Accelerated hypofractionated chemoradiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer during COVID 19 pandemic: A tertiary care experience.

Purpose: To assess the role of Accelerated Hypofractionated Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Head & Neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) during COVID 19 pandemic.

Materials And Methods: Previously untreated 20 patients with locally advanced HNSCC (Oral cavity/oropharynx/larynx/hypopharynx) were treated with definitive hypofractionated radiotherapy of 60Gy in 25 fractions with concurrent cisplatin @35 mg/m2 once weekly for 5 weeks from March 2020 to November 2021. The patients were treated on 6MV LINAC with Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) by the Sequential boost technique and concurrent chemotherapy @35 mg/m2.

Percutaneous high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy for non-resectable, chemo resistant malignant lesion of lung and liver.

Purpose: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of interstitial brachytherapy application for nonresectable and chemo-resistant malignant liver and lung lesions.

Materials And Methods: Percutaneous high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy (HDR ISBT) was applied in nine lesions of seven middle-aged patients with advanced carcinoma (five patients with liver lesion and two patients with lung lesion). All patients were surgically ineligible.

Role of benzydamine hydrochloride in the prevention of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy (>50 Gy) with or without chemotherapy.

Purpose: Benzydamine is recommended for prophylaxis of oral mucositis (OM) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients for radiation doses (<50 Gy). This study evaluates role of benzydamine for higher radiation doses (>50 Gy) with or without chemotherapy.

Methods: One hundred twenty patients of HNC with planned radiation doses of ≥60 Gy were randomized to group A (control radiotherapy alone), group B (study radiotherapy alone), group C (control chemoradiotherapy), or to group D (study chemoradiotherapy).