Prem Sagar

Compliance to Therapy—Elderly Head and Neck Carcinoma Patients

Background Treatment compliance of elderly patients to intensive multi-modality cancer therapy can be challenging and has not been adequately addressed in developing countries. The present study evaluated compliance of elderly head and neck carcinomas patients to cancer-directed therapy. Methods Forty-seven elderly HNSCC patients were evaluated in the present study. Patients were assessed as per stage and site of disease, general condition, performance status, and any pre-existing co-morbidities. Compliance was defined as patients who were able to complete cancer therapy as intended at primary clinic. Non-compliance to therapy was stratified as early, mid- and late-course non-compliance. Statistical analysis was done using STATA 9.1 software, chi-square/Fischer’s exact test to see strength of association between two categorical variables that could possibly affect compliance in elderly patients. Results Sixty-eight per cent of elderly patients were subjected to radical treatment, majority (42/47) presented in loco-regionally advanced stage (III–IV), most common site of malignancy was oropharynx (21/47). Sixty-two per cent of elderly HNSCC patients were compliance to cancer therapy. Median overall treatment time for patients subjected to radical radiation therapy was 52 (range 47–99) days, and for radical surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy was 109 (95–190) days. Compliance to therapy for elderly HNSCC patients was not significantly associated with advanced stage, poor general condition, intent of treatment or presence of co-morbidity. As regards to non-compliance, majority (14/18) of elderly patients showed mid-course treatment non-compliance. Conclusions Nearly two-thirds of elderly head and neck carcinoma patients were compliant to cancer-directed therapy.

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica: awareness is the key for diagnosis and management

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica is a rare airway disease of unknown aetiology. Due to overlapping symptomology and lack of awareness, the condition is often missed resulting in unnecessary medical or surgical treatment. A male patient presented with a long-standing history of hoarseness and had earlier received treatment for bronchial asthma and tuberculosis. On evaluation, he had typical submucosal calcified nodules distributed throughout the trachea sparing the posterior membranous part. Although the biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica in our case, histopathological examination is not always needed to make this diagnosis. Our patient has been kept under conservative management and is having non-progression of disease at 1-year follow-up. After having reviewed the literature related to pathophysiology and management of tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica, we emphasise on the fact that the treating physicians’ awareness about this condition is the key to its diagnosis and management.

Myxoma of the temporal bone: A rare neoplasm

Myxomas of the temporal bone are rare mesenchymal tumors. We present a case of a 16-year-old girl who presented with complaint of mass lesion protruding from the right ear canal and from behind the ear for last 2 years. Biopsy of the mass was suggestive of benign mesenchymal lesion with prominent myxoid changes. Radiology of the temporal bone showed soft tissue density involving right side external auditory canal, middle ear, mastoid antrum and both lobes of the parotid gland. Tumour excision along with total parotidectomy was performed. Postoperative histopatholgy was consistent with myxoma. The patient is on regular follow-up for last 5months with no recurrence till date. Temporal bone myxomas are rare neoplasms which are surgically treatable but have a strong tendency to recur, necessiating long-term follow-up.

Access to Round Window Niche via Posterior Tympanotomy and Impact of Drilling Its Overhangs: A Cadaveric Descriptive Study

We intended to study the morphological parameters of round window region and assess the gain in exposure achieved by drilling the round window niche overhang. The Exposure of the round window membrane (RWM) is of prime importance to carry out atraumatic electrode insertion for cochlear implantation. The anatomy of round window has been a subject of considerable debate in literature. Fifty-one Formalin preserved adult cadaveric temporal bones were micro-dissected to carry out an ‘optimal’ posterior tympanotomy to expose the round window region. The bony overhangs of round window niche (RWN) were next drilled to achieve maximal possible exposure the RWM without violating the annulus of the same. The exposure was classified as per St Thomas’ Hospital classification. The round window could not be visualized in 3 bones (5.9%). The commonest morphology of RWN was dome shaped, found in 18 (37.5%) and that of the RWM was oval shaped, found in 14 (29.2%) bones. Pre drilling 41 bones had a > 50% exposure of RWM while post drilling > 50% exposure could be achieved in all the bones except the 3 bones in which RWN could not be visualized to begin with. The drilling of the RWN overhangs exposed RWM in entirety in 91.7% of bones with a visible morphology of RWN pre drilling. RWN and RWM exhibit varied morphology. Drilling of the round window niche overhangs can considerably enhance the exposure of RWM.

Head and Neck Myxoma Presenting as Isolated Laryngeal Polyp

Myxoma is a benign tumour with a propensity for local infiltration and recurrence. Laryngeal myxoma presents as a submucosal polyp. Being an uncommon tumour and mimicking vocal cord polyp, only anecdotal evidence is available in the literature. The literature was reviewed from 1986 onwards using the keywords “myxoma” and “larynx.” The databases used were PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. Along with this, we also report our case of vocal fold myxoma. We found a total of 19 studies reporting laryngeal myxoma. Laryngeal myxoma typically affects males in the 6th decade with a history of smoking. Unlike myxomas originating outside the larynx, recurrence is not widely described, and microlaryngeal surgery will usually suffice. Laryngeal myxomas should definitely be kept in the list of differential diagnosis when dealing with a benign-looking vocal fold lesion.

“Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion” as a diagnostic and a prognostic indicator in olfactory neuroblastoma

The Bhagavad Gita is a sempiternal example of how cost: benefit, or risk: benefit, analysis is done, and then acted on. Similarly, while choosing strategies for screening, diagnosis, and management, one should assess both anticipated benefit, possible side effects, in an individualized, person centered manner. Mastery of this science, and art is our dharma (righteous duty), our karma (action), and our kriya (work). This will facilitate harmonious achievement of good karma (destiny).

Diplopia as a sequel of unilateral neck dissection

The purpose of this study was to discuss the underlying etiology of raised intracranial pressure and its sequel after unilateral internal jugular vein ligation. In addition, the management protocol for such rare cases has been discussed along with literature review.