The Spectrum of Histomorphological Changes and Pathological Tumor Response following Preoperative Oral Metronomic Chemotherapy in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Sithara AravindBackground Oral metronomic chemotherapy (OMCT) represents an emerging concept in cancer treatment involving frequent administration of chemotherapeutic drugs at doses below maximum tolerated doses and with no prolonged drug-free break. OMCT is being tried preoperatively in developing nations with constrained resources to prevent disease progression during the waiting period from diagnosis to surgery (bridge OMCT). The aim of the present study was to assess the spectrum of histomorphological changes and pathological tumor response following bridge OMCT in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to propose a new pathological response scoring system. Materials and Methods A retrospective single-center study comprised of tissue sections of tumor proper and metastatic lymph nodes of 50, locally advanced OSCC patients treated with bridge OMCT, and had completed definitive surgery were analyzed. The present study evaluated the histomorphological features and proposed a new scoring system for pathologic tumor response. The pathologic tumor response was categorized as complete response (pCR), no response (pNR), and partial response (pPR). Results Of the total 50 patients, 2 patients had pCR, 3 had pNR, and 45 patients had pPR as per the new proposed scoring system. Note that 96% of the cases showed no disease progression. Conclusion Bridge OMCT is a novel treatment method that can be used to tide over the waiting period between the diagnosis and surgery in resource-constrained institutions with heavy patient load. This mode of treatment in locally advanced OSCC seems to provide promising results in this setting. Large multicentric trials are warranted to confirm these results.

Tracheo Esophageal Prosthesis Insertion Under Endoscopic Guidance and Local Anaesthesia- Feasibility and Outcome.

OBJECTIVES: Voice rehabilitation after laryngectomy is by tracheo esophageal puncture (TEP) and prosthesis insertion. Secondary TEP is very difficult due to neck fibrosis. Puncture under local anaesthesia with endoscopy guidance is a feasible option. METHODS: Retrospective review of all laryngectomy patients from March 2009 till March 2019 was done and the methods of voice rehabilitation were assessed. The patients undergoing the procedure were classified according to the timing of insertion and type as primary insertion under general anaesthesia (Group P), secondary insertion under local anaesthesia (Group L), secondary insertion under general anaesthesia (Group G). The speech outcome and the procedure outcome were compared. RESULTS: There were 148 patients who underwent laryngectomy, of which groups P, G, L were 12, 12 and 11. The rate of successful insertion was 100% in primary, 91.6% in secondary in general anaesthesia and 91% in secondary under local anaesthesia. All secondary TEP were done after surgery and radiotherapy. Complications related to the insertion techniques were minimal. Speech outcome were similar on intelligibility rating scale and longevity was not affected by the method. CONCLUSION: TEP in local anaesthesia is feasible and has comparable outcome with TEP in general anaesthesia. Financial burden was very much less in group L compared to the other two groups.

Early Calcium Supplementation After Total Thyroidectomy Can Prevent Symptomatic Hypocalcemia - Findings from a Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: Thyroidectomy for thyroid cancers and central neck dissection are considered as independent predictors of postoperative hypocalcemia. Post-surgical hypocalcemia is the most common and often the most difficult long-term consequence of thyroid surgeries. Management of hypocalcemia is done with calcium supplementation, but there is no consensus on the timing and the amount of calcium supplementation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of all thyroid cancer patients who underwent total thyroidectomy at our Centre, from August 2009 to August 2017 was done to evaluate the prevalence of symptomatic hypocalcemia. The patients were grouped into two based on the early and late supplementation of calcium in the form of intravenous calcium gluconate and oral calcium with calcitriol. RESULTS: There were 133 patients of which 109 had papillary carcinoma, 11 had follicular, 3 had hurthle cell and 10 had medullary carcinoma. Of these, 49.6% underwent total thyroidectomy alone and the rest with neck dissection. 38 patients (28.6%) had a unilateral neck dissection and 16 patients (12%) had a bilateral neck dissection. 14 out of the 67 patients (20.9%) who underwent neck dissection developed symptomatic hypocalcaemia, in contrast to only 2 patients out of the 66 (3%) without neck dissection. 31.7% of lateral neck dissection and 7.7% of central compartment dissection had symptomatic hypocalcaemia (p value = 0.0053). 22.5% of patients whose parathyroid were not identified had more symptomatic hypocalcaemia than in whom at least one parathyroid gland was seen (p value=0.0004). Eleven out of 73 patients (15.1%) who were treated late with calcium and calcitriol, and one out of 60 (1.7%) who had early calcium supplementation developed symptoms (p value=0.0073). CONCLUSION: Central compartment and lateral neck dissection were significantly associated with higher incidence of symptomatic hypocalcemia. Early intervention with calcium supplementation reduced the symptoms of hypocalcemia. Identification and preservation of parathyroid glands significantly reduces the hypocalcemia.

Improved survival among oral cancer patients: findings from a retrospective study at a tertiary care cancer centre in rural Kerala, India.

BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is very common in India. The reported 5-year survival of such patients is around 50% after treatment with surgery and radiotherapy, much lower than most of the developed countries. METHODS: A retrospective study of a prospective database of oral cancer patients undergoing surgery from June 2009 to June 2013 was conducted. Follow-up details were updated from case records and by phone calls. Data were double entered in EpiData Entry version 3.1 and were analysed using EpiData Analysis software 2.1.0.73. RESULTS: Two-hundred and twenty patients were analysed (136 males); 85% were consuming tobacco, mainly in chewable form. The majority (51.1%) had tongue cancer, of whom 75 patients (34.1%) had T4 tumours. Postoperative radiotherapy was given to 108 patients (49.1%). Forty had recurrence, of which 23 were in early stage. Of these, 19 showed node positivity (p < 0.01). Node-negative patients had 79% 5-year survival while node positive had 59% which is comparable to that reported in developed countries. Median disease-free survival duration was 48.2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Node positivity is the single factor affecting recurrence and survival. The overall survival and disease-free survival is better in patients without lymph node involvement and in patients with early stage of cancer as compared to the patients with node involvement and in advanced stages.