Isolated myocysticercosis: rare presentation in quadriceps muscle

Myocysticercosis is not a common disorder and in particular quadriceps muscle is rarer. We are reporting this rare case of myocysticercosis involving quadriceps muscle of right thigh with ultrasonographic demonstration of nodular scolex and associated edema with no neurological involvement

Estimation of serum bilirubin level as a diagnostic laboratory marker of acute appendicitis and its role in prediction of appendicular perforation

Background: Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of surgical abdomen. A delay in diagnosis and subsequent delay in intervention may lead to appendicular perforation which leads to peritonitis and further complications including death. In this study, we tried to evaluate – “Estimation of serum bilirubin level as a diagnostic laboratory marker of acute appendicitis and its role in prediction of appendicular perforation.” Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study are as follows: To study the relationship between hyperbilirubinemia and acute appendicitis and to evaluate its credibility as a diagnostic marker for acute appendicitis. To evaluate whether elevated Bilirubin levels have a predictive potential for diagnosis of appendicular perforation. Materials and Methods: Patients clinically diagnosed with acute appendicitis, supported by imaging studies, who gave consent for the study were included in the study. All those patients underwent estimation of serum bilirubin levels along with other investigations. Data collected were compiled and analyzed. Results: In this study, among 408 patients, sensitivity of serum bilirubin in predicting acute appendicitis was 74.59%. Specificity of serum bilirubin in predicting acute appendicitis was 12.38%. Positive predictive value of serum bilirubin in predicting acute appendicitis was 71.06%. Negative predictive value of serum bilirubin in predicting acute appendicitis was 14.44%. Odds ratio was 0.4147. Conclusion: Serum Bilirubin level appears to be a promising marker for diagnosing acute appendicitis and perforation

Results of Phase III Randomized Trial for Use of Docetaxel as a Radiosensitizer in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer, Unsuitable for Cisplatin-Based Chemoradiation

PURPOSE There is a lack of published literature on systemic therapeutic options in cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) undergoing chemoradiation. Docetaxel was assessed as a radiosensitizer in this situation.METHODS This was a randomized phase II/III study. Adult patients (age a-18 years) with LAHNSCC planned for chemoradiation and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2 and who were cisplatin-ineligible were randomly assigned in 1:1 to either radiation alone or radiation with concurrent docetaxel 15 mg/m2 once weekly for a maximum of seven cycles. The primary end point was 2-year disease-free survival (DFS).RESULTS The study recruited 356 patients between July 2017 and May 2021. The 2-year DFS was 30.3% (95% CI, 23.6 to 37.4) versus 42% (95% CI, 34.6 to 49.2) in the RT and Docetaxel-RT arms, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.673; 95% CI, 0.521 to 0.868; P value =.002). The corresponding median overall survival (OS) was 15.3 months (95% CI, 13.1 to 22.0) and 25.5 months (95% CI, 17.6 to 32.5), respectively (log-rank P value =.035). The 2-year OS was 41.7% (95% CI, 34.1 to 49.1) versus 50.8% (95% CI, 43.1 to 58.1) in the RT and Docetaxel-RT arms, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.747; 95% CI, 0.569 to 0.980; P value =.035). There was a higher incidence of grade 3 or above mucositis (22.2% v 49.7%; P &lt;.001), odynophagia (33.5% v 52.5%; P &lt;.001), and dysphagia (33% v 49.7%; P =.002) with the addition of docetaxel.CONCLUSION The addition of docetaxel to radiation improved DFS and OS in cisplatin-ineligible patients with LAHNSCC.</p

Results of Phase III Randomized Trial for Use of Docetaxel as a Radiosensitizer in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer, Unsuitable for Cisplatin-Based Chemoradiation

PURPOSE There is a lack of published literature on systemic therapeutic options in cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LAHNSCC) undergoing chemoradiation. Docetaxel was assessed as a radiosensitizer in this situation.METHODS This was a randomized phase II/III study. Adult patients (age a-18 years) with LAHNSCC planned for chemoradiation and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2 and who were cisplatin-ineligible were randomly assigned in 1:1 to either radiation alone or radiation with concurrent docetaxel 15 mg/m2 once weekly for a maximum of seven cycles. The primary end point was 2-year disease-free survival (DFS).RESULTS The study recruited 356 patients between July 2017 and May 2021. The 2-year DFS was 30.3% (95% CI, 23.6 to 37.4) versus 42% (95% CI, 34.6 to 49.2) in the RT and Docetaxel-RT arms, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.673; 95% CI, 0.521 to 0.868; P value =.002). The corresponding median overall survival (OS) was 15.3 months (95% CI, 13.1 to 22.0) and 25.5 months (95% CI, 17.6 to 32.5), respectively (log-rank P value =.035). The 2-year OS was 41.7% (95% CI, 34.1 to 49.1) versus 50.8% (95% CI, 43.1 to 58.1) in the RT and Docetaxel-RT arms, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.747; 95% CI, 0.569 to 0.980; P value =.035). There was a higher incidence of grade 3 or above mucositis (22.2% v 49.7%; P &lt;.001), odynophagia (33.5% v 52.5%; P &lt;.001), and dysphagia (33% v 49.7%; P =.002) with the addition of docetaxel.CONCLUSION The addition of docetaxel to radiation improved DFS and OS in cisplatin-ineligible patients with LAHNSCC.</p