Giant cell tumor of femur with single pulmonary metastasis - yet another curative oligometastasis.

Giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) is a benign tumor of bone that is known to be locally aggressive rarely metastasizing to distant sites, most commonly to the lungs. The reported pulmonary metastasis incidence is 1 - 9%. We report a case of GCT with solitary pulmonary metastasis who had significant clinical benefit and disease control with sequential application of surgical resection of pulmonary metastasis, local external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), and systemic Denosumab.

Induction chemotherapy in head and neck cancer - Boon or bane?

Introduction: Although concurrent chemoradiotherapy is the standard of care for inoperable locally advanced head and neck cancer, induction chemotherapy is considered an alternative approach by head and neck oncologists worldwide.

Aims: To evaluate the response to induction chemotherapy in terms of loco-regional control and treatment-related toxicity in inoperable locally advanced head and neck cancer patients.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was conducted on patients who received two to three cycles of induction chemotherapy.

Early detection of isolated pleural metastasis from carcinoma pyriform fossa: Can it be steered away from doom?

Isolated pleural metastasis from carcinoma of the pyriform fossa is a rare phenomenon. Literature search revealed pleural metastasis from head-and-neck cancer is in itself rare and carries a grave prognosis. Isolated pleural metastasis with local control in the primary and regional site with no other documented distant metastatic disease is again rarely encountered.

Maxillary reservoir denture to overcome radiation-induced xerostomia - Light at the end of the tunnel.

Xerostomia is a subjective symptom of dry mouth. It can occur as a part of the systemic disease, drug-induced side effect, or following therapeutic radiation therapy to the head-and-neck region. The primary complication faced by these xerostomic patients is the difficulty in retention of removable dentures.

Adjuvant Radiation Therapy and Temozolomide in Gliosarcoma: Is It Enough? Case Series of Seven Patients.

Objective: We present our experience of gliosarcoma (GSM) in oncology tertiary care center over the last 5 years.

Materials And Methods: We carried out a retrospective analysis of seven patients with GSM diagnosed between April 2008 and December 2012. Demographic data, clinicopathological data, treatment strategies employed, details of recurrence, and survival patterns were reviewed.

Pattern of Gustatory Impairment and its Recovery after Head and Neck Irradiation.

Introduction: The majority of patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy frequently complain of changes in their taste perception, and other distressing symptoms affecting their quality of life. This study was undertaken to determine the pattern of gustatory impairment and its recovery in irradiated head and neck cancer patients in India.

Materials And Methods: Thirty patients undergoing radical head and neck irradiation were enrolled and assessed for the four basic taste quality (sweet, salt, sour and bitter) by a forced three-choice stimulus drop technique measuring their taste recognition thresholds at baseline, weekly during radiation therapy (RT) and every month for 6 months following completion of RT.

Multiple Extramedullary Plasmacytoma in a Setting of Complete Bone Marrow Remission: Food for Thought.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma as a mode of relapse in multiple myeloma (MM) is unusual. Current recommendations do not incorporate the routine use of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) imaging prior to haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in MM. We report a case of relapsed MM with complete remission as per IMWG criteria.

Variegated Colors of Pediatric Glioblastoma Multiforme: What to Expect?

Malignant gliomas account for 35-45% of primary brain tumors; among these glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common adult brain tumor constituting approximately 85%. Its incidence is quite less in the pediatric population and treatment of these patients is particularly challenging. Exposure to ionizing radiation is the only environmental factor found to have any significant association with GBM.

Survival of Triple Negative versus Triple Positive Breast Cancers: Comparison and Contrast.

Background: Triple negative (TN) and triple positive (TP) breast cancers both are aggressive types but TN generally has a shorter survival.

Objectives: To compare the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes for patients with TN versus TP breast cancer and to assess various prognostic factors affecting overall survival.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective audit of 85 breast cancer patients was conducted in the Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology on patients from 2006 to 2013 for whom IHC for ER, PgR and Her-2 neu were available.

Are Biomarkers Predictive of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction?

Background: The early detection of anthracycline- induced cardiotoxicity is very important since it might be useful in prevention of cardiac decompensation. This study was designed with the intent of assessing the usefulness of cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and NT- Pro BNP estimation in early prediction of anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study histologically proven breast cancer patients who were scheduled to receive anthracycline containing combination chemotherapy as a part of multimodality treatment were enrolled.

Three Weekly Versus Weekly Cisplatin as Radiosensitizer in Head and Neck Cancer: a Decision Dilemma.

Cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiation plays an undisputed key role as definitive treatment in unresectable patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma head and neck or as an organ preservation strategy. Treatment with 100 mg/m2 3-weekly cisplatin is considered the standard of care but is often associated with several adverse events. The optimum drug schedule of administration remains to be defined and presently, there is insufficient data limiting conclusions about the relative tolerability of one regimen over the other.