mobility of the cheek, the graft is not completely immobilized. In addition, the salivary secretions tend to accumulate beneath the graft, separating the graft from the bed. Graft-failure can be prevented by immobilizing the graft and closing up any potential dead space that might lead to separation 2. A variety of methods have been described for immobilization and bolstering the graft to the wound. Many types of stents have been used varying from the simple cotton balls, resin molds, and foam pads, to complex stents like metal, plastic, and dental liner 34. The traditional tie over bolster technique described by Schramm and Myers involves fixation of the skin graft to the raw area, followed by placement of non-absorbable silk sutures from the adjacent mucosa, which are then tied over the bolster 1. However, the placement of this tie over sutures requires adjacent normal mucosa for anchorage, which may not be sufficient especially in the gingivo-buccal sulcus. Although external fixation of the stents to the cheek has been described, this results in ugly scarring of the cheek 2. We describe a simple technique of fixation of the skin graft in the oral cavity, which avoids the placement of additional tie over sutures and in our opinion results in better anchorage.

Hemangioma of base of tongue.

Although vascular malformations of the tongue comprise a significant portion of head and neck angiodysplastic lesions, hemangioma of base of tongue is rare. We report a case of hemangioma of base of tongue extending to the supraglottis, which necessitated an extended supraglottic laryngectomy. Patient had an uneventful recovery and at three year, follow-up has a normal speech and no difficulty in swallowing or aspiration. More importantly, there was no recurrence of hemangioma or bleeding. Although hemangiomas may be treated by various conservative methods, occasionally patient may require surgical excision as in the present case due to the repeated bleeding episode and difficult access. A high index of suspicion and radiological investigations should be performed if the clinical presentation is atypical for malignancy, as in our case.