Background: With the pandemic gaining a firm foothold globally, various governments world-wide are trying hard to halt its unprecedented spread. The pandemic is challenging the healthcare professionals in unique ways and forcing the frontline fighters to come up with dynamic changes in almost all disciplines of medical science. This article is aimed at a detailed review of the exist-ing guidelines for radiotherapy practice during this pandemic from across the world. Methods: This review has been organised under specific subheadings that pertains to the functioning of a Radiation Oncology facility in South Asian countries like India. After a detailed Zoom video conference between the authors, it was decided to focus the review under the following sub-headings: staff allocation, staff education, screening of patients, patient waiting area modifica-tion, patient selection, radiotherapy planning and execution, review of patients on radiotherapy, brachytherapy, inpatient admissions, follow up, resident training and treatment of suspected or positive COVID 19 patients.Results: After discussion among the authors, a consensus working suggestion during the COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed for a radiotherapy center in a South Asian country like India. All the authors worked simultaneously on a Google doc docu-ment to develop this manuscript. Conclusions: This paper can be a reference document for the functioning of a radiotherapy facility during the COVID19 pandemic. As the infrastructure of different institutes vary and so does each patient, the importance of fine tuning and tailoring our final decisions before treating a patient in this unprecedented crisis cannot be undermined.
<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Spinal atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumour (AT/RT) is exquisitely rare and constitutes 2% of all AT/RTs. <b><i>Case Presentation:</i></b> A 6-year-old boy presented with low backache for the last 5 months. MRI of the spine showed a 1.5 × 1.5 × 4.7 cm intradural extramedullary mass extending from D10 to D12, causing compression of the conus medullaris. With a preoperative diagnosis of ependymoma, a gross total resection (GTR) of tumour was performed. Post-operative histopathology showed AT/RT. The tumour cells were immunopositive for cytokeratin, epithelial membrane antigen, smooth muscle actin, and p53 and immunonegative for MIC2, desmin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and INI1. Post-operative neuraxis MRI revealed post-operative changes (D10–D12) with a 9 mm enhancing lesion at L5-S1 junction suggesting drop metastasis. There was no lesion in brain. Cerebrospinal fluid cytology did not show any malignant cell. The metastatic work-up was normal. He received 3 cycles of chemotherapy with ICE regimen (ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide). Subsequently, he received craniospinal irradiation (CSI)-36 Gy/20 fractions/4 weeks followed by focal boost to primary tumour bed and spinal drop metastasis-14.4 Gy/8 fractions/1.5 weeks. Thereafter, he received 3 more cycles of ICE regimen. End-of-treatment MRI spine showed post-op changes (D10–D12) and 38.9% reduction of the L5-S1 lesion suggesting partial response. Six monthly spinal MRI showed serial reduction of the metastatic lesion leading to complete response (CR) 1 year after completion of treatment. On last follow-up (30 months from the initial diagnosis), he was neurologically intact and in CR. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Multimodality management comprising GTR of tumour, CSI followed by focal boost, and multiagent chemotherapy (ICE) can lead to successful outcome in patients with this rare and aggressive spinal tumour.
There are limited examples of gall bladder adenocarcinoma with simultaneous metastasis to breast in the English literature. Our case showed an unusual dissemination of gall bladder cancer.
Introduction: This study aimed to determine the radiation dose to the spleen in adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for gastric cancer, resulting in haematological toxicities. Methods: This retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database was conducted at a tertiary referral cancer centre. All patients with biopsy-proven non-metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma planned for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy from January 2017 to December 2021 were included. The mean dose to the spleen (Dmean) was estimated and correlated with the development of haematological toxicities. Results: The mean spleen volume was 186·65 cc. The Dmean to the spleen was 35·35 Gy (20–42 Gy). Grade 3 leukopenia was observed in 67%, grade 4 in 15%, and grade 3 thrombocytopenia was noted in 41% of patients. Radiotherapy (RT) dose > 35·5 Gy to the spleen resulted in ≥ grade 3 leukopenia. RT dose ≥ 36·5 Gy resulted in grade 3 thrombocytopenia. The occurrence of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia was also affected by the location of the primary gastric cancer (higher incidence in distal than in proximal tumours). Conclusion: The spleen should be considered as an important organs at risk during adjuvant RT for gastric cancer. Dmean to the spleen should be < 35·5 Gy to prevent major haematological toxicities.
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