JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2020
Laryngotracheal trauma is rare but can pose serious threats to one's life. Presenting symptom... more Laryngotracheal trauma is rare but can pose serious threats to one's life. Presenting symptoms vary according to the severity of injury. Immediate Airway control is first step in the management, intubation should be considered by a senior member of the trauma team if the injury is minor while tracheostomy should be reserved for more severe injuries. Evaluation by a fibre-optic laryngoscopy and CT scan should be done whenever possible. Reconstruction is done according to the site involved using suture, titanium miniplates and stents. Tissue engineering has added a new horizon in this management but up till now complete laryngotracheal regeneration is very far-fetched, but tissue regeneration at individual sites have shown some positive results. More work needs to be done in this less explored field including laryngeal transplantation.
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2020
Objective To determine the association between site and size of perforation of the tympanic membr... more Objective To determine the association between site and size of perforation of the tympanic membrane and the level of conductive hearing. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2015 to October 2016 at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi and comprised patients with tympanic membrane perforation without any other middle-ear disease. Karl-Storz Rigid Endoscope attached to a camera was used to take pictures of the tympanic membrane. Site of the perforation was determined using a vertical line to divide the membrane into two anterior and posterior halves. Size of the perforation was calculated as a percentage of the total membrane using Image J software. Data analysis was done using Stata 12. RESULTS Of the 55 patients, 29(53%) were males and 26(47%) were females. The overall mean age was 33+/-15 years. With every 5% increase in the size of perforation, the hearing loss increased by 1 decibel. A difference of 5.5 decibels was noted between anterior and posterior p...
Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast enhanced CT scan to detect cervical n... more Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast enhanced CT scan to detect cervical nodal metastasis in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma keeping final histopathology as gold standard. Methods: Cross sectional study conducted from 1st January 2015 - 31st October 2016. All patients undergoing surgery who had their CT scans done at our centre were included in the study. Diagnostic accuracy of CT scans was calculated using final histopathology as gold standard. All CT scan were reviewed by consultant radiologist. Results: Total 100 patients were reviewed, 70% were female, 55% had buccal and 32% had tongue cancer. 11 cases of T1, 20 cases of T2 , 4 cases of T3 and 21 cases of T4 stages were staged similarly by CT scan and histopathology, the kappa value of38.8%, p value <0.01. 6 cases of N1, 1 case of N2a , 9 cases of N2b, 3 cases of N2c, 1 case of N3 and 29 cases of N0 stages were staged similarly by CT scan and histopathology, with kappa value of 28.1%, p value of &l...
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 2021
Tumors of the salivary glands are rare and have various histo-pathological subtypes. The overall ... more Tumors of the salivary glands are rare and have various histo-pathological subtypes. The overall incidence is 2.5–3 per 100,000 patients per year. Myoepithelioma of the parotid gland is very rare with an incidence of only 1–1.5% among all salivary gland tumors. The diagnostic criteria for benign myoepithelioma were laid down on the basis of the work of Barnes and Sciubba. A 30-year-old lady presented to our university with a mass slowly increasing in size. There were no aggravating and/or relieving factors found. On examination a 3 × 3 cm diffuse swelling was found around the right pre auricular area. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) was performed. The findings were suggestive of a pleomorphic adenoma. The patient underwent a right sided superficial parotidectomy to remove the tumor. The final histopathology report revealed the tumor to be a myoepithelioma. Myoepithelioma is a benign salivary gland neoplasm formed almost entirely of myoepithelial cells arranged in a sheet, island or cord-like fashion. On CT scans, it presents as a well-circumscribed homogenous lesion with lobulated or smooth margins. Myoepitheliomas may also have nodules that enhance under contrast and areas of linear bands that do not. The recommended treatment for a myoepithelioma is complete surgical excision with wide margins. It has a very low recurrence rate compared to the 15–18% recurrence rate for pleomorphic adenomas. Utilization of immunohistochemical staining is of utmost importance in suspected myoepithelioma cases to ensure proper treatment and follow-up. Myoepitheliomas are rare tumors which must be included in the differential if a patient presents with a tumor of characteristics similar to those described above. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy are useful tools for the diagnosis of myoepitheliomas.
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2021
External auditory canal, like other epithelialized surfaces is predisposed to malignancies such a... more External auditory canal, like other epithelialized surfaces is predisposed to malignancies such as Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), melanomas and adenocarcinomas. In this background, malignancies like adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) are a rare occurrence and need to be thoroughly evaluated both locally and for distant extension. The malignancy needs to be addressed with an aggressive approach surgically with adequate marginal clearance. The role of radiation is debatable considering the outcomes in the limited data. Here we present the case of a 35-year-old female who came in with otalgia and otorrhea associated with a mass in the external auditory canal. After biopsy and imaging, a diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma was made and the patient was managed accordingly.
Introduction Tumors of the parotid gland are heterogeneous. The purpose of the drain placement is... more Introduction Tumors of the parotid gland are heterogeneous. The purpose of the drain placement is to evacuate fluid that has a potential to accumulate in the dead space and cause infection after parotidectomy. Objectives To evaluate the factors associated with drain output among patients submitted to parotidectomy. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1994 to December 2014. Patients who underwent parotidectomy were included in the study. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with drain output. Results A total of 193 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 46.3 years, and 57% of them were male. Length of surgery (β coefficient = 24.2; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 4.94–85.26), type of neck dissection (modified radical neck dissection: β = 93.9; 95% CI: 30.47–157.38; selective neck dissecti...
Introduction Critical weight loss is defined as an unintentional weight loss of ≥ 5% at 1 month o... more Introduction Critical weight loss is defined as an unintentional weight loss of ≥ 5% at 1 month or ≥ 10% at 6 months from the start of treatment. Critical weight loss leads to deterioration of the immune function and reduced tolerance to treatment (surgery ± radiochemotherapy) as well as increased complication rates. Objective Critical weight loss, defined as a weight loss of ≥ 5% after 1 month or ≥ 10% after 6 months from the start of treatment, is not uncommon in head and neck cancer patients. We aimed to assess the factors associated with critical weight loss during the treatment of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed at the Aga Khan University Hospital, in Karachi, Pakistan, on 125 patients. Patients receiving adjuvant therapy were considered exposed, and the outcome was critical weight loss. Results The mean age of presentation was 46.9 ± 12.8 years in patients undergoing surgery and adjuvant therapy, with 119 (79.3%)...
Objective Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common endocrine malignancies with a rapidly inc... more Objective Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common endocrine malignancies with a rapidly increasing worldwide presence. In Pakistan, it is more prevalent in females than males and has an incidence rate of 2.1%. Obesity and excess body mass index (BMI) has been linked to several cancers and is thought to be a risk factor for TC. We aim to investigate the incidence of TC in our population and understand it's correlation with obesity. Subjects The study was a retrospective case series conducted in the years 2000 to 2014, at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan where 156 patients who had been diagnosed and treated for TC were analyzed. Clinicopathological data was collected from medical records of these patients and weight and height were measured, pre-surgery, post-surgery, and at follow up. The BMI was correlated with patient variables for any significant associations. Results The patient set comprised of 38.5% males and 61.5% females with a mean age of ...
Introduction Oral cavity carcinoma is an aggressive tumor, with the tongue being one of the most ... more Introduction Oral cavity carcinoma is an aggressive tumor, with the tongue being one of the most common subsites of involvement. Surgery is a gold standard method of dealing with advanced-stage tumors. However, for early-stage carcinomas of the tongue, the management remains controversial. Several studies have indicated that early-stage cancers have a high chance of occult cervical node metastasis, which, if left untreated, can greatly affect the prognosis. Certain parameters can help identify patients with occult cervical node metastases, and can avoid unnecessary neck dissection in node negative patients. Tumor thickness is one such objective parameter. Objective To estimate the frequency of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with early-stage, node-negative (N0) squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Methods In-patient hospital data was reviewed from January 2013 until March 2014, and 78 patients who underwent primary resection of the tumor and neck dissection for biopsy-p...
Introduction TP53 mutation and overexpression have been correlated with poor survival in many can... more Introduction TP53 mutation and overexpression have been correlated with poor survival in many cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We aim to understand the role of TP53 overexpression in OSCC in our population and correlate it with five-year survival to test its viability as a prognostic marker for OSCC patients. Materials and methods Patients with biopsy proven OSCC at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2000 to January 2008 were recruited. Immunohistochemistry was used to establish TP53 status and the results were published. Following up on these patients, five-year data were collected and correlated with TP53 status and other clinicopathologic parameters. Results Overexpression of TP53 was not significantly associated with five-year survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.543; 95% CI: 0.911-2.612; p = 0.107). Conclusion Although we had proven statistical relevance when correlated with overall survival in our previous study, we were unable to extend the same relevan...
International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology, 2017
Introduction Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the head and neck, with the... more Introduction Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the head and neck, with the buccal mucosa being the most common site involved. Early locoregional metastasis is a hallmark of this disease, and early stage tumors may harbor metastatic nodes that are occult. Certain parameters can help identify high-risk patients for whom the pattern of occult nodal metastasis can be predicted. Tumor thickness is one such objective parameter. Objective To determine the relationship of tumor thickness with neck node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa. Methods A retrospective chart review of 102 patients with biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa with N0 Necks was performed. All patients underwent tumor resection with neck dissection, and the tumor thickness was measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results A total of 102 patients, of which 73.53% were males and 26.47% were females. The mean age of the patients wa...
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: a). To evaluate the etiological factors of epistaxis. b). To evaluate theimp... more ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: a). To evaluate the etiological factors of epistaxis. b). To evaluate theimportance of nasal examination in the diagnosis. c). To compare the efficacy of varioustreatment methods. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of Otolaryngologyand Head Neck Surgery Nishtar Hospital Multan and Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi.MATERIALS &amp; METHODS The study consists of a prospective evaluation of 100 patients presentingwith nasal bleeding and requiring admission. All the patients were thoroughly evaluated with a detailedhistory, physical examination, systemic examination and ENT examination and a same set of investigationswere done in all the patients. RESULTS: In our series inflammatory affections of nose and sinuses andtrauma to nose are commonest etiologies of pediatric epistaxis. Among the treatment modalitiescauterization was only effective when a bleeding point can be identified and was accessible. Comparisonof various packing materials showed Vaseline gauze to be most useful and cost effective. Submucousresection was effective in controlling bleeding after failure of nasal packing but arterial ligation was lastresort if bleeding could not be controlled with anterior and posterior nasal packing. CONCLUSIONS:Inflammation of the nose and sinuses and trauma to nose is commonest etiological factors in pediatricepistaxis. Chemical cautery is as effective as electric cautery in control of simple epistaxis where bleedingpoint can be identified. Vaseline gauze should be used for anterior nasal packing being efficacious as wellas cost effective. Submucous resection may be considered as effective step if packing fails to controlbleeding before proceeding for arterial ligation.
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2020
Laryngotracheal trauma is rare but can pose serious threats to one's life. Presenting symptom... more Laryngotracheal trauma is rare but can pose serious threats to one's life. Presenting symptoms vary according to the severity of injury. Immediate Airway control is first step in the management, intubation should be considered by a senior member of the trauma team if the injury is minor while tracheostomy should be reserved for more severe injuries. Evaluation by a fibre-optic laryngoscopy and CT scan should be done whenever possible. Reconstruction is done according to the site involved using suture, titanium miniplates and stents. Tissue engineering has added a new horizon in this management but up till now complete laryngotracheal regeneration is very far-fetched, but tissue regeneration at individual sites have shown some positive results. More work needs to be done in this less explored field including laryngeal transplantation.
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2020
Objective To determine the association between site and size of perforation of the tympanic membr... more Objective To determine the association between site and size of perforation of the tympanic membrane and the level of conductive hearing. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2015 to October 2016 at Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi and comprised patients with tympanic membrane perforation without any other middle-ear disease. Karl-Storz Rigid Endoscope attached to a camera was used to take pictures of the tympanic membrane. Site of the perforation was determined using a vertical line to divide the membrane into two anterior and posterior halves. Size of the perforation was calculated as a percentage of the total membrane using Image J software. Data analysis was done using Stata 12. RESULTS Of the 55 patients, 29(53%) were males and 26(47%) were females. The overall mean age was 33+/-15 years. With every 5% increase in the size of perforation, the hearing loss increased by 1 decibel. A difference of 5.5 decibels was noted between anterior and posterior p...
Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast enhanced CT scan to detect cervical n... more Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of contrast enhanced CT scan to detect cervical nodal metastasis in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma keeping final histopathology as gold standard. Methods: Cross sectional study conducted from 1st January 2015 - 31st October 2016. All patients undergoing surgery who had their CT scans done at our centre were included in the study. Diagnostic accuracy of CT scans was calculated using final histopathology as gold standard. All CT scan were reviewed by consultant radiologist. Results: Total 100 patients were reviewed, 70% were female, 55% had buccal and 32% had tongue cancer. 11 cases of T1, 20 cases of T2 , 4 cases of T3 and 21 cases of T4 stages were staged similarly by CT scan and histopathology, the kappa value of38.8%, p value <0.01. 6 cases of N1, 1 case of N2a , 9 cases of N2b, 3 cases of N2c, 1 case of N3 and 29 cases of N0 stages were staged similarly by CT scan and histopathology, with kappa value of 28.1%, p value of &l...
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 2021
Tumors of the salivary glands are rare and have various histo-pathological subtypes. The overall ... more Tumors of the salivary glands are rare and have various histo-pathological subtypes. The overall incidence is 2.5–3 per 100,000 patients per year. Myoepithelioma of the parotid gland is very rare with an incidence of only 1–1.5% among all salivary gland tumors. The diagnostic criteria for benign myoepithelioma were laid down on the basis of the work of Barnes and Sciubba. A 30-year-old lady presented to our university with a mass slowly increasing in size. There were no aggravating and/or relieving factors found. On examination a 3 × 3 cm diffuse swelling was found around the right pre auricular area. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) was performed. The findings were suggestive of a pleomorphic adenoma. The patient underwent a right sided superficial parotidectomy to remove the tumor. The final histopathology report revealed the tumor to be a myoepithelioma. Myoepithelioma is a benign salivary gland neoplasm formed almost entirely of myoepithelial cells arranged in a sheet, island or cord-like fashion. On CT scans, it presents as a well-circumscribed homogenous lesion with lobulated or smooth margins. Myoepitheliomas may also have nodules that enhance under contrast and areas of linear bands that do not. The recommended treatment for a myoepithelioma is complete surgical excision with wide margins. It has a very low recurrence rate compared to the 15–18% recurrence rate for pleomorphic adenomas. Utilization of immunohistochemical staining is of utmost importance in suspected myoepithelioma cases to ensure proper treatment and follow-up. Myoepitheliomas are rare tumors which must be included in the differential if a patient presents with a tumor of characteristics similar to those described above. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy are useful tools for the diagnosis of myoepitheliomas.
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2021
External auditory canal, like other epithelialized surfaces is predisposed to malignancies such a... more External auditory canal, like other epithelialized surfaces is predisposed to malignancies such as Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), melanomas and adenocarcinomas. In this background, malignancies like adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) are a rare occurrence and need to be thoroughly evaluated both locally and for distant extension. The malignancy needs to be addressed with an aggressive approach surgically with adequate marginal clearance. The role of radiation is debatable considering the outcomes in the limited data. Here we present the case of a 35-year-old female who came in with otalgia and otorrhea associated with a mass in the external auditory canal. After biopsy and imaging, a diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma was made and the patient was managed accordingly.
Introduction Tumors of the parotid gland are heterogeneous. The purpose of the drain placement is... more Introduction Tumors of the parotid gland are heterogeneous. The purpose of the drain placement is to evacuate fluid that has a potential to accumulate in the dead space and cause infection after parotidectomy. Objectives To evaluate the factors associated with drain output among patients submitted to parotidectomy. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 1994 to December 2014. Patients who underwent parotidectomy were included in the study. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with drain output. Results A total of 193 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 46.3 years, and 57% of them were male. Length of surgery (β coefficient = 24.2; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 4.94–85.26), type of neck dissection (modified radical neck dissection: β = 93.9; 95% CI: 30.47–157.38; selective neck dissecti...
Introduction Critical weight loss is defined as an unintentional weight loss of ≥ 5% at 1 month o... more Introduction Critical weight loss is defined as an unintentional weight loss of ≥ 5% at 1 month or ≥ 10% at 6 months from the start of treatment. Critical weight loss leads to deterioration of the immune function and reduced tolerance to treatment (surgery ± radiochemotherapy) as well as increased complication rates. Objective Critical weight loss, defined as a weight loss of ≥ 5% after 1 month or ≥ 10% after 6 months from the start of treatment, is not uncommon in head and neck cancer patients. We aimed to assess the factors associated with critical weight loss during the treatment of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma patients. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed at the Aga Khan University Hospital, in Karachi, Pakistan, on 125 patients. Patients receiving adjuvant therapy were considered exposed, and the outcome was critical weight loss. Results The mean age of presentation was 46.9 ± 12.8 years in patients undergoing surgery and adjuvant therapy, with 119 (79.3%)...
Objective Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common endocrine malignancies with a rapidly inc... more Objective Thyroid cancer (TC) is one of the most common endocrine malignancies with a rapidly increasing worldwide presence. In Pakistan, it is more prevalent in females than males and has an incidence rate of 2.1%. Obesity and excess body mass index (BMI) has been linked to several cancers and is thought to be a risk factor for TC. We aim to investigate the incidence of TC in our population and understand it's correlation with obesity. Subjects The study was a retrospective case series conducted in the years 2000 to 2014, at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan where 156 patients who had been diagnosed and treated for TC were analyzed. Clinicopathological data was collected from medical records of these patients and weight and height were measured, pre-surgery, post-surgery, and at follow up. The BMI was correlated with patient variables for any significant associations. Results The patient set comprised of 38.5% males and 61.5% females with a mean age of ...
Introduction Oral cavity carcinoma is an aggressive tumor, with the tongue being one of the most ... more Introduction Oral cavity carcinoma is an aggressive tumor, with the tongue being one of the most common subsites of involvement. Surgery is a gold standard method of dealing with advanced-stage tumors. However, for early-stage carcinomas of the tongue, the management remains controversial. Several studies have indicated that early-stage cancers have a high chance of occult cervical node metastasis, which, if left untreated, can greatly affect the prognosis. Certain parameters can help identify patients with occult cervical node metastases, and can avoid unnecessary neck dissection in node negative patients. Tumor thickness is one such objective parameter. Objective To estimate the frequency of cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with early-stage, node-negative (N0) squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. Methods In-patient hospital data was reviewed from January 2013 until March 2014, and 78 patients who underwent primary resection of the tumor and neck dissection for biopsy-p...
Introduction TP53 mutation and overexpression have been correlated with poor survival in many can... more Introduction TP53 mutation and overexpression have been correlated with poor survival in many cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We aim to understand the role of TP53 overexpression in OSCC in our population and correlate it with five-year survival to test its viability as a prognostic marker for OSCC patients. Materials and methods Patients with biopsy proven OSCC at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2000 to January 2008 were recruited. Immunohistochemistry was used to establish TP53 status and the results were published. Following up on these patients, five-year data were collected and correlated with TP53 status and other clinicopathologic parameters. Results Overexpression of TP53 was not significantly associated with five-year survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.543; 95% CI: 0.911-2.612; p = 0.107). Conclusion Although we had proven statistical relevance when correlated with overall survival in our previous study, we were unable to extend the same relevan...
International Archives of Otorhinolaryngology, 2017
Introduction Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the head and neck, with the... more Introduction Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the head and neck, with the buccal mucosa being the most common site involved. Early locoregional metastasis is a hallmark of this disease, and early stage tumors may harbor metastatic nodes that are occult. Certain parameters can help identify high-risk patients for whom the pattern of occult nodal metastasis can be predicted. Tumor thickness is one such objective parameter. Objective To determine the relationship of tumor thickness with neck node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa. Methods A retrospective chart review of 102 patients with biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa with N0 Necks was performed. All patients underwent tumor resection with neck dissection, and the tumor thickness was measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results A total of 102 patients, of which 73.53% were males and 26.47% were females. The mean age of the patients wa...
ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: a). To evaluate the etiological factors of epistaxis. b). To evaluate theimp... more ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: a). To evaluate the etiological factors of epistaxis. b). To evaluate theimportance of nasal examination in the diagnosis. c). To compare the efficacy of varioustreatment methods. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Department of Otolaryngologyand Head Neck Surgery Nishtar Hospital Multan and Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi.MATERIALS &amp; METHODS The study consists of a prospective evaluation of 100 patients presentingwith nasal bleeding and requiring admission. All the patients were thoroughly evaluated with a detailedhistory, physical examination, systemic examination and ENT examination and a same set of investigationswere done in all the patients. RESULTS: In our series inflammatory affections of nose and sinuses andtrauma to nose are commonest etiologies of pediatric epistaxis. Among the treatment modalitiescauterization was only effective when a bleeding point can be identified and was accessible. Comparisonof various packing materials showed Vaseline gauze to be most useful and cost effective. Submucousresection was effective in controlling bleeding after failure of nasal packing but arterial ligation was lastresort if bleeding could not be controlled with anterior and posterior nasal packing. CONCLUSIONS:Inflammation of the nose and sinuses and trauma to nose is commonest etiological factors in pediatricepistaxis. Chemical cautery is as effective as electric cautery in control of simple epistaxis where bleedingpoint can be identified. Vaseline gauze should be used for anterior nasal packing being efficacious as wellas cost effective. Submucous resection may be considered as effective step if packing fails to controlbleeding before proceeding for arterial ligation.
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Papers by Sohail Awan