Background: Radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis is a major problem causing widespread clinical symptoms and may interfere with treatment plans, ultimately jeopardizing patient outcome. Zinc supplementation may be considered beneficial in preventing acute toxicity during chemoradiation. Aims and Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the effect of zinc supplementation on radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis in Stage III and IV-A oropharynx and hypopharynx cancers treated by hyperfractionated accelerated concomitant boost radiotherapy with weakly cisplatin. The objective behind the study is to know any changes in the onset, duration, and severity of oropharyngeal mucositis by implementation of oral zinc sulfate. Materials and Methods: The study is double-blinded randomized controlled assessment involving 120 patients (60 – control and 60 – experimental) treated with chemoradiation for oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. The experimental group received oral zinc sulfate 150 mg once daily during and after treatment, whereas the control group patients were given placebo. The categorical data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Pearson correlation. The Friedman test was used for comparison of oral mucositis grading between the groups. Results: A statistically significant difference was found in the zinc-supported experimental group showing delay in onset, decrease in severity, and duration of oropharyngeal mucositis. Conclusion: Zinc supplementation could be beneficial in managing oropharyngeal mucositis during chemoradiation of head-and-neck cancers with no untoward side effects.

Background: The grading of oral squamous cell carcinoma can be useful along with TNM staging in determining treatment plan. The aim is to evaluate the prognostic value of histopathological grading of oral squamous cell carcinoma and to find its importance in setting appropriate treatment plan.Methods: The study includes 60 oral squamous cell carcinoma cases surgically operated during January 2012 to December 2018. From the archival paraffin blocks and available resected specimens of each case, the histological parameters used in Bryne’s invasive grading system and Almangush BD model were evaluated and compared to their prognosis.Results: The parameters used in BD model-tumor budding and depth of invasion were found to be statistically significant with prognosis of the disease. Except for nuclear polymorphism, the parameters used in Bryne’s invasive front grading system do not correlate with prognosis.Conclusion: Based on the prognostic significance, tumor budding ≥5 buds in the invasive front area and depth of invasion ≥4mm can be used as risk factors in prospective clinical trials by considering them in early stage disparity cases for multimodality treatment approach and elective neck dissection.

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