ABSTRACT
Kangari, an earthenware brazier containing burning charcoal, is used for personal warming during the winter months by most of the people in Kashmir valley. Kangari is usually held close to the lower abdomen or in between the legs while squatting on the ground. The use of kangari is associated with development of skin cancer at the sites of prolonged exposure. In the present study 43 patients with Kangari cancer were analyzed prospectively with the objective of understanding their clinico-pathological profile and the response to various treatment modalities. Variables such as age, gender, grade, site of lesion etc., were evaluated for their prognostic significance.
Subject(s)
Abdominal Neoplasms/pathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Thigh/pathology , Abdominal Neoplasms/surgery , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/secondary , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery , Charcoal , Cobalt Radioisotopes/therapeutic use , Disease Progression , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Hot Temperature/adverse effects , Household Articles , Humans , India , Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Neoplasm Staging , Prognosis , Prospective Studies , Radiopharmaceuticals/therapeutic use , Radiotherapy, Adjuvant , Remission Induction , Sex Factors , Skin Neoplasms/surgery , Thigh/surgeryABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To define the role of endoscopic dilatation/intubation and radiotherapy in squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus patients to improve their quality of life. METHODS AND MATERIALS: One hundred and four patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus having Stage III and IV disease were enrolled in the present study, with 90 patients in Group 1 (nonesophagorespiratory fistula group) and 14 patients in Group 2 (esophagorespiratory fistula group). From Group 1 patients, 47 were subjected to radiotherapy (conventional) and had endoscopic dilatation and/or intubation whenever and wherever required (Group 1a), and 43 patients were allowed to follow the natural course of the disease except palliation with endoscopic dilatation and/or intubation whenever and wherever required (Group 1b). From Group 2, 4 patients received radiotherapy in addition to endoscopic intubation, while 10 patients received only endoscopic intubation. RESULTS: The median survival for Group 1a was 7 months, for Group 1b--3 months, for Group 2a--4.25 months, and Group 2b--3.6 months. Only three patients from Group 1a survived more than 18 months, while no patient from Groups 1b, 2a, or 2b survived for more than 1 year. The difference in survival between Group 1a and 1b was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The addition of radiotherapy to endoscopic treatment definitely prolongs survival as well as improves the quality of life of these patients. We recommend both for the adequate palliation of patients with this disease.