Epidemiological assessment and therapeutic response in hypopharyngeal cancer.

UNLABELLED: Despite the low incidence, diagnostic and therapeutic advances, hypopharyngeal cancer still has high mortality. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively the epidemiological profile and response to surgery and radiation/chemotherapy of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. METHOD: We reviewed the medical records of 114 patients treated between 2002 and 2009 in a tertiary hospital with histopathological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57 years, 94.7% were males and 5.3% females, 98.2% were smokers and 92% consumed alcohol; 72% are illiterate or did not complete first grade schooling. The main complaints were: neck node (28%), pain and dysphagia (22%), odynophagia (12.2%), dysphonia (7.8%). The clinical staging was: I (1.7%), II (3.5%), III (18.4%), IV (76.3%). The treatment was carried out with radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone in 35%, with mean 2-year survival of 20% and 5-year survival of 18%; surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 22.8% with 2-year survival of 60.0% and 5 years of 55.0%; chemotherapy alone in 2.6%, and 39.4% without treatment. CONCLUSION: Most patients already had advanced clinical stages and independent of the treatment option, had a low survival rate, confirming the poor prognosis of this neoplasm.

Avaliação epidemiológica e da resposta terapêutica no câncer da hipofaringe / Epidemiological assessment and therapeutic response in hypopharyngeal cancer

Apesar da baixa incidência, avanços diagnóstico e terapêutico, o câncer de hipofaringe ainda possui elevada mortalidade. OBJETIVO: Avaliar retrospectivamente o perfil epidemiológico e a resposta bà cirurgia e rádio/quimioterapia de pacientes portadores de câncer de hipofaringe. MÉTODO: Foram analisados prontuários de 114 pacientes atendidos entre 2002 e 2009 em um hospital terciário com o diagnóstico histopatológico de carcinoma epidermoide. RESULTADOS: A idade média dos pacientes foi 57 anos; 94,7% eram do sexo masculino e 5,3%, do feminino; 98,2% eram tabagistas e 92% etilistas; 72% analfabetos ou com 1º grau incompleto. As queixas principais foram: nódulo cervical (28%), dor e disfagia (22%), odinofagia (12,2%), disfonia (7,8%). O estádio clínico foi: I (1,7%), II (3,5%), III (18,4%), IV (76,3%). O tratamento foi realizado com rádio e quimioterapia exclusivas em 35%, com sobrevida média em 2 anos de 20% e 5 anos de 18%, cirurgia seguida de rádio e quimioterapia em 22,8% com sobrevida em 2 anos de 60,0% e 5 anos 55,0%, quimioterapia exclusiva em 2,6%, e 39,4% sem tratamento. CONCLUSÃO: A maioria dos pacientes já apresentava estádios clínicos avançados e, independentemente da opção terapêutica, apresentam baixa sobrevida, confirmando mau prognóstico desta neoplasia.

Despite the low incidence, diagnostic and therapeutic advances, hypopharyngeal cancer still has high mortality. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively the epidemiological profile and response to surgery and radiation/chemotherapy of patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. METHOD: We reviewed the medical records of 114 patients treated between 2002 and 2009 in a tertiary hospital with histopathological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57 years, 94.7% were males and 5.3% females, 98.2% were smokers and 92% consumed alcohol; 72% are illiterate or did not complete first grade schooling. The main complaints were: neck node (28%), pain and dysphagia (22%), odynophagia (12.2%), dysphonia (7.8%). The clinical staging was: I (1.7%), II (3.5%), III (18.4%), IV (76.3%). The treatment was carried out with radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone in 35%, with mean 2-year survival of 20% and 5-year survival of 18%; surgery followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy in 22.8% with 2-year survival of 60.0% and 5 years of 55.0%; chemotherapy alone in 2.6%, and 39.4% without treatment. CONCLUSION: Most patients already had advanced clinical stages and independent of the treatment option, had a low survival rate, confirming the poor prognosis of this neoplasm.

The histological rarity of thyroid cancer.

UNLABELLED: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, accounting for about 1% of all cancers. Sarcomas, lymphomas and metastases to the thyroid gland are rare and only with a handful of descriptions in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To describe rare histological types of thyroid cancer found in a reference center. METHODS: Medical chart review from admitted patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the period from 1977 to 2010. Demographic, diagnostic, therapeutic and histopathological information were collected. RESULTS: 3,018 records of patients admitted with thyroid disease were reviewed. Among the cases diagnosed with rare tumors there was a predominance of: anaplastic carcinoma: 22 cases (0.7%), followed by 11 cases of medullary carcinoma (0.36%); 2 cases of sarcoma (0.07%), 2 cases of lymphoma (0.07%) and one case of metastatic carcinoid tumor (0.03%). There were more females diagnosed (57%) as well as Caucasians (84%). The most frequent clinical presentation was a palpable thyroid nodule. All patients with lymphoma, sarcoma and anaplastic carcinoma died. CONCLUSION: Sarcomas, lymphomas and thyroid metastases are uncommon and tend to worse outcomes.

A raridade histológica no câncer da tireoide / The histological rarity of thyroid cancer

O câncer da tireoide é a neoplasia endócrina mais comum, correspondendo a cerca de 1% de todos os tipos de câncer. Sarcomas, linfomas e metástases para a glândula tireoide são raros e pouco descritos na literatura. OBJETIVO: Descrever tipos histológicos raros de câncer de tireoide em serviço de referência. MÉTODOS: Revisão de prontuários de pacientes admitidos com diagnóstico de câncer de tireoide no período de 1977 a 2010. Foram coletadas informações demográficas, diagnósticas, terapêuticas e histopatológicas. RESULTADOS: Foram revisados 3018 prontuários de pacientes admitidos com doença tireoidiana. Dos casos com diagnóstico de tumores raros, predominou o tipo histológico carcinoma anaplásico, com 22 casos (0,7%), seguido por 11 casos de carcinoma medular (0,36%), dois de sarcoma (0,07%), dois de linfoma (0,07%) e um de tumor carcinoide metastático (0,03%). Houve predomínio do gênero feminino (57%) e de caucasianos (84%). A apresentação clínica com nódulo tireoídeo palpável foi a mais frequente. Todos os casos de linfoma, sarcoma e carcinoma anaplásico evoluíram a óbito. CONCLUSÃO: Sarcomas, linfomas e metástases em tireoide são incomuns e tendem à evolução desfavorável.

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, accounting for about 1% of all cancers. Sarcomas, lymphomas and metastases to the thyroid gland are rare and only with a handful of descriptions in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To describe rare histological types of thyroid cancer found in a reference center. METHODS: Medical chart review from admitted patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the period from 1977 to 2010. Demographic, diagnostic, therapeutic and histopathological information were collected. RESULTS: 3,018 records of patients admitted with thyroid disease were reviewed. Among the cases diagnosed with rare tumors there was a predominance of: anaplastic carcinoma: 22 cases (0.7%), followed by 11 cases of medullary carcinoma (0.36%); 2 cases of sarcoma (0.07%), 2 cases of lymphoma (0.07%) and one case of metastatic carcinoid tumor (0.03%). There were more females diagnosed (57%) as well as Caucasians (84%). The most frequent clinical presentation was a palpable thyroid nodule. All patients with lymphoma, sarcoma and anaplastic carcinoma died. CONCLUSION: Sarcomas, lymphomas and thyroid metastases are uncommon and tend to worse outcomes.