An inexpensive reconstruction method after resection in tumors of the proximal humerus with extensive involvement of the diaphysis

Limb salvage is now the norm for a large majority of malignant bone tumors. The proximal humerus is the third most common site for the occurrence of malignant tumors of bone. In tumors of the proximal humerus with large volume disease, extensive involvement of the diaphysis is not infrequent. Resection may often extend as far as the distal metaphysis in order to obtain adequate oncologic margins. A very small distal stump of bone poses unique challenges in reconstruction where conventional reconstruction modalities may be difficult to apply. We describe the use of a customised plate to reconstruct these defects which offers an inexpensive, easy to use, durable reconstruction option. It provides adequate shoulder and arm stability and ensures excellent hand and elbow motion with good functional results

A rare case of multifocal pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma, involving soft tissues and bone, misdiagnosed as a rhabdomyosarcoma: Diagnostic and treatment implications

Pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma (PHE) is an uncommon, but distinctive soft tissue tumor, characterized by multifocality. A 17-year-old male referred to us with progressively increasing multiple subcutaneous nodular lesions over his left leg and foot, reported elsewhere as a spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma. On review, microscopy showed a cellular tumor comprising plump spindle cells arranged in loose fascicles with interspersed inflammatory cells. Tumor cells exhibited mild nuclear variation. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells expressed AE1/AE3, CD31, Fli-1, and smooth muscle actin (SMA), confirming diagnosis of PHE. Whole-body positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT) scan revealed multiple, metabolically active, subcutaneous nodular lesions over the left lower leg and in the distal tibia. Subsequently, resection specimens from the various lesions and bone curettage also revealed features of PHE. Three months later, the patient developed multiple lesions over his fourth toe and left foot, for which he underwent tumor resections. At present, he is disease-free. PHE is a locally aggressive soft tissue tumor characterized by multifocality, rarely bony involvement and can be misdiagnosed as a high-grade sarcoma

Does Reconstruction with Reimplantation of Sterilized Tumor Bone Provide Survival Benefit in Diaphyseal Osteosarcoma?

Does reimplantation of sterilized tumor bone for reconstruction provide outcome benefits in intercalary osteosarcoma based on the potential immunogenic effect of reimplanted sterilized tumor tissue? Of 720 cases of surgically treated high-grade osteosarcoma patients treated at our institute from 2006 to 2013, 61 had predominantly diaphyseal disease. All patients were nonmetastatic at presentation. Patient and tumor characteristics, treatment details, and local recurrence-free, metastasis-free, and overall survival were compared for 24 patients who had reconstruction with sterilized tumor bone reimplantation vs 37 who did not. Both the groups were well matched in terms of baseline characteristics. Means were compared with the t-test, proportions with the chi-square test, and survival with the log-rank test. The Kaplan‐Meier method was used to construct time to event curves. Cox proportional hazard regression modeling was employed for multivariate time to event analysis. Twenty-two had extracorporeal radiation and reimplantation (ECRT) with or without the vascularised fibula. Fifty-gray single dose was used in all cases. Two had pasteurization and reimplantation. Thirty seven had non-reimplantation reconstructions (including intercalary or osteoarticular endoprosthesis, pedicled bone grafts, rotation-plasty, and amputations). Five-year local recurrence-free survival was 85% for reimplantation and 97% for non-reimplantation groups (p=0.17). Five-year metastasis-free survival was 63% and 54%, respectively (p=0.44). Five-year overall survival was 70% and 58%, respectively (p=0.39). The data from this study did not demonstrate significantly better local recurrence-free, distant relapse-free, or overall survival benefit in the tumor bone reimplantation group

Topical vancomycin: Does it reduce surgical site infection in bone tumors?

Introduction: We retrospectively analyzed a consecutive group of patients operated for bone tumors of extremity and pelvis who received only perioperative antibiotics (Group A) against a similar group that had additional 1 g topical vancomycin sprinkled in the wound before closure (Group B). The aim was to determine if the addition of topical vancomycin decreases the incidence of deep surgical site infection (SSI). Materials and Methods: A total of 221 patients operated between January 2011 and December 2011 were analyzed in Group A and 254 patients operated between April 2012 and March 2013 were analyzed in Group B. Any patient who required operative intervention for wound discharge was considered to be infected. All patients had a 1 year follow-up to determine the incidence of SSI. Results: The overall rate of SSI was 7% (31 of 475 patients). Seventeen (8%) of Group A patients had SSI as against 14 (6 %) of Group B patients (P = 0.337). A subgroup analysis of endoprosthetic reconstructions, internal fixation implants (plates/intramedullary nails), extracorporeal radiation treated bones and strut allografts showed no difference between the two groups of patients. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the addition of topical vancomycin before wound closure in patients operated for bone tumors does not decrease the incidence of SSI. Further investigation of this technique using a case–controlled methodology with an increase in the dose of vancomycin may be warranted

Clinical research during coronavirus disease pandemic: Challenges and way forward

With the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) being declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization, the Indian health-care sector is at the forefront to deliver optimal care but with constrained resources and several challenges. The pandemic has also brought about a state of urgency to develop suitable management principles for COVID-19 with the help of suitably designed clinical trials. However, the pandemic along with the lockdown and other restrictions has affected the conduct of clinical trials in terms of restrictions on travelling, trial site staff availability, investigational product availability, and medical oversight among others. This article provides structured recommendations for sponsors, investigators, clinical trial personnel to adapt to the situation by identifying potential risks and challenges and mitigating them to conduct clinical trials well within the ambit of local regulatory guidelines and requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic

Superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor in the forearm of a middle-aged patient: A newly described, rare soft-tissue tumor

Superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor is a recently described soft-tissue tumor entity. A 48 year-old-male presented with a gradually increasing soft-tissue mass in his right forearm of 2 years' duration, along with multiple subcutaneous soft-tissue nodular lesions, and reminiscent of lipomas over his body. He underwent a wide excision of his forearm mass. Microscopic sections showed a circumscribed tumor in the dermis and subcutaneous fat, composed of spindle cells, inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes, plasma cells, and eosinophils, along with interspersed markedly pleomorphic giant cells containing moderate-to-abundant “glassy” cytoplasm, vesicular nuclei, exhibiting prominent nucleoli, and intranuclear pseudoinclusions. There were no significant mitotic figures, areas of hemorrhage, necrosis, or pigment histiocytes. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells were diffusely positive for CD34 while negative for cytokeratin (CK), pan CK (AE1/AE3), S100 protein, CD30, and CD31. MIB1/Ki-67 was low and highlighted 4%–5% tumor nuclei. Diagnosis of superficial CD34-positive fibroblastic tumor was offered. Sections from the various resection margins were free of tumor. Postresection, the patient is alive with no evidence of disease for the past 8 months. This constitutes as one of the first case reports of this rare tumor entity from our country. Its diagnostic and treatment implications are discussed herewith