Mutahir A. Tunio

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid: a case report and review of literature

BackgroundThyroid gland lacks squamous epithelium (except in some rare situations like embroyonic remnants or in inflammatory processes); for that reason the primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of thyroid is extremely rare entity, seen only in less than 1% of all thyroid malignancies and is considered almost fatal. So, far, only few case reports have been published in literature.Case presentationHerein we present a 54 years old Saudi female with 3 months history of progressive neck swelling and hoarse voice, who was referred to us by her primary care physician as suspected case of anaplastic carcinoma of thyroid for radical external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Fine Needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Computed tomography (CT) neck showed 10 × 10 cm mass in left lobe of thyroid invading trachea and skin. Extensive staging work up ruled out the possibility of any primary site of SCC other than thyroid gland. Tumor was found unresectable and was referred to radiation oncology. She received palliative EBRT 30 Gy in 10 fractions. After completion of EBRT, there was progression of disease and patient died 3 months after completion of EBRT by airway compromise.ConclusionPrimary SCC of thyroid is rare and aggressive entity. FNAC is reliable and effective tool for immediate diagnosis. Surgery is a curative option, but it is not always possible as most of cases present as locally advanced with adjacent organs involvement. EBRT alone was found ineffective. Aggressive combined modality (debulking surgery, radiation and chemotherapy) shall be considered for such cases.

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction following radioactive iodine 131 therapy in differentiated thyroid cancers: review of 19 cases

Background Radioactive iodine 131 (131I) therapy has long been used in the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC). While salivary and lacrimal glandular complications secondary to 131I therapy are well documented, there is little in the literature addressing nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). We aimed to evaluate the frequency of 131I therapy-acquired NLDO, its correlation to 131I therapy doses, and the surgical treatment outcome of this rare side effect. Methods From 2000–2012, a retrospective review of 864 among 1,192 patients with confirmed DTC who were treated with 131I therapy was performed to examine the frequency of NLDO, its causative factors, as well as imaging, surgical intervention, and outcomes. Results Nineteen (2.2%) patients were identified with NLDO. The mean age was 51.9±10.5 years (range: 39–72 years). Fifteen (78.9%) were female and four were male (21.1%). The mean individual 131I doses were 311.1±169.3 millicurie (mCi) (range: 150–600 mCi). The mean duration between the date of 131I therapy and the occurrence of NLDO was 11.6±4.1 months (range: 6.5–20). Fourteen (73.7%) patients had bilateral epiphora. Computed tomography dacryography allowed for the detection of all NLDO. Eighteen (94.7%) patients underwent dacryocystorhinostomy. Complete recovery was obtained in 14 (73.7%) patients. Age >45 years and 131I therapy doses >150 mCi were significantly correlated with NLDO (P=0.02 and P=0.03, respectively). Conclusion NLDO is an underestimated complication of 131I therapy in DTC patients. Clinicians should be aware of this rare complication for prompt intervention.

Skull base metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma: a report of three cases

Skull base metastasis from differentiated thyroid carcinoma, including papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma, is a rare manifestation. Herein, we present three cases of skull base metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. The mean age of the patients was 68.6 (65–74) years, and the mean interval between initial diagnosis and skull base metastasis was 56.3 (28–89) months. Cranial nerve palsies were seen in all patients. Intensity modulated radiation therapy to deliver 6,000–6,600 cGy to the skull base metastasis was given to all patients, in addition to partial resection in one patient. At the time of last follow-up, all skull base metastases were well controlled.

Steroid-Resistant Extranodal Rosai-Dorfman Disease of Cheek Mass and Ptosis Treated with Radiation Therapy

Background. Rosai-Dorfman Disease (RDD) is rare benign hematologic disorder of histiocytes, which usually manifests as painless lymphadenopathy, fever, leukocytosis and hypergammaglobulinemia. Extranodal RDD has been reported in 43% of cases, with skin as commonly involved site followed by head and neck region. However, soft tissue cheek mass is rare presentation of extra-nodal RDD. Case Presentation. A 26-year-old Saudi man presented with a six-month history of right cheek swelling and left upper eyelid swelling. Physical examination revealed right cheek mass of size 3 × 3 cm and left upper eyelid mass of size 1 × 2 cm and no palpable cervical lymphadenopathy. Incisional biopsy of cheek mass showed positivity for S100 and negativity for CD1a, consistent with extra-nodal RDD. Patient did not respond to systemic steroids and was given radiation therapy to left orbit with minimal response. Then, he was started on chemotherapy Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone (RCVP) 8 cycles followed by reirradiation 10 Gy in 10 fractions with 6 MeV electron with complete response. After 12 months of followup, patient had recurrence in right cheek and was started on radiotherapy to the cheek mass. Conclusion. Extra-nodal RDD with involvement of cheek is a rare presentation. Incorporation of S100 and CD1a is helpful in diagnoses of RDD and differentiating it from other benign histiocytosis. Treatment consists of surgery, steroids, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Duodenal metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma: A rare cause of melena

Highlights • Duodenal metastasis.• Melena and microcytic anemia.• Lung carcinoma.

Is extended-field concurrent chemoradiation an option for radiologic negative paraaortic lymph node, locally advanced cervical cancer?

Background The aim was to evaluate whether extended-field concurrent chemoradiation (EF-CCRT) leads to results better than those obtained by standard whole-pelvis concurrent chemoradiation (WP-CCRT) in locally advanced cervical cancer with radiologic negative paraaortic lymph nodes (PALNs). Patients and methods A total of 102 patients with histopathologically proven squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, or adenosquamous cell carcinoma, and radiologic negative PALN locally advanced cervical cancer, stage IIB-IVA, were accrued between July 2007 and April 2008 and were randomly assigned to WP-CCRT (50 patients) or EF-CCRT (52 patients), followed by high-dose rate brachytherapy. Data regarding the safety profile, response rates, and occurrence of local, PALN, or distant failure were recorded. Results During a median follow-up time of 60 months (18–66), 74/102 patients completed the treatment protocol and were analyzed. Overall PALN, distant-metastasis control, disease-free survival, and overall survival rates were 97.1%, 86.9%, 80.3%, and 72.4% in EF-CCRT respectively in comparison with WP-CCRT (82.1%,74.7%, 69.1%, and 60.4%), with P-values of 0.02, 0.03, 0.03 and 0.04 respectively. No difference in acute toxicity profile was seen between the groups, and late toxicities were mild and minimal. Conclusion Prophylactic EF-CCRT can be a reasonable option in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer with radiologic positive pelvic lymph nodes and radiologic negative PALN.

Correlation of pretreatment hemoglobin and platelet counts with clinicopathological features in colorectal cancer in Saudi population.

Background/Aims: In Saudi Arabia, colorectal cancers (CRCs) are registered as the second most common cancers. However, no data has been reported about correlation of the severity of the anemia and pretreatment platelets level with clinicopathological features of CRCs. We aimed to evaluate the association between pretreatment hemoglobin and platelets level and the clinicopathological features of CRC patients in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Between September 2005 and November 2011, One hundred and fifty-four confirmed CRC patients underwent thorough physical examination, blood investigations, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and computed tomography (CT) for staging before surgery. Findings of physical assessment, EUS, CT, and pathological specimens were correlated with pretreatment hemoglobin and platelets levels the Pearson-Kendall tau correlative coefficients. Results: The mean age of cohort was 56.6 years (range: 26-89). Left-sided CRC were predominant (97 patients; 63%). Mean size of primary tumor was 6 cms (1-18) SD ± 3.55. Mean values of hemoglobin, red blood cells, hematocrit, white blood cells, and platelets were 11.9 SD ± 2.3, 35.5 SD ± 5.7, 4.43 × 106/mL SD ± 0.6, 7.67 106/mL SD ± 2.44, and 343 × 103/mL SD ± 164.4, respectively. Pretreatment hemoglobin was inversely correlated with primary tumor size (R: 0.71, R2: 1.55, P = 0.0001) and nodal status (R: 0.02, R2: 0.05, P = 0.01). Right-sided CRC had significantly low pretreatment hemoglobin levels (P = 0.001). Interestingly, pretreatment thrombocytosis was seen only in right-sided CRC (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: Pretreatment anemia and thrombocytosis were found mainly in right-sided CRCs and advanced primary and nodal stages. Pretreatment hemoglobin and thrombocytosis can be considered as useful prognostic markers in CRC patients.

Pancreas as delayed site of metastasis from papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Introduction. Follicular variant (FV) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has aggressive biologic behavior as compared to classic variant (CV) of PTC and frequently metastasizes to the lungs and bones. However, metastasis to the pancreas is extremely rare manifestation of FV-PTC. To date, only 9 cases of PTC have been reported in the literature. Pancreatic metastases from PTC usually remain asymptomatic or manifest as repeated abdominal aches. Associated obstructive jaundice is rare. Prognosis is variable with reported median survival from 16 to 46 months. Case Presentation. Herein we present a 67-year-old Saudi woman, who developed pancreatic metastases seven years after total thyroidectomy and neck dissection followed by radioactive iodine ablation (RAI) for FV-PTC. Metastasectomy was performed by pancreaticoduodenectomy followed by sorafenib as genetic testing revealed a BRAF V600E mutation. She survived 32 months after the pancreatic metastasis diagnosis. Conclusion. Pancreatic metastases are rare manifestation of FV-PTC and are usually sign of extensive disease and conventional diagnostic tools may remain to reach the diagnosis.

Comparative efficacy, tolerability, and survival outcomes of various radiopharmaceuticals in castration-resistant prostate cancer with bone metastasis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the impact of radiopharmaceuticals (RPs) in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) on pain control, symptomatic skeletal events (SSEs), toxicity profile, quality of life (QoL), and overall survival (OS). Materials and methods The PubMed/MEDLINE, CANCERLIT, EMBASE, Cochrane Library database, and other search engines were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing RPs with control (placebo or radiation therapy) in metastatic CRPC. Data were extracted and assessed for the risk of bias (Cochrane’s risk of bias tool). Pooled data were expressed as odds ratio (OR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs; Mantel–Haenszel fixed-effects model). Results Eight RCTs with a total patient population of 1,877 patients were identified. The use of RP was associated with significant reduction in pain intensity and SSE (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.51–0.78, I2=27%, P,0.0001), improved QoL (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.55–0.91, I2=65%, three trials, 1,178 patients, P=0.006), and a minimal improved OS (OR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.64–1.04, I2=47%, seven trials, 1,845 patients, P=0.11). A subgroup analysis suggested an improved OS with radium-223 (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.51–0.90, one trial, 921 patients) and strontium-89 (OR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05–0.91, one trial, 49 patients). Strontium-89 (five trials) was associated with increased rates of grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia (OR: 4.26, 95% CI: 2.22–8.18, P=0.01), leucopenia (OR: 7.98, 95% CI: 1.82–34.95, P=0.02), pain flare (OR: 6.82, 95% CI: 3.42–13.55, P=0.04), and emesis (OR: 3.61, 95% CI: 1.76–7.40, P=0.02). Conclusion The use of RPs was associated with significant reduction in SSEs and improved QoL, while the radium-223-related OS benefit warrants further large, RCTs in docetaxel naive metastatic CRPC patients.

Uterine Cervix Metastasis as an Initial Manifestation of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has unpredictable and diverse behaviour. The classic triad of hematuria, loin pain and abdominal mass is uncommon at time of presentation. About 25%-30% of patients are found to have metastases at the time of diagnosis. Bones, lungs, liver and brain are the frequent sites of metastases. RCC with metastasis to the cervix uteri is rarest manifestation and only four case reports have been published so far. Case Presentation: Herein we present a case of 70 year old Saudi female presenting with 4 months history of vaginal bleeding and weight loss. Her past medical history revealed left sided radical nephroectomy for RCC. She had no other co-morbidities. On physical examination, she was found emaciated and per vaginal examination showed fragile fungating mass of cervix. The punch biopsy of cervical mass confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic RCC. Further, staging workup showed bilateral pulmonary metastasis. She was given palliative Radiotherapy 30 Gy in 10 fractions followed by Sunitinib 50 mg oral daily, but patient died of progressive disease 4 months of palliative radiotherapy. Conclusion: Metastatic RCC to cervix uteri is very rare manifestation. The physicians should consider metastasis from another primary as the differential diagnosis in order to plan optimal treatment. Reported treatment is radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs). Patients who are not candidate for surgery; radiotherapy and TKIs is a reasonable option.