The surgical management and oncologic outcomes of patients with fungating soft tissue sarcoma treated at a tertiary cancer centre and review of literature.

Background: Currently there is limited literature available on fungating soft tissue sarcoma and its effect of outcomes. In the current study we evaluated the surgical management and oncologic outcomes of patient with fungating soft tissue sarcoma. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective observational study of patients with fungating sarcoma between January 2015 till January 2019 at a tertiary cancer care centre. A total of 59 patients were considered of which 16 had metastasis at presentation. The duration of symptoms prior to presentation averaged 10.2 months (median, 7.2months; range, 1-57 months). Median tumor length was 10 cm. Results: 56% patients underwent amputation and 44% were treated with limb salvage. Following limb salvage surgery in10 cases primary closure of defect was performed and 6 cases required skin grafting for closure of defect. In 6 patients local flap was used for coverage of defect and 4 patients required free flap surgery. Two-year overall survival (OS) of the study cohort were 52.2% and 58% respectively. Two-year disease free survival (DFS) and OS in 43 non metastatic patients at presentation was seen in 58%(95% CI,38%-74%) and 66.5%(95% CI,42%-81%) respectively. The two-year disease OS in 16 patients with metastasis at presentation was 33.2 %. On univariate analysis, tumor size and metastatic at presentation had significant effect on survival. Conclusion: Tumor size and metastatic at presentation has significant impact on survival in these patients. The oncologic outcomes including Disease free survival, overall survival and local recurrence rates similar amongst the two surgical modalities (amputation versus limb salvage). Amputation rates are more amongst fungating soft tissue sarcoma but limb salvage can be attempted whenever feasible keeping tumor free surgical margins under consideration.

Bilobed PMMC in Females: Our Challenging yet Meritorious Experience.

The gold standard reconstructive options for full-thickness defect of the oral cavity after resection of malignant lesions are the free flaps. But in developing nations due to resource constraints, it cannot be offered to all. Hence, pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap as bilobed flaps is most commonly used. Bilobed flaps are technically demanding, and in females, it is more challenging due to higher complication rates especially in large breasts. There has been no major reported data evaluating outcomes of bilobed PMMC in females. This is a retrospective evaluation of outcomes of patients who underwent the bilobed PMMC flap reconstruction for full-thickness defect of the oral cavity after resection of malignant lesions from June 2018 to December 2019. Out of 80 patients, all patients ultimately had adequate tissue coverage for the defect with acceptable facial aesthetics. Functional outcomes with regards to oral continence, speech and swallowing were encouraging. Our study had 33.75% flap-related complications. Fifteen percent of patients developed varying degrees of flap loss, of which only 3.75% had total flap loss and 11.25% had partial flap loss which was managed accordingly. Our study concludes that with careful planning, raising of flap based on sound anatomic concepts and applying oncoplastic techniques, shortcomings of bilobed female PMMC can be addressed and still used as suitable alternatives for free flap for full-thickness oral cavity defects in limited resource settings.

Clinical and Oncological Outcome of Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma: A Single Institutional Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Chondroblastic osteosarcoma is an aggressive bone tumor characterized by chondroid matrix production with variable cellularity. This retrospective study is aimed to assess the demographic distribution, clinical behavior and oncological outcome of chondroblastic osteosarcoma. METHODS: 27 patients (14 males, 13 females) with chondroblastic osteosarcoma were included. The site of involvement included: proximal tibia (41%), distal femur (26%) and distal tibia (15%).The mean age of patients was 17 years (S.D: 6.9 years) (range 6-45 years). RESULTS: Painful swelling was the main complaint in all cases. Two patients were classified as Enneking III (lung) stage and the remaining patients had Enneking IIB stage. Post-neoadjuvant chemotherapy limb sparing surgery was performed in 70% of cases while in 30% of cases limb amputation was done. On histopathological examination of specimens mean necrosis was 64% (20-95%). Disease free survival (DFS) at 2 years was 46.4% and at 4 years was 27.9%. Median disease free survival was 24 ± 10.30 months. Overall survival (OS) at 2 years was 53.3% and at 4 years was 16.6%. Median overall survival is 28 ± 5.93 months. CONCLUSIONS: Chondroblastic osteosarcoma is associated with poor prognosis, high recurrence rate and metastatic potential with dismal long-term survival. Chondroblastic osteosarcoma is an aggressive histological variant of conventional osteosarcoma with frequent location around the knee joint, affecting young population. Chemotherapy with Methotrexate, Adriamycin, Cisplatin (MAP) regimen is a well-tolerated regimen, resulting in limb salvage surgery in majority of the cases.