Palliation of dysphagia with radiotherapy for exophytic base tongue metastases in a case of renal cell carcinoma

Base tongue involvement is a rare presentation of lingual metastases from renal cell carcinoma. A 48-year-old gentleman was treated with open radical nephrectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy for Stage II Furhman grade I clear cell carcinoma of the left kidney at an outside hospital. He presented metachronously 5 years later with progressive dysphagia and change of voice. Clinicoradiological evaluation revealed a large exophytic mass in the oropharynx with epicenter in the right base of tongue. Metastatic workup revealed widespread dissemination to multiple organs and bone. In view of predominant symptom of dysphagia, base tongue metastasis was treated with protracted course of palliative radiotherapy to a dose of 50 Gy in conventional fractionation over 5 weeks. This resulted in excellent and durable response at the base tongue lesion (till the time of last follow-up). Radiation therapy is an acceptable palliative strategy for advanced lingual metastasis as it produces prompt relief of pain, bleeding, and dysphagia

Brain metastases from breast cancer:Management approach

Brain metastases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with breast cancer. HER-2 positivity is an increasingly recognized risk factor for the development of brain metastases. Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment of this complication, supportive measures like steroids, anti-seizure medication and whole-brain radiation remain the cornerstones of management in the majority of patients. The current review discusses the above and other issues like surgical excision, stereotactic radiotherapy, adjuvant radiation, radiosensitization and chemotherapy. A brief discussion of the recent evidence for the use of ′HER-1/ HER-2′-targeted therapy is also present

Brain metastases from breast cancer:Management approach

Brain metastases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with breast cancer. HER-2 positivity is an increasingly recognized risk factor for the development of brain metastases. Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment of this complication, supportive measures like steroids, anti-seizure medication and whole-brain radiation remain the cornerstones of management in the majority of patients. The current review discusses the above and other issues like surgical excision, stereotactic radiotherapy, adjuvant radiation, radiosensitization and chemotherapy. A brief discussion of the recent evidence for the use of \u2032HER-1/ HER-2\u2032-targeted therapy is also present

Brain metastases from breast cancer:Management approach

Brain metastases are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with breast cancer. HER-2 positivity is an increasingly recognized risk factor for the development of brain metastases. Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment of this complication, supportive measures like steroids, anti-seizure medication and whole-brain radiation remain the cornerstones of management in the majority of patients. The current review discusses the above and other issues like surgical excision, stereotactic radiotherapy, adjuvant radiation, radiosensitization and chemotherapy. A brief discussion of the recent evidence for the use of ′HER-1/ HER-2′-targeted therapy is also present

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer prostate-specific quality of life module (PR-25) in Hindi and Marathi: Translation and pilot testing process

Background: The side effects of various treatments for prostate cancer have a measurable impact on the general as well as disease-related quality of life, which is of pivotal concern as an outcome measure. Aim: Translation and pilot testing of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) prostate cancer-specific module (PR-25) into Hindi and Marathi. Materials and Methods: The translation procedure described by the EORTC was adopted; this comprised two forward translations of the original English questionnaire into Hindi and Marathi each with formation of first intermediary questionnaires and two back translations of the first intermediary questionnaires into English. The first intermediary questionnaires were adapted as the second intermediary questionnaires and pilot tested in ten prostate cancer patients as no modifications were suggested by the back translators. Results: Each patient, after completing the questionnaire, was interviewed by the local project coordinator who questioned them about each item in the second intermediary questionnaire. The patients were asked whether there was any difficulty in answering, confusion while answering, or difficulty in understanding the questions; whether the questions were upsetting; and if the patients themselves would have framed the question in a different way. Based on the suggestions or interpretations of this pilot testing, the necessary changes were incorporated and the final Hindi and Marathi questionnaires were formed. Conclusion: Both the translations were submitted to the EORTC for review and have been subsequently approved for clinical studies

The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer prostate-specific quality of life module (PR-25) in Hindi and Marathi: Translation and pilot testing process

Background: The side effects of various treatments for prostate cancer have a measurable impact on the general as well as disease-related quality of life, which is of pivotal concern as an outcome measure. Aim: Translation and pilot testing of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) prostate cancer-specific module (PR-25) into Hindi and Marathi. Materials and Methods: The translation procedure described by the EORTC was adopted; this comprised two forward translations of the original English questionnaire into Hindi and Marathi each with formation of first intermediary questionnaires and two back translations of the first intermediary questionnaires into English. The first intermediary questionnaires were adapted as the second intermediary questionnaires and pilot tested in ten prostate cancer patients as no modifications were suggested by the back translators. Results: Each patient, after completing the questionnaire, was interviewed by the local project coordinator who questioned them about each item in the second intermediary questionnaire. The patients were asked whether there was any difficulty in answering, confusion while answering, or difficulty in understanding the questions; whether the questions were upsetting; and if the patients themselves would have framed the question in a different way. Based on the suggestions or interpretations of this pilot testing, the necessary changes were incorporated and the final Hindi and Marathi questionnaires were formed. Conclusion: Both the translations were submitted to the EORTC for review and have been subsequently approved for clinical studies

Treatment Outcomes of Breast Cancer Oligometastatic to Lung and Liver: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

We conducted a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis for the studies on local treatment modalities for breast cancer oligometastases (OM) to lung and liver. The objective of the current study was to report survival outcome following optimal local treatment for OM in breast cancer. This would help in baseline assumptions for survival estimates for future prospective trials as well as provide guidelines for patient counselling in clinical practice