Peer Review in Radiation Oncology: Where Does the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye Region Stand?

Purpose: This study aims to assess the status of radiation oncology peer review procedures across the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT) region.

Methods: A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted among radiotherapy centers in the MENAT region in March 2024. It assessed peer review practices, departmental demographics, perceived importance of peer review, and potential barriers.

Prostate Cancer Awareness in the Middle East: A Cross-Sectional International Study.

Purpose: Prostate cancer has emerged as a significant public health challenge in the Middle East, characterized by rising incidence rates and a concerning mortality-to-incidence ratio. Yet, despite these alarming trends, data regarding prostate cancer awareness in the region remain limited. To address this critical knowledge gap, this study investigates prostate cancer awareness within the Middle East.

An Overview of Appropriate Medical Practice and Preparedness in Radiation Emergency Response.

Radiation emergencies involving high doses of nuclear radiation pose significant risks from exposure to ionizing radiation in various scenarios. These situations include transportation accidents involving radioactive materials, occupational exposure, nuclear detonations, dirty bombs, and nuclear power plant accidents. In addition to the immediate risks of acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and related diseases, long-term exposure can increase the risk of other health issues such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage as a rare delayed complication of radiation therapy in a patient with parotid basaloid squamous cell carcinoma.

In this case report, we address a rare entity of parotid cancer: basaloid squamous cell carcinoma, which was surgically unresectable and had thus far only been treated with radiation therapy. Following twenty years of continuous remission, our patient presented with an acute perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage. The cause of the acute perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage was a delayed complication of radiation therapy.

Prostate cancer presentation and management in the Middle East.

Background: Although prostate cancer is a prevalent malignancy worldwide, its clinical presentation and management in the Middle East are not well-documented. This study aims to provide insights into the initial clinical presentation and management of prostate cancer in this region.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on seven institutional databases from six Middle Eastern countries, including Türkiye, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, and Jordan, to identify patients diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021.

Intensifying the Hormonal and Radiation Treatment in Prostate Cancer Presenting With Bulky Pelvic Lymph Nodes: An Opportunity for a New Paradigm.

Locally advanced prostate cancer may rarely present with bulky pelvic lymph nodes without distant metastasis. Patients may be treated with curative intent. Dual hormonal therapy including luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist in combination with abiraterone or enzalutamide can be utilized neoadjuvantly to shrink bulky disease.

Cancer Research in Vulnerable Populations: A Call for Collaboration and Sustainability From MENAT Countries.

Purpose: Cancer is a major burden across Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye (MENAT). Many MENAT countries experience multiple conflicts that compound vulnerabilities, but little research investigates the linkages between vulnerability and cancer research. This study examines the current level and the potential for cancer research among vulnerable populations in the MENAT region, aiming to provide direction toward developing a research agenda on the region's vulnerable populations.

Burden of prostate cancer in the Middle East: A comparative analysis based on global cancer observatory data.

Background: Prostate cancer represents a significant global health issue, yet our understanding of its impact in the Middle East remains limited. This study aimed to assess the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer in the Middle East, and compare these rates to those in Europe and North America.

Materials And Methods: We utilized the 2020 Global Cancer Observatory data, compiling incidence and mortality rates of prostate cancer in 20 Middle Eastern countries.

Redefining Cancer Research Priorities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries in the Post-COVID-19 Global Context: A Modified Delphi Consensus Process.

Purpose: The post-COVID-19 funding landscape for cancer research globally has become increasingly challenging, particularly in resource-challenged regions (RCRs) lacking strong research ecosystems. We aimed to produce a list of priority areas for cancer research in countries with limited resources, informed by researchers and patients.

Methods: Cancer experts in lower-resource health care systems (as defined by the World Bank as low- and middle-income countries; N = 151) were contacted to participate in a modified consensus-seeking Delphi survey, comprising two rounds.

68Ga-DOTA-peptide PET/CT for radiotherapy planning and evaluating treatment response in the management of meningiomas.

Meningiomas overexpress somatostatin receptors (SSTR). PET imaging with SSTR ligands such as 68Ga-DOTA-peptide has recently shown high diagnostic accuracy in identification of meningiomas due to lack of normal bone and brain activity. PET-derived parameters, especially gross tumour volume (GTV) delineation improves inter-observer variability and appears to be particularly promising for RT planning.

War and oncology: cancer care in five Iraqi provinces impacted by the ISIL conflict.

War and cancer have been intertwined in Iraq for over three decades, a country where the legacies and ongoing impacts of conflict have been commonly associated with both increased cancer rates as well as the deterioration of cancer care. Most recently, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) violently occupied large portions of the country's central and northern provinces between 2014 and 2017, causing devastating impacts on public cancer centers across central and northern Iraq. Focusing on the five Iraqi provinces previously under full or partial ISIL occupation, this article examines the immediate and long-term impacts of war on cancer care across three periods (before, during, and after the ISIL conflict).

Is Using Closed Incision Negative Pressure Therapy in Reconstructive and Oncoplastic Breast Surgery Helpful in Reducing Skin Necrosis?

Introduction Skin necrosis is a major concern of morbidity in patients undergoing reconstructive and oncoplastic breast surgery (ROBS) as it may lead to a poor aesthetic outcome, necessitate further surgery, and delay adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy if required postoperatively. Some studies have reported that closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) immediately after surgery can reduce the incidence of wound complications. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of ciNPT on skin necrosis rate after ROBS.

Retraction: Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia With Stereotactic Radiosurgery Improved Symptoms of Morbihan Syndrome.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20774.

Evaluating Pain Management Practices for Cancer Patients among Health Professionals: A Global Survey.

Cancer incidence in the world is predicted to increase in the next decade. While progress has been in diagnosis and treatment, much still remains to be done to improve cancer pain therapy, mainly in underserved communities in low-income countries. To determine knowledge, beliefs, and barriers regarding pain management in both high- and low-income countries (according to the WHO classification); and to learn about ways to improve the current state of affairs.

Cancer Burden Among Arab World Males in 2020: The Need for a Better Approach to Improve Outcome.

Purpose: Cancer is a leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. This work aims to study the Arab world males' cancers (AMCs) and the similarities and disparities with the world males' cancers (WMCs) from different burden points of view.

Materials And Methods: A descriptive review of the 2020 Global Cancer Observatory revealed AMCs compared with the 2020 WMCs and the 2018 AMCs.

Cancer Burden Among Arab-World Females in 2020: Working Toward Improving Outcomes.

Purpose: Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This work presents the Arab-world females' cancers (AFCs) statistics in 2020, compared with the 2018 AFCs statistics, the Arab-world male cancers statistics, and the world females' cancers (WFCs) statistics in 2020. This can help set the stage for a better policy for cancer control programs and improve outcomes.

Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia With Stereotactic Radiosurgery Improved Symptoms of Morbihan Syndrome.

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a neuropathic pain disorder characterized by paroxysmal pain in the maxillary and mandibular regions of the face. Morbihan syndrome is a disease that classically presents with dermatologic findings, including progressive facial edema and erythema. There are no previous reports of the onset of trigeminal neuralgia with Morbihan syndrome or previous reports describing improvement in symptoms of Morbihan syndrome with treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.

Similarities and disparities in cancer burden among Arab world females.

Introduction: Cancer is the leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. This work aims to study the Arab-world females' cancers (AFCs), the similarities and disparities from epidemiological, economic and development-indices points of view.

Materials And Methods: Descriptive - Analytical review of the 2018 Global Cancer Observatory concerning AFCs.

National approaches to managing cancer care: responses of countries in the MENA region to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents serious challenges to cancer care because of the associated risks from the infection itself and the disruption of care delivery. Therefore, many professional societies have published recommendations to help manage patients with cancer during the current pandemic. The objective of our study is to assess the national responses of Middle East North Africa (MENA) countries in terms of publishing relevant guidelines and analyse various components of these guidelines.

Brain Metastasis from Breast Cancer: risk factors and radiotherapy perspective from a tertiary Middle Eastern facility.

Backgrounds: Breast cancer represents the second most frequent cause of brain metastases after lung cancer. Previous studies have identified the subgroups of patients with triple-negative and HER2-positive as having an increased risk for the development of brain metastases. We are not aware in Kurdistan - Iraq of any national studies that are in parallel with these findings.