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Background and Objective: Neurocytoma (NC) is a rare benign neuronal tumor. A complete excision remains curative for most of these tumors, but atypical histology and extra-ventricular location often necessitates adjuvant therapy. We intended to explore the clinico-pathological features and treatment outcome in patients of NC in our institute.Materials and Methods: Medical records were reviewed and data collected on NC over a 6-year period (2006-2012) from the departmental archives. Disease free survival (DFS) was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method.Results: A total of 18 patients met the study criteria. Fourteen patients had intra-ventricular neurocytoma (IVNC), right lateral ventricle being the most common site of origin. Gross total resection and near total resection were achieved in eight cases each whereas tumor decompression and biopsy could be done in two cases. On post-operative histopathological examination, eight patients were found to have atypical NC while 10 patients had typical NC. All patients underwent adjuvant radiation. The median dose of post-operative radiation was 56 Gy. All patients were alive at their final follow-up. One patient had both clinical and radiological evidence of local relapse. In the evaluable patients (n = 18), after a median follow-up of 35 months the DFS rate at 2 years and 3 years are 100% and 83% respectively.Conclusion: Use of adjuvant radiation to a total dose of 56 Gy enhances the local control and achieves superior survival in patients of NC. Use of 3D conformal planning techniques may help us to achieve better therapeutic ratio in patients with NC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and Aim: The prognosis of primary gliosarcoma (PGS) remains dismal with current treatment modalities. We analyzed the outcome of PGS patients treated with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ).Settings and Design: Retrospective single institutional analysis.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 27 patients of PGS treated with radiotherapy (RT) and TMZ during 2007-2012.Statistical Analysis Used: Overall survival (OS) was estimated by the use of Kaplan Meier method and toxicities were evaluate using common terminology criteria for adverse events version 2.0 (National Cancer Institute, USA).Results: Median age at presentation and Karnofsky performance status was 45 years and 90 respectively and male: female ratio was 20:7. Patients received adjuvant RT to a total dose of 60 Gy at 2 Gy/fraction. All patients except 5 received adjuvant TMZ to a median number of 6 cycles. Grade 2 and 3 hematological toxicity was seen in 8% and 4% of patients respectively during concurrent RT. During adjuvant chemotherapy, 13.6% had Grade 3 thrombocytopenia and 9.5% had Grade 3 neutropenia. Median OS was 16.7 months (1 year and 2 year actuarial OS was 70.8% and 32.6% respectively). Adjuvant TMZ was associated with a better survival (median survival 21.21 vs. 11.93 months; P = 0.0046) on univariate analysis and also on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 1.82, 95% confidence interval: 1.503-25.58; P = 0.012).Conclusions: The results of our study, largest series of patients with PGS treated with concurrent and adjuvant TMZ shows an impressive survival with acceptable toxicity. We suggest TMZ be included in the "standard of care" for this tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The significant impact of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) on cardiac morbidity in patients of early breast cancer (EBC) undergoing breast-conserving surgery has been shown in different studies. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of surgery and the side of involvement on radiation dose to left anterior descending artery (LAD) and Left circumflex coronary artery (LCx).Materials and Methods: Totally, 58 patients of EBC were randomly chosen for this dosimetric study and planned with tangential field technique without intensity modulation (IM). Heart, LAD, and LCx (n = 55) were contoured. Dose volume histograms were analyzed to determine the Dmax (maximum dose) and Dmean (mean dose) of LAD and LCx. Student's t-test was used for comparative analysis of the means.Results: The mean Dmax of LAD for left (L) EBC was 3.17 Gray (Gy) while for right (R) EBC it was 0.86 Gy (P = 0.007; 95% C.I, 1.14-3.48). The mean Dmean of LAD for L-EBC and R-EBC were 1.97 Gy and 0.79 Gy, respectively (P = 0.029; 95% C.I, 0.77-1.60). The mean-Dmax of LCx for patients with L-EBC (2.9 Gy; range: 1.2-4.35 Gy) was statistically higher than that for R-EBC (1.3 Gy; range: 0.7-3.2 Gy) (P = 0.045). The mean-Dmean of LCx for L-EBC (2.1 Gy; range: 0.6-3.6 Gy) was also significantly higher than that of L-EBC (0.9 Gy; range: 0.7-2.1 Gy) (P = 0.03). There was no significant impact of the pattern of surgery on LAD dose, but significance was noted for LCx dose parameters (P = 0.04 and 0.08 for m-Dmax and m-Dmean of LCx).Conclusion: This pilot dosimetric study confirms the assumption that patients with left-sided EBC are at higher risk of developing long-term cardiac morbidity when treated with PORT due to increased dose to LAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Malignant tumors of the trachea are rare. A multimodality treatment approach is often necessary. Outcomes of radical non-surgical approaches are sparse. Radiation combined with sequential or concurrent chemotherapy is an important treatment option. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present an analysis of outcomes using modern radiotherapy and chemotherapy for tracheal tumors. RESULTS: Radiation dose escalation using modern techniques is of benefit for these tumors. The results with chemotherapy are encouraging. CONCLUSIONS: Radiation plays a distinct role and should be a part of treatment for these tumors. The role of chemotherapy needs to be studied further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Radiation induced wet desquamation of skin in carcinoma breast patients is a painful condition. In this study topical beclomethasone dipropionate spray was used as prophylaxis with the purpose of reducing risk of the wet desquamation of skin in irradiated field.Materials and Methods: Sixty patients of carcinoma breast were planned for postoperative loco regional radiotherapy (50 Gy in 25 fraction over five weeks) were prospectively randomized into two groups (1) steroid group-patients were advised to use beclomethasone dipropionate spray in irradiated axilla from day one of radiotherapy, (2) control group-patients were not allowed to use any topical agent in irradiated area. Radiation induced skin reaction was noted in terms of erythema, dry desquamation and wet desquamation weekly till end of prescribed 50 Gy dose of the radiation therapy.Statistical Method: Chi-square test was used to see the statistical significance of the difference in wet desquamation between two arms of the study. Chi-square value and P-value was calculated for the difference of wet desquamation in two study arms.Result: In steroid group 4/30 (13.33%) patients developed wet desquamation of the axillary skin at the end of the radiotherapy. For the control group, this figure was 11/30 (36.66%). The difference in wet desquamation of the axillary skin in the two groups was statistically significant (P-value = 0.0369).Conclusion: Topical steroid (beclomethasone dipropionate spray) for skin during radiotherapy significantly reduces the risk of wet desquamation of the skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]