Wide Composite Resection of Sternal Metastasis & Reconstruction Using Titanium Mesh Implant and Myocutaneous Flap in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Case Report of Two Cases

Differentiated Thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with distant skeletal metastases is associated with a very poor prognosis and are unfortunately resistant to radioiodine therapy (RIT). Surgical removal of the metastases in such selected cases is a beneficial adjunct to RIT. We report two cases of DTC with sternal metastases whom we successfully managed with surgical resection of the sternal lesion with reconstruction of the chest wall defect using titanium mesh implant and myocutaneous flap.

'AJ's Orbicularis Oris Stitch: A Novel and Simple Technique of Reconstructing Central Arch Mandibular Defects in Resource-Constrained Set Up'

Lip and oral cavity SCC account for 2nd highest incidence of cancers and 3rd most common cause of mortality from cancer in India. Reconstruction of defects of central arch invading cancers results in poor cosmetic and functional outcomes if free flaps are not used. 30 patients with Oral SCC in the age group 20-75 years requiring central arch segmental mandibulectomy were included. Reconstruction was done with pedicled bipaddled PMMC flap with 'AJ's orbicularis oris stitch' using Fiber wire. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to extent of lip and skin loss post excision of primary tumour. Patients were evaluated with subjective scores for drooling, oral competence and cosmesis. There were 4, 12, 9 and 5 patients in Group A, B, C and D respectively. Mean subjective scores using our technique for drooling, oral competence and cosmesis were 3.75/4,3.75/4 and 3.5/4 for group A, 3.45/4, 3.36/4 and 3.09/4 for group B, 2.8/4, 2.6/4 and 2.3/4 for group C defects and 2.5/4, 3/4 and 2.5/4 for group D defects respectively. Over all scores for all patients were 3.2/4, 3.14/4 and 2.84/4 for drooling, oral competence and cosmesis. This simple, quick and inexpensive technique of reconstruction of central mandibular arch defects can drastically improve cosmetic and functional outcomes in a resource restrained set up. However, long term results and comparison studies are required for standardisation of the technique.

Large Brown Tumour of Mandible with Bleeding as Initial Presentation: A Case Report

Brown Tumour or Osteitis fibrous cystic or Von-Recklinghausen disease of bone is a non-malignant condition due to abnormal metabolism of bones in hyperparathyroidism. Although pathognomonic of hyperparathyroidism, brown tumours are rare and only case reports are found in literature. We report a case of brown tumour of mandible with recurrent episodes of bleeding. A 46 year old male patient presented in emergency with bleeding from ulceroproliferative mass from left floor of mouth. After control of bleeding, radiological, laboratory and histopathological investigations were done that led to the diagnosis of brown tumour of mandible in the presence of parathyroid adenoma of left lower parathyroid gland. Left upper and lower parthyroidectomy was done with segmental resection of mandible with mass and titanium plating. Brown tumour of facial bones is a rare entity. Very rarely it can reach enormous sizes to cause bleeding. Although parathyroidectomy and correction of parathormone levels cause regression of small tumours, large brown tumours with complications should be managed with surgical resection and reconstruction.

Solitary endobronchial plasmacytoma-a rare differential of an endobronchial mass

Diagnostic dilemma, owing to the inconclusiveness of biopsy results, often leaves us with limited options to offer to the patients upfront, amongst the various armamentarium available. We hereby report a rare case of extramedullary plasmacytoma, whose diagnosis was established only on the final histopathology report with the aid of immunohistochemistry. A 50-year-old gentleman presented to our outpatient setup with computed tomography suggestive of a well-defined endobronchial mass occupying the left lower lobe bronchus. However, bronchoscopy and computed tomography-guided biopsies were inconclusive. After a routine metastatic workup, the patient underwent a left lower lobectomy following a provisional diagnosis of carcinoid on the frozen section. The final histopathology was solitary endobronchial plasmacytoma. Postoperative myeloma workup was within normal limits and the patient is doing well and disease free at 8 months of follow-up. This rare differential needs to be kept in mind while evaluating a case of well-defined endobronchial growth.

Oral Carcinoma Cuniculatum: A Variant of Squamous cell Carcinoma with Unique Histological Characteristics and a Diagnostic Challenge

Oral carcinoma cuniculatum (OCC) is a rare squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) variant with low incidence often due to misdiagnosis. This report aims to highlight this unique variant of SCC which is suggested to have a better prognosis with a focus on its histopathological features in comparison with similar clinical entities.