Impact of Screening Programs on Stage Migration in Breast Cancer.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading malignancy globally with consequent morbidity, mortality and burden on health care resources when diagnosed at an advance stage. Early-stage diagnosis is crucial to the better outcome. Screening is pivotal to early detection at an early stage.

COVID-19 amongst cancer patients: An experience from Oman.

Objective: To evaluate the extent of coronavirus infection in cancer patients along with their demographics, laboratory findings and outcomes in a tertiary care setting.

Methods: The study was conducted in Muscat, Oman, from March 24 to October 23, 2020. The data was collected from the cancer registry of the Directorate-General of Non-Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health, Oman.

Clinicopathological Features and Outcomes of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours in Oman: A multi-centre study.

Objectives: This study aimed to report the clinicopathological features, management and long-term outcomes of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) in Oman.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients treated for GIST between January 2003 and December 2017 at three tertiary referral centres in Muscat, Oman. All patients with confirmed histopathological diagnoses of GIST and followed-up at the centres during this period were included.

The Need for Regulatory Reforms in the Use of Opioids for Pain Management and Palliative Care in the Middle East.

Palliative Care (PC) is an evolving oncology subspecialty in the Middle East (ME). Justified opioid use is an integral part of palliative care. Often, morphine consumption is taken as a quality indicator of palliative care services, but is it a reliable indicator to reflect the status of palliative care in current Middle East setting? We need to understand that data on morphine consumption, represent the amount distributed of morphine per person in a country and does not refer the actual justified amount utilization of opioids.

Breast cancer in a patient with Kindlers syndrome.

Breast Cancer (BC) has associated risk factors and genetic factors like BRCA1, and BRCA2. Many benign and malignant disease processes are found concurrently with BC and believed to be additional risk factors like gall bladder stones (cholelithiasis), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular lesions, arthritis, spine and spinal cord degenerative lesions, infertility, depression, sleep disturbances, obesity, autoimmune diseases (SLE), and thyroid diseases. There are some malignant disease associations like synchronous or metachronous ovarian, colonic and endometrial tumours with Breast cancer.

Are we prepared to implement a Lean philosophy within cancer-care service in Oman?

Lean, as it applies to business, has come to signify simplicity, swift response, and efficiency. The concept is to do more with less; namely, to use resources in the most productive way possible through the elimination of all types of waste. The Lean approach can be applied to any field, including healthcare, in which the exponential growth of costs is widespread.

High Occurrence of Non-Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma in Oman.

It is conventionally accepted that renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occurs in older patients and the clear cell type is the most common histology. However, ethnic variations exist and this study was carried out to determine the epidemiological pattern of RCC in Oman. Ninety RCC patients who presented to a tertiary care center in the Sultanate of Oman from 2010 to 2014 were studied.

Utilization of systemic palliative chemotherapy at the end of life: a local experience.

Objective: To evaluate attitude towards using systemic chemotherapy near the end of life for cancer patients.

Methods: This retrospective study comprised data of all patients who died with cancer at the Medical Oncology Department of the National Oncology Centre, Muscat, Oman, from January 2009 to December 2011. The records were retrieved from the electronic patient record system of ALSHIFA, Royal Hospital.

Age at diagnosis of female breast cancer in Oman: Issues and implications.

Introduction: Female breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent malignancy diagnosed globally, about 23% of the diagnosed cancers. BC incidence varies geographically, highest in Western Europe and lowest in Africa. BC in females is strongly correlated to age, the highest incidence rate amongst older women reinforcing the importance of hormonal status.

Be a true listener, rather than a good conversationalist.

Oncology patient care is an ever evolving field both as a science and a clinical art. We evaluate, diagnose, and treat cancer patients daily. We break the bad and the good news to them.

Chemotherapy-induced neutropenic necrotizing enterocolitis: a review.

Neutropenia is a common toxicity of systemic cytotoxic therapy. Neutropenic enterocolitis (NE) is a rare occurrence but can be fatal, subsequent to neutropenia. The exact incidence and frequency is difficult to establish, but is usually underestimated.

Aromatase inhibitors--a viable option for recurrent granulosa cell tumour of ovary: overview and case report.

Granulosa cell tumour of the ovary in adults is a rare tumour of low malignant potential affecting middle aged peri or post menopausal patients. These tumours are often diagnosed at an early stage, due to their hormonally active nature. They, however, have unique distinguishing histologic features and behaviour of frequent and late local or systemic relapses.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented as cavernous sinus tumour.

A 32 year Libyan male presented with the complaints of headache and diplopia. He was diagnosed with a cavernous sinus meningioma on the basis of MRI findings but no initial biopsy was taken. Depending on the radiologic diagnosis the patient was treated with gamma knife surgery twice, abroad.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma of scrotal skin.

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) is an uncommon diverse group of lympho-proliferative disorders involving the skin. They vary considerably in clinical presentation, microscopic features and immunophenotyping. The diagnosis is challenging, zealous, and often not easy.

Synchronous and metachronous malignant tumours expect the unexpected.

Objective: To evaluate occurrence of synchronous and metachronous malignant tumours, to find tumour types, age group, and relationship to treatment received.

Methods: Previously diagnosed 1st primary tumour cases experiencing a synchronous or metachronous tumour, seen at AOI from February 2003 to August 2009 (78 months) were included. The cases were analyzed for morphology/histology of 1st primary tumour, age and gender of patient, treatment received for first tumour, time interval between the 1st and 2nd primary tumour, morphology/histology of second tumour, and the treatment conferred for 2nd tumour.

Role of ursodeoxycholic acid in lowering ALT in chronic liver disease.

The objective was to see the efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid in improving the ALT levels in patients suffering from chronic liver disease. Thirty patients suffering from chronic liver disease (either B or C) were given oral ursodeoxycholic acid in a dose of 250 mg twice a day for 4 months. Their blood biochemistry and haematology were repeated monthly for 7 months i.