Search

Little is known about mortality statistics of hospitalised cancer patients from developing countries. This paper describes the distribution of causes of death in various malignancies, status of malignancy at the time of death, type and intent of therapy received by the cancer patient prior to death and nature of infections in terminal cancer patients who died in hospital. We also aimed to study discrepancies in mortality reporting in terms of death certificate at our center and tried to analyse possible causes.Data for 259 consecutive deaths in hospitalized cancer patients in a calendar year were analysed. Of all these, 147 (57%) were cases of solid tumors, 107 (41%) were cases of hematological malignancies and 5 (2%) were other or undiagnosed cases. Median duration of hospital stay prior to death was 7 (1-106) days. Sepsis/multi organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) was commonest immediate cause of death 118/259 (45.2%) followed by progressive malignancy in 64/259 (24.7%) cases. Only 13/267 (5%) patients died with controlled cancer. Some 184 (71.3%) deaths occurred within 90 days of any form of anticancer treatment of which more than three fourths (77.2%) occurred after chemotherapy. Among these chemotherapy related deaths, 63 were febrile neutropenic deaths, with the commonest site of infection in the lungs, and positive blood culture was found in 18 (28%) cases. There were discrepancies in information derived from death certificates and from case records in 84 (32%) cases. Most of these were due to the use of ambiguous terms like cardio-respiratory arrest as a cause of death in the death certificate.It is important to audit mortality data on a regular basis as this can provide valuable insight into hospital practice and may help to identify preventable causes of mortality. Mortality record keeping is another important aspect as variable practices in this area may have implications for cancer mortality reporting and this may ultimately lead to erroneous cancer epidemiology.

In search of novel molecular markers for oral cancer, we reported increased levels of TC21/R-Ras2 transcripts in oral squamous cell carcinoma by differential display. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical significance of TC21 in oral cancer.Immunohistochemical analysis of TC21 protein expression was carried out in 120 leukoplakias, 83 OSCCs and 30 non-malignant tissues, confirmed by immunoblotting, and correlated with clinicopathological parameters as well as disease prognosis. Co-immunoprecipitation assays were carried out to identify the interaction partners of TC21 protein in oral cancer cells and tissues.TC21 nuclear expression increased from normal oral tissues to leukoplakia and frank malignancy (P0.001). TC21 overexpression was observed in 74.2% leukoplakia with no dysplasia, 75.9% dysplasias and 79.5% OSCCs in comparison with normal oral tissues. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the area-under-the curve values were 0.895, 0.885, and 0.919, while the positive predictive values were 95.8%, 95.6%, and 97.1%, for nuclear immunostaining for normal versus leukoplakia with no dysplasia, leukoplakic lesions with dysplasia, and OSCCs, respectively. Immunoblotting confirmed overexpression of TC21 in oral lesions. Using co-immunoprecipitation assays, we showed interactions of TC21 with Erk2, PI3-K, 14-3-3zeta and 14-3-3sigma proteins in oral cancer cells.Our findings suggested that alteration in TC21 expression is an early event in oral cancer and correlates with poor prognosis of OSCCs. TC21 interactions with Erk2, PI3-K, 14-3-3zeta and 14-3-3sigma proteins in oral cancer cells and tissues suggests the involvement of TC21 in signaling pathways in oral cancer.

To study the efficacy of an organ-preserving, sequential chemoradiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal, and of salvage surgery in those in whom this treatment fails.Forty biopsy-proven untreated patients (28 men) with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal received two cycles of chemotherapy using cisplatin and methotrexate, followed by 45 to 60 (median 50) Gy external beam radiotherapy. Salvage surgery was offered to those in whom this treatment failed. Overall survival, disease-free survival and colostomy-free survival were analyzed.Most patients (n=35; 87%) had T3 or T4 lesions and 5 (12.5%) had involvement of inguinal nodes. Thirty-one patients (77.5%) had complete response after chemoradiation. Only three patients (7.5%) developed chemotherapy-related grade 3 mucositis and myelosuppression. Radiotherapy-related toxicity included grade III cystitis in one patient and grade III proctitis in three patients. Three patients had post-treatment anal stenosis requiring repeated dilatation and two had chronic non-healing ulcers at the anal verge. Nine patients had failure of chemoradiation or disease recurrence; of these, only 5 could undergo salvage surgery. After a median follow up of 60 months, overall survival, disease-free survival and colostomy-free survival were 80%, 77.5% and 72.5%, respectively.Chemoradiation is effective in the treatment of squamous cell anal cancer and has acceptable toxicity. Surgical salvage may be useful in those with failure of this treatment.

Breast conservation therapy is a well-established treatment modality for early breast cancer. It is not widely practised in developing countries because of a lack of awareness and treatment facilities, and physician and patient bias. We analysed our experience of breast conservation therapy.We retrospectively reviewed 102 patients who had undergone breast conservation surgery and axillary dissection for breast cancer. Surgery was followed by 45 Gy of radiation to the whole breast and 15-20 Gy of tumour bed boost. All high risk patients received adjuvant systemic therapy. The disease profile, morbidity and treatment outcome were analysed.Out of 902 patients, 102 underwent breast conservation therapy (90 had early breast cancer and 12 had locally advanced breast cancer). Only 19.6% of patients with early breast cancer received breast conservation therapy. One-third of the patients had had a prior surgical intervention. The mean tumour size was 2.8 cm, 44% had nodal involvement and 29% were oestrogen- and progesterone-receptor negative. At a mean follow up of 32 months, only 1 patient had local recurrence, and the 5-year projected disease-free and overall survival were 82% and 88%, respectively.Breast conservation therapy should be offered to suitable breast cancer patients. Strict adherence to protocol-based therapy and active multidisciplinary coordination are crucial for a successful breast conservation therapy programme. Education of the patient as well as the physician population is necessary for increasing the breast conservation therapy rates in India.

Postoperative fistula involving upper gastrointestinal tract surgery is a rare but troublesome occurrence. Reoperation on these patients is challenging and needs to be individualised. Various methods are described including primary closure, bypass procedures, serosal patch repair and Roux-en-Y repair. We present a new technique of repair using afferent loop that provided a vascularized bowel segment, which used in an anatomical fashion for closure of fistula.

Early detection and multimodality therapy has resulted in an overall improvement of survival among breast cancer patients. Despite a significant shift in the treatment approach from radical mastectomy to breast conservation a significant number of patients develop lymphedema. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for development of lymphedema.Retrospective analysis for prevalence of lymphedema in a tertiary care regional cancer centre.Three hundred treated breast cancer patients with a minimum follow up of one year were evaluated for the prevalence and risk factors for lymphedema. Lymphedema was assessed using a serial circumferential measurement method. More than 3 cm difference in circumference is considered as clinical significant lymphedema. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed for evaluating the risk factors by using the Chi square test and Cox logistic regression analysis.The prevalence of clinically significant lymphedema was 33.5 % and 17.2 % had severe lymphedema. The prevalence of lymphedema was 13.4 % in patients treated with surgery only where as the prevalence was 42.4% in patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy. Stage of the disease, body surface area1. 5 m2, presence of co-morbid conditions, post operative radiotherapy and anthracycline based chemotherapy were significant risk factors in univariate analysis where as axillary irradiation and presence of co-morbid conditions have emerged as independent risk factors in multivariate analysis (P0.001).Post treatment lymphedema continues to be a significant problem following breast cancer therapy. Presence of co-morbid conditions and axillary radiation significantly increases the risk of lymphedema. A combination of axillary dissection and axillary radiation should be avoided whenever feasible to avoid lymphedema.

The incidence of the cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and larynx in different population groups of India is amongst the highest reported in Asian countries. There is evidence that high dietary carotenoids and vitamin C may possibly decrease the risk of laryngeal cancer. Limited data is available from India on the association between these micronutrients and the risk of laryngeal cancer.To assess the levels of vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc in laryngeal cancer patients and healthy controls.A hospital based case- control study.One hundred and fifty five laryngeal cancer patients and a control group of 155 healthy individuals constituted the study population. Individuals in the control group were individually matched with the patients for their age +/- 2 years, sex and place of residence. Venous blood was drawn from the cases and controls and estimations of vitamin A, zinc and vitamin C was done utilizing the standard procedures.Paired 't' test to compare the mean serum levels of vitamin A and zinc and plasma vitamin C between laryngeal cancer patients and controls. Univariate logistic regression analysis to calculate the odds ratios and the confidence intervals.The mean serum vitamin A, zinc and plasma vitamin C levels were significantly lower in laryngeal cancer patients as compared to the controls.The findings of the present study indicated a strong association of these micronutrients with laryngeal cancer in the Indian population.

Isolated ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph nodal (IISCLN) metastasis was considered part of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) previously but the recent staging system categorised this group to metastatic disease (stage IV). There is no clear consensus on intent of therapy in patients with IISCLN. A retrospective comparative analysis of IISCLN and LABC patients treated with a curative multimodality approach was performed to evolve guidelines on treatment approach in patients with IISCLN spread.A total number of 670 patients with breast cancer treated in the Department of Surgical Oncology, IRCH, AIIMS, during the period between January, 1993 to December, 2000 were studied retrospectively. Out of these 16 (2.4%) patients with cytology proven isolated metastasis to ipsilateral SCLN without any other distant disease and 299 LABC patients were analysed. All patients received neoadjuvant anthracycline based chemotherapy, surgery, postoperative radiotherapy (50 Gy) including supraclavicular fossa. The relapse patterns and survival in both the groups were compared.At a median follow up of 36 months (range 9-72 months) the total recurrence in the IISCLN group was 31% and in the LABC group was 26%, the systemic recurrence was equal at 25% in each group while the locoregional recurrence was 12% and 7% in the IISCLN and LABC groups respectively. The overall survival (OS) was 81% and 91% whereas the disease-free survival (DFS) was 12% and 7% in the IISCLN and LABC groups, respectively.Intent of therapy in metastatic breast cancer is palliative. However, patients with IISCLN metastasis have a relatively less aggressive biologic behaviour as compared to patients with spread to other distant sites. Results of the current study shows that the relapse patterns and survival of IISCLN group and LABC are comparable. Hence, despite being staged as metastatic disease, patients with IISCLN spread should be treated with combined modality approach for prolonged survival.

Adenocarcinoma of the stomach is usually advanced at presentation, and local or distant spread may preclude the option of primary curative resection. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has shown promise in downstaging initially unresectable disease. This pilot study was planned to assess the utility of NAC using Cisplatin and 5-Fluoro uracil in the management of initially unresectable gastric cancer.Ten patients with unresectable gastric adnocarcinoma were included. They received two cycles of cisplatin, 30 mg/m2 intravenously in combination with 5-Fluoro Uracil, 1000 mg/m2. They were restaged using Endoscopy and CT scan and taken up for exploratory laparotomy.Eight of 10 patients (80%) had an objective response to chemotherapy. Six patients (60%) with initially unresectable disease could be offered curative surgery. The median survival was 10 months (range 1-60 months). There were two long term survivors (48 and 60 months respectively).Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is an effective option in downstaging initially unresectable gastric carcinoma. Complete response to chemotherapy also predicts long term survival.

Radiation is well known to increase the risk of cancer. Leukemias, skin cancers, osteosarcomas, thyroid cancers are some examples of radiation-induced malignancies. Radiation-induced carcinoma of the esophagus is extremely rare. We present a case of 42 year old patient who received radiotherapy for breast cancer and subsequently developed esophageal carcinoma.

The harmonic scalpel is recently emerging as an alternative surgical tool for dissection and haemostasis and has been extensively used in the field of minimally invasive surgery. We studied the utility and advantages of this instrument over electrocautery for performing modified radical mastectomy.The operative and morbidity details of twenty-three breast cancer patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy using the harmonic scalpel were compared with 23 matched controls operated with electrocautery by the same surgical team.There was no significant difference in the operating time between the harmonic scalpel and electrocautery group (104 and 100 mins, p0.05). The blood loss (60 +/- 35 ml and 294 +/- 155, p0.001) and drainage volume (590 +/- 430 ml and 1,085 +/- 690 ml, p0.001) were significantly lower in the harmonic scalpel group. There was a significant reduction of drain days in harmonic scalpel group (mean five and nine days, p0.05). There was no significant difference in the seroma rate between two groups (16% and 22%).Modified radical mastectomy using harmonic scalpel is feasible and learning curve is short. Harmonic scalpel significantly reduces the blood loss and duration of drainage as compared to electrocautery.

Venous access is crucial for cancer management for administration of drugs blood products, antibiotics and periodic sampling.To review our experience of long-term venous access devices used over a ten-year period and to analyse the outcome in cancer patients in Indian setting.A retrospective analysis of data in a tertiary care Regional cancer centre.A total of 110 patients with various malignancies requiring long-term venous access were included in the study. A uniform open cut down procedure under local anaesthesia was used and silastic Hickman catheters were inserted in the cephalic or external jugular or internal jugular veins. A record of all complications and catheter loss and final out come were analysed.A total of 111 catheters were used in 110 patients. Sixty-nine catheters were placed in cephalic, 40 in external jugular, and 2 in internal jugular vein. Duration of catheter indwelling period ranged from 7 to 365 days with a median of 120 days. In 90% of the cases the catheter tip was located either in superior vena cava or in right atrium. Total catheter related complications were observed in 37 (34.54%) patients and catheter loss rate due to complications was 15.4% (17/111).Long-term venous access using Hickman catheter insertion by open cut down method is a simple, safe and reliable method for administration of chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics and blood products. The incidence of various complications and catheter loss was acceptable and overall patient satisfaction was good.

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) shows a wide geographic variation and India along with other Asian and African countries has a low incidence. Most patients present with advanced disease and no uniform treatment guidelines are followed at present.An audit of 91 patients treated as per IRCH protocol between June 1994 and Jun 2000 in a single surgical unit was performed.The mean age of patients was 45.3 years (18-90 years) and there was a predominance of rectal cancer patients (Rectal vs Colon = 76% vs 24%). Majority of the rectal cancers were low rectal cancers (67%) and abdominoperineal resection was the commonest surgical procedure performed(40). The inoperability rate was 24% and sphincter salvage rate was 13%. Seventy nine percent of patients had adenocarcinoma and 90% of CRC patients belonged to Astler-Collers stage B2 and C. A total of 37 patients also received adjuvant radiotherapy and only 39 out of 60 patients planned for adjuvant chemotherapy could complete the treatment. The operative mortality was 2.2% and morbidity was 18%. A total of 13 (14%) patients had relapse of disease (local 5, regional 3, distant 5).A significant number of CRC patients in India present with advanced stage of disease and probably due to referral bias majority had low rectal cancers. By advocating multimodality protocols a good locoregional and systemic control can be achieved despite the advanced stage of presentation.

The present case-control study was undertaken with the objective to study the nutritional risk factors associated with esophageal cancer.One hundred and fifty diagnosed esophageal cancer patients and an equal number of healthy individuals constituted the patient and control groups, respectively. Dietary consumption pattern during the preceding 20 years prior to the diagnosis of esophageal cancer was assessed utilising the standard food frequency questionnaire method. Information on alcohol consumption, smoking habits, chewing of betel leaf with tobacco was also collected.Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk of esophageal cancer was 7.81 times (p0.01) higher with daily consumption of alcohol. The risk increased to 3.16 times (p0.01) with the daily habit of chewing of betel leaf with tobacco. Nearly a two fold risk was observed when the consumption of "other vegetables" was less than four times per week. A 1.95 times (p0.01) increase in risk was observed with the daily habit of bidi smoking.Cancers in general are multifactorial in origin, and several environmental interactions are possible. It is not easy to quantify the contribution of diet to cancer risk. However, the results of the present study suggested that nutritional factors do play a role.

Results of primary surgery with or without locoregional radiotherapy (LRRT) are poor in stage III (T4b, NO-2, M0) breast cancer. Combination of mitoxantrone, mitomycin-c and methotrexate (MMM) has been reported to be as efficacious as doxorubicin based protocols with advantages of reduced nausea, vomiting, alopecia and cardiotoxicity. We tested MMM chemotherapy with LRRT and surgery in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) with a view to assess response, survival, breast conservation, cost and toxicity. Fifty two previously untreated patients were given Mitoxantrone: 8 mg/m sq by infusion on days 1 and 21, Mitomycin-C: 8 mg/m sq by infusion on day 1 and Methotrexate: 35 mg/m sq i.v. on days 1 and 21. Cycles were repeated every 42 days. After 3 cycles LRRT was given if lump reduced to less than 2 cms. Otherwise patients were subjected to modified radical mastectomy (MRM) or radical mastectomy (RM). Following this 3 more cycles of chemotherapy were given. Patients with soft tissue, skin or heavy nodal involvement also received LRRT. Tamoxifen 20 mg daily was prescribed at the end of chemotherapy to postmenopausal patients. Complete/partial responses were seen in 5 and 26 patients, respectively after chemotherapy giving an overall response of 59.5%. Twenty four patients each had LRRT and MRM/RM. Responses could be significantly enhanced by LRRT/and or surgery. Nineteen out of 25 relapses were at distant sites. Breast conservation was achieved in 24/52 (46%) patients. Three year disease free and overall survival was 54% and 65%, respectively. There was 1 toxic death. Severe prolonged myelosuppresion was seen in those who also received LRRT. Mucositis, alopecia, nausea and vomiting were minor problems. Overall, combination was less expensive than doxorubicin based protocols.

Retinoids reverse potentially malignant lesions and inhibit the development of second primary cancers in patients with head-and-neck cancer. Many of the effects of retinoids result from modulation of gene expression by 2 distinct classes of nuclear receptor, RARs and RXRs; alterations in their expression can lead to tumorigenesis. To determine whether aberrations in expression of the receptors are related to the development of betel- and tobacco-related oral cancer, we used specific monoclonal antibodies against RARalpha and RARbeta to detect expression of these proteins in 30 histopathologically normal tissues, 45 potentially malignant lesions (leukoplakia) with histological evidence of either hyperplasia (31 cases) or dysplasia (14 cases) and 64 oral squamous-cell carcinomas (SCCs) by immunohistochemistry. Of the 30 normal oral tissues analysed, 8 cases showed detectable levels of RARalpha protein, while 10 cases did not show detectable RARbeta immunoreactivity. Immunostaining for RARalpha protein was observed in 12/31 (39%) hyperplastic lesions, 6/14 (43%) dysplastic lesions and 43/64 (67%) oral SCCs. Expression of RARalpha in oral SCC was significantly associated with the histological differentiation status of tumours (p = 0.016). In contrast, lack of detectable immunoreactivity was observed in 19/31 (61%) hyperplastic lesions, 8/14 (57%) dysplastic lesions and 21/64 (33%) oral SCCs. The hallmark of the study was the significant increase in RARalpha immunopositivity in oral SCCs compared to normal tissue (p = 0.0005) and hyperplastic lesions (p = 0.016). One intriguing feature was the significant decrease in RARbeta immunopositivity in hyperplastic lesions compared with normal oral mucosa (p = 0.05) as well as in oral SCCs compared with normal tissues (p = 0.0008).

Malignant mesenchymal tumours of the breast are rare neoplasms. Their incidence varies from 1%-3% of all malignant breast tumours (1). Stromal sarcoma of the breast is an extremely uncommon tumour (2). We present a rare case of advanced stromal sarcoma of the breast successfully managed with radical surgery and radiotherapy.

Over a 7-year period from 1987 to 1993, 41 male breast cancer patients were seen in the breast cancer clinic of the Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital (IRCH) at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Their mean age was 54.2 years; and duration of symptoms ranged from 1 to 84 months with a mean of 15.1 months. Breast lump was the commonest presenting symptom. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was the commonest diagnostic procedure. The TNM stage distribution was stage I, 5; stage II, 13; stage III, 17; and stage IV, 6. Radical mastectomy (25/36) was the commonest surgical procedure. Locoregional radiotherapy was given in 15 patients. Thirty patients received systemic adjuvant therapy (chemotherapy or tamoxifen, or a combination of the two). Local or distant recurrence occurred in 8 patients (8/31, 28.3%). Actuarial overall and disease-free survival was 100% and 80.1% at 2 years and 91.7% and 66.7% at 4 years, respectively. On univariate analysis, axillary lymph node status and age were found to affect disease-free survival significantly. Advanced stage of disease at presentation is common in Indian patients and will continue to influence treatment policies. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy needs to be evaluated for locally advanced tumors to improve outcome. Multicentric studies are necessary to define the relative roles of tamoxifen and chemotherapy for adjuvant treatment.

Breast cancer accounts for 20% of all female cancers in India and most patients present with advanced disease. Many factors may be responsible for the late presentation including the prehospital diagnostic and therapeutic approach towards breast lumps which may be malignant. To evaluate these factors we carried out a prospective investigation at the Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.We studied 100 new patients with breast cancer seen in a special clinic over a 12-week period, excluding patients who did not have a palpable lump and those who had had an operation in another hospital more than six months previously.Fifty-seven of the patients were from urban and 43 from rural areas. Only 20 patients were aware of breast cancer before the onset of their illness. They were mainly from an urban background, educated and had a family history of breast and other malignancies. The total duration of illness ranged from 1 week to 10 years (mean 11.3 months) and the time to first visit ranged from 1 day to 9.5 years (mean 6.7 months). The delay between the first contact with a doctor to the date seen in the Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital thus amounted to a mean of 4.6 months. The duration of illness as well as time to first visit was also significantly shorter in urban patients, those who were educated and those who were aware of the disease. Fine needle aspiration cytology was used in 50 patients and was diagnostic in 39. Thirty of the 100 patients had no diagnostic investigations. Of the 43 patients treated elsewhere, the operation had been inadequate in 17 and 27 of the 43 patients were found to have had faulty adjuvant therapy. Many patients did not carry their operation notes and histopathology reports and when these were available, they were often of poor quality. The use of staging investigations was incomplete so much so that in 22 patients the disease could not be staged at all because of poor records.Breast cancer is seen in our hospital in an advanced stage because most patients are unaware of the disease. However, the treating physician also contributes to delay in the diagnosis, uses the diagnostic and staging investigations improperly, performs inadequate surgery and prescribes inappropriate adjuvant treatment. Record keeping is also of a poor quality. We need to provide more information to both patients and doctors about breast cancer.

Craniofacial osteogenic sarcomas are rare primary malignant bone tumors and very few cases involving zygomatic bone were reported in literature. We present our experience of multimodality management of a case of primary osteogenic sarcoma of zygoma. Wide radical excision of the tumor including the parotid gland was done followed by three cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy and fifty Gy of external radiotherapy. The patient is disease-free at two years follow-up. Till 1970s, craniofacial osteogenic sarcomas were managed mainly by radical surgery with a high local failure rate. With the advances made in the field of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, multimodality therapy is playing a major role in the treatment of these aggressive tumors with better overall and disease-free survival.

Twenty patients with thoracic stomach were subjected to hepatobiliary scintigraphy for the diagnosis of duodenogastric reflux. The results of the radionuclide studies were correlated with those of endoscopy and biochemical estimation of total intragastric bile acid. Hepatobiliary scintigraphy was found to be more sensitive (91.6%) and accurate (95%) than endoscopy (25% and 55% respectively) and biochemical estimation of total intragastric bile acid content (66.6% and 80% respectively). Being noninvasive and physiological, radionuclide study appears suitable for routine clinical use in the diagnosis of duodeno-gastric reflux.

A rare case of papillary carcinoma of the thyroglossal duct remnant with Hashimoto's thyroiditis of the nonneoplastic ectopic thyroid tissue and the thyroid gland is described. The need for fine-needle aspiration cytologic examination in the management is stressed. The prognosis is excellent when the tumor is limited to the ectopic thyroid tissue and managed by a combination of the Sistrunk procedure and subtotal thyroidectomy followed by long-term thyroid suppression.

The classical approach to management of intestinal hemorrhage due to typhoid ulceration has been conservative. In, however, the event of massive, persistent and life-threatening hemorrhage not responding to conservative measures, early surgical intervention is life-saving, controls typhoid toxemia rapidly and presents no special difficulties. A right hemicolectomy is recommended. Four such patients treated by us with bowel resection have had an uneventful recovery.

Thirty seven cases of carcinoma of skin treated with electron-beam irradiation over a period of three years have been analysed retrospectively. Majority of lesions were in head and neck and basal-cell carcinoma was the commonest histological type. Of twenty-one patients followed, seventeen (81%) achieved complete remission and remained disease free for a period of one to three years. Cosmetic results were excellent. Role of electron-beam in the management of these superficial cancers and its advantage over the conventional radiation therapy methods have been highlighted. Radiation therapy utilising electron-beams form a very useful modality in the management of skin cancers, especially those arising in head and neck.