Radiographic Thrombus within the External Jugular Vein: Report of a Rare Case and Review of the Literature

We are reporting a case of a 91-year-old male with a primary malignancy of the right parotid gland with radiographic thrombus extension within the right external jugular vein. He was treated with palliative radiation therapy to the right parotid mass with a marked clinical response. The rarity of this occurrence as documented in the review of the literature provides for uncertainty with regard to proper management. Radiographic evidence of thrombus in the absence of clinical manifestations, the role of anticoagulation, and the proper radiation target delineation were all challenges encountered in the care of this patient. Our case represents a rare occurrence with unique radiologic findings that has implications for management

Radiation Impairs Perineural Invasion by Modulating the Nerve Microenvironment

Perineural invasion (PNI) by cancer cells is an ominous clinical event that is associated with increased local recurrence and poor prognosis. Although radiation therapy (RT) may be delivered along the course of an invaded nerve, the mechanisms through which radiation may potentially control PNI remain undefined. murine sciatic nerve model was used to study how RT to nerve or cancer affects nerve invasion by cancer.Cancer cell invasion of the DRG was partially dependent on DRG secretion of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). A single 4 Gy dose of radiation to the DRG alone, cultured with non-radiated cancer cells, significantly inhibited PNI and was associated with decreased GDNF secretion but intact DRG viability. Radiation of cancer cells alone, co-cultured with non-radiated nerves, inhibited PNI through predominantly compromised cancer cell viability. In a murine model of PNI, a single 8 Gy dose of radiation to the sciatic nerve prior to implantation of non-radiated cancer cells resulted in decreased GDNF expression, decreased PNI by imaging and histology, and preservation of sciatic nerve motor function.Radiation may impair PNI through not only direct effects on cancer cell viability, but also an independent interruption of paracrine mechanisms underlying PNI. RT modulation of the nerve microenvironment may decrease PNI, and hold significant therapeutic implications for RT dosing and field design for patients with cancers exhibiting PNI

BMQ

BMQ: Boston Medical Quarterly was published from 1950-1966 by the Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Memorial Hospitals

Cardiac Metastasis in a Patient with Head and Neck Cancer: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Cardiac metastasis from a primary head and neck cancer is a rare finding. Most patients with cardiac metastases have nonspecific symptoms that may vary depending on the severity and location of the lesion. Due to the infrequency of reported cases, there are no clear guidelines for the diagnosis or management of cardiac metastasis in head and neck cancer patients. In this report, we discuss the case of a patient with a primary diagnosis of oral tongue cancer who developed a cardiac metastasis that was detected antemortem

C a s e R e p o r t Central Pontine Myelinolysis in a Patient Admitted for Alcohol Withdrawal

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) refers to the nerve damage that occurs due to destruction of myelin sheath that covers nerve cells in the pons. CPM is frequently associated with rapid correction of hyponatremia, and it manifests as confusion, quadriplegia, pseudobulbar palsy, and/or locked-in syndrome (quadriplegia and anarthria with preserved consciousness) that develop over several days. CPM is typically fatal. 1 Milder, nonfatal cases of CPM also have been reported, most notably in normonatremic patients who abuse alcohol. 2–4 Diagnosing CPM in a normonatremic alcoholic patient can be challenging, given that neurologic symptoms are frequently present in these patients and that the presentation of CPM varies greatly. This article discusses the case of

A Rare Case of a Transgender Female With Breast Implant–Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Treated With Radiotherapy and a Review of the Literature

We are reporting a case of a 54-year-old transgender female with a history of breast augmentation with bilateral silicone implants. Seventeen years later, she presented with an enlarging right breast mass. Pathology confirmed breast implant–associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (Ann Arbor Stage IIE, TNM Stage III BIA-ALCL). The patient underwent bilateral capsulectomy, sentinel lymph node biopsy with adjuvant CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) chemotherapy, and radiotherapy to the right chest, axilla, and supraclavicular lymph nodes. BIA-ALCL is a rare entity, especially in transgender females. We report this case and a review of the literature in this report

Radiation for MALT of the Submandibular Gland

We are reporting a case of a 27-year-old woman with a history of swelling in the left submandibular region. This swelling was associated with a mass, and this was pathologically confirmed to be an extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MALT). The patient underwent surgical excision and postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy. The patient tolerated treatments well and remains free of disease. Here, we describe the case and management described in the current literature

Radiation Therapy for Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Head and Neck.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck is an uncommon malignancy that can arise in the major or minor salivary glands. Perineural invasion (PNI) is an extremely frequent finding in cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) that can be associated with significant patient morbidity and poor prognosis. By contrast, ACC rarely demonstrates lymphovascular space invasion thereby making PNI the major avenue for metastasis and a driver of treatment rationale and design. Radiotherapy is often utilized post-operatively to improve locoregional control or as a primary therapy in unresectable disease. Here we aim to review the role of radiotherapy in the management of this malignancy with a focus on target delineation and treatment regimens in the definitive, recurrent, and metastatic settings

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

We are reporting the case of a 58-year-old woman with history of bilateral silicone breast implants for cosmetic augmentation. At 2-year interval from receiving the breast implants, she presented with swelling of the right breast with associated chest wall mass, effusion around the implant, and axillary lymphadenopathy. Pathology confirmed breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (stage III, T4N2M0, using BIA-ALCL TNM staging and stage IIAE, using Ann-Arbor staging). The patient underwent bilateral capsulectomy and right partial mastectomy with excision of the right breast mass and received adjuvant CHOP chemotherapy and radiation to the right breast and regional nodes. Since completion of multimodality therapy, the patient has sustained remission on both clinical exam and PET/CT scan. We report this case and review of the literature on this rare form of lymphoma