Role of Radiation Therapy in the Management of Locally Advanced Vulvar Cancer-15 Years of Experience at a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India.

Vulvar carcinoma represents 3-5% of all gynecological malignancies and 1% of female cancers. Primary surgical excision is the cornerstone of treatment for early-stage invasive disease. Adjuvant radiation therapy reduces the risk of local recurrence in patients with high-risk features, and radical chemoradiation is an option for locally advanced vulvar cancer.

Can Pretreatment MRI and Planning CT Radiomics Improve Prediction of Complete Pathological Response in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Following Neoadjuvant Treatment?

Objective(s): The treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) differs largely in individuals treated for rectal cancer. In this study, we investigated the role of radiomics to predict the pathological response in locally advanced rectal cancers at different treatment time points: (1) before the start of any treatment using baseline T2-weighted MRI (T2W-MR) and (2) at the start of radiation treatment using planning CT.

Methods: Patients on nCRT followed by surgery between June 2017 to December 2019 were included in the study.

Strategies for primary HPV test-based cervical cancer screening programme in resource-limited settings in India: Results from a quasi-experimental pragmatic implementation trial.

Background: In order for low and middle income countries (LMIC) to transition to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) test based cervical cancer screening, a greater understanding of how to implement these evidence based interventions (EBI) among vulnerable populations is needed. This paper documents outcomes of an implementation research on HPV screening among women from tribal, rural, urban slum settings in India.

Methods: A mixed-method, pragmatic, quasi-experimental trial design was used.

Development and validation of a novel scoring system to predict the risk of uterine perforation during intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer.

Objective: To develop and validate a novel scoring system for predicting the risk of uterine perforation during brachytherapy (BT) in cervical cancer patients and to stratify patients based on this score to guide the use of ultrasound guidance during BT.

Methods: Fifty patients with uterine perforation during BT between January 2018 and December 2020 were included. Common reasons for perforation were identified and a scoring system was developed.

Utility of Mid-treatment DWI in Selecting Pathological Responders to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer.

Purpose: Pathological complete response correlates with better clinical outcomes in locally advanced esophageal cancer (LA-EC). However, there is lack of prognostic markers to identify patients in the current setting of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) followed by surgery. This study evaluates the utility of mid-treatment diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in identifying pathological responders of NACRT.

Training for next-generation gynaecologic surgical & radiation oncologists - opportunities & challenges.

The global increase in cancer burden is a challenge for countries with scarce resources. Amongst all the malignancies, gynaecological cancer still continues to have a high incidence and prevalence leading to significant morbidity and mortality. While a multipronged strategy of decreasing the gynaecological cancer burden is a global priority, one of the key strategies to decrease the morbidity and mortality is to train gynaecological oncology specialists.