[Polypropylene mesh for testicular prothesis implantation: A report of 57 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To search for an optimum method for testicular prothesis implantation in the treatment of testis loss. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the surgical methods and outcomes of 53 cases of terminal prostate cancer and 4 cases of unilateral testicular torsion treated by implantation of testicular prothesis with the polypropylene mesh. RESULTS: The 57 male patients all received testicular prothesis with the polypropylene mesh. All the patients were satisfied with the appearance and size of the scrotum after surgery. No scrotal hematoma, prosthesis infection, or autoimmune disease occurred postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Testis loss is not a rare condition clinically, for the treatment of which surgical implantation of testicular prothesis with the polypropylene mesh can achieve both a fine tissue compatibility and a desirable scrotal appearance.

[Significance of selective neck dissection in patients with cN0 thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of selective neck dissection in patients with cN0 thyroid carcinoma who have a high-risk of lateral neck lymph node metastasis. METHODS: Sixty three patients with cN0 thyroid carcinoma who have a high-risk of lateral neck lymph node metastasis were prospectively studied at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between August 2006 and June 2011. The patients with cN0 thyroid carcinoma easy to occur neck lymph node metastasis include: The maximum diameter of primary tumor is ≥ 2 cm; The primary tumor invaded the thyroid capsule; Lymph node metastasis in level VI is found; Lymph node enlargement in level III or/and IV were detected preoperatively by ultrasonography, but not considered as metastasis. The surgical procedure is that the selective neck dissection in level III and IV is performed depending on the collar incision of thyroid surgery. The lymph node chosen from the specimen has a frozen section. If lymph node metastasis is found in the frozen section, a functional neck dissection should be performed through prolonging the collar incision. RESULTS: All cases were pathologically confirmed as thyroid papillary carcinoma. The occult metastasis rate of lateral neck lymph nodes was 39.7%. According to the univariate analysis, the patients with thyroid capsule invasion and lymph node metastasis in level VI were more likely to have lateral neck lymph node metastasis, and the occult metastasis rate was 46.9% and 54.3%, respectively (P = 0.028, P = 0.008), and there were statistically no significant difference in the primary tumor size and the preoperative neck lymph node status by ultrasonography with occult metastasis of lateral neck lymph nodes (P = 0.803 and P = 0.072). According to the multivariate analysis, there was a significant correlation only between the lymph node metastasis in level VI and occult metastasis of lateral neck lymph nodes (P = 0.017), but there was no significant correlation with the thyroid capsule invasion, primary tumor size and neck lymph node status by preoperative ultrasonography in prediction of occult metastasis of lateral neck lymph nodes (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Selective neck dissection is feasible for the patients with cN0 thyroid carcinoma who have a high-risk lateral neck lymph node metastasis and the lateral occult metastatic lymph node can be promptly found and removed. We suggest that the selective neck dissection for level III and IV should be routinely performed in cN0 thyroid carcinoma patients with thyroid capsule invasion and lymph node metastasis in level VI.

A typically progressive dissection of the internal carotid artery with recurrent hiccups: A case report with continuous 2-year data recording.

Patients with internal carotid artery dissection (ICAD) usually report headache, neck pain, Horner's syndrome, and ischemic stroke. Because the posterior cranial nerve is involved, some patients may show different forms of posterior cranial nerve paralysis. There have been no reports of patients with ICAD showing repeated hiccups. Here, to help clinicians identify ICAD early and gain a better understanding of the atypical manifestations of the disease, we report an atypical case of recurrent hiccup symptoms caused by ICAD.

[Analysis of surgical treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To present the treatment results and to analyze the causes of recurrence in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective review of 600 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma treated between 1994 and 1999 was conducted. The primary lesions were originated from the left lobe in 188 cases, the right lobe in 290 cases, the isthmus in 8 cases, and multicentric in 114 cases. From the 600 cases, 584 were well-differentiated and 16 poorly differentiated. TNM stage:385 cases of stage I, 37 cases of stage II, 17 cases of stage III, and 161 cases of stage IV. Three hundred and one patients was N1b stage. All patients received surgical treatment. Among them, 19 cases received radiotherapy, 71 received (131)I-therapy and one case received concomitant radiotherapy and (131)I-therapy. RESULTS: There were 94 recurrent cases. Twenty-seven cases died of recurrence, metastasis and other diseases. The overall 10-year survival rate was 93.2%. The overall 10 year survival rates of stage I, II, III, and IV patients were 99.1%, 94.7%, 93.8%, and 78.5%, respectively (P < 0.01). The 10-year survival rate of lower-age group (< 45 years) was 99.4% and higher-age group (≥ 45 years) 82.1% (P < 0.01). The 10-year survival rate of patients with trachea invasion was 66.5%, significantly lower than the 95.1% in patients without trachea invasion (P < 0.01). The 10-year survival rate of well-differentiated cases was 94.9%, significantly higher than the 38.9% in the poorly differentiated cases (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that the TNM stage, differentiation degree and the thorough going surgical operation were independent risk factors for the prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: The TNM stage, differentiation degree and the thorough going surgical operation are independent risk factors for the prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

[Sentinel lymph node biopsy in papillary thyroid cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability and feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) of papillary thyroid carcinoma using combination of lymphoscintigraphy, the gamma probe and methylene blue staining techniques. METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma were entered in the study between August 2007 and August 2009. All cases were without clinical evidence of cervical lymph node involvement. The (99)Tc(m)-dextran of 74 MBq (2mCi) was injected intratumorally under ultrasound guidance about 2 h to 5 h prior to surgery. Methylene blue was injected around the tumor during surgery. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, intra-operative hand-held gamma probe detecting and methylene blue staining techniques were used to detect the sentinel lymph node (SLN). SLN biopsies were sent to prepare frozen sections and the results were compared with specimen of routine selective neck dissection. RESULTS: The SLNs were identified in all cases with the combination techniques. The SLN identification rates were 87.0% and 100% with methylene blue staining and lymphoscintigraphy plus probe scanning, respectively. Metastases in SLNs were revealed by frozen-section histology in 12 patients. In one case, SLNs frozen-section were negative, but metastasis was detected in routine histology. In other case both SLN and routine histology were negative, but metastasis was detected in non-SLN (level VI) neck dissection. The overall accuracy of the SLN biopsy was 91.3%, positive predictive value 100% and negative predictive value 81.8%. CONCLUSION: The results seem the SLN biopsy technique is a feasible and valuable method for detecting cervical lymph node metastasis and is helpful to decide performing neck dissection in patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma.

[DNA microarrays-based microRNA expression profiles derived from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of squammous cell carcinoma of larynx].

OBJECTIVE: To establish DNA microarrays-based microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of squamous cell carcinoma of larynx, using archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, and to screen out and identify the differentially expressed miRNAs associated with the biological characteristics of this malignant disease. METHODS: Total RNA was prepared from the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks. After quality identification and fluorescent labeling, the RNA samples were hybridized with the Agilent human miRNA microarrays which contains 723 probes for human miRNAs. The data was processed with the softwares GeneSpring GX and R-Project. RESULTS: From the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor blocks collected, 24 RNA samples were obtained with the quality accorded to the requirement of miRNA microarray analysis, and both the hybridization and consequent data processing were accomplished. A total of 319 miRNAs were identified and among them 96 were detected in all the 24 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks of laryngeal carcinoma; and 5 differentially expressed miRNAs (false discovery rate < 0.05) were found to be associated significantly with the lymphatic metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (P < 0.05), including miR-23a(*), miR-28-5p, miR-15a, miR-16 and miR-425. CONCLUSIONS: Histopathological archives of well-annotated formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens are the valuable resources for miRNA study including to collect RNA samples for miRNA microarray analysis. A panel of differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-23a(*), miR-28-5p, miR-15a, miR-16 and miR-425) derived from the miRNA expression profile may serve as the potential molecular biomarkers for the prediction of metastasis development in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

[A retrospective analysis of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the new knowledge of the anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC). METHODS: The clinical data of 58 patients (35 men, 23 women, aged 28 to 79 years) with ATC that were treated with various therapeutic modalities from 1981 to 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 25 patients received surgery alone (SA group) and 33 received surgery plus radiation (S + R group). The dosage of postoperative radiotherapy was 40-70 Gy. Four patients received biopsy, 24 received palliative surgery, and 30 received radical surgery. Only 2 patients received complete chemotherapy. RESULTS: ATC invaded trachea in 40 patients (69.0%), esophagus in 32 patients (55.2%), and carotid in 17 patients (29.3%). The cervical lymph node metastases occurred in 19 patients (32.8%). The overall 1-year survival rate was 37.8%, 3-year survival rate 31.2%, and 5-year survival rate 25.9%. The 5-year survival rate was 37.8% in S + R group but was only 9.9% in SA group (P = 0.0000). The 5-year survival rate was 41.4% in radical surgery subgroup but was only 12.4% in palliative surgery subgroup (P = 0.0023). In < or = 45-year-old subgroup (n = 4), the 5-year survival rate was 50.0%; however, in > 45-year-old subgroup, it was only 21.3%. In postoperative radiation < 60 Gy subgroup , the 5-year survival rate was 19.3%; however, in > or = 60 Gy group, it was 53.7% (P = 0.0000). Among all the 58 patients, some patients received palliative surgery because of tumor invasion in trachea (n = 16, 27.6%), esophagus (n = 8, 13.8%), carotid (n = 8, 13.8%), and other sites (n = 13, 22.4%). Twenty-four patients (61.5%) died of localrelapse, 2 (5.1%) of cervical lymphnode failure, 9 (23.1%) of metastasis, and 4 (10.3%) of other reasons. CONCLUSIONS: The prognosis of ATC is poor. Radical surgery and postoperative radiation > or = 60 Gy can improve the survival rate. Tumor invasion in trachea, esophagus, and carotid are the main reasons of palliative surgery. Local relapse is lethal.

[Long-term results of different treatment modalities in 464 hypopharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma patients].

OBJECTIVE: To present the treatment results and to identify the most effective therapeutic plan of different therapeutic modalities in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of hypopharynnx. METHODS: A retrospective review of 464 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx treated between 1958 and 1998 was accomplished. The clinical characteristics, results of different treatments were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 statistic software. RESULTS: Of 464 patients, the age ranged from 20 to 88 years (mean 56.3 years) and the male to female ratio was 5.5:1. The primary lesion of 383 were originated from the pyriform sinus, 40 from posterior pharyngeal wall and 41 from the postcricoid area. According to the UICC 1997 TNM staging system, 75% had T3 or T4 lesion or 92.2% stage III or IV on presentation. 65% had neck metastases. 202 patients were treated with preoperative radiation plus surgery (R + S), 22 with surgery plus postoperative radiation (S + R), 26 surgery alone (S), 40 patients with salvage surgery after radiotherapy failure (RF) and 174 patients with radiotherapy alone. The overall 5-year survival rate was 34.2%. The overall 5-year survival rate of R + S group was 46.3%, S + R group was 49.2%, S alone group 22.8%, RF group was 40.8%, radiotherapy alone group 18.0% (P < 0.01). The overall 5-year survival rate of R + S group was higher than that of S alone group (P = 0.046). The rate of larynx preservation in R + S group was 39.6% in contrast to that of S + R and S alone group of 16.7% (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The survival rate of patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx treated with combined therapy (R + S or S + R) is better than the other therapeutic modalities. R + S combined is able to offer an obviously higher rate of larynx preservation (39.6% vs 16.7%).

[Minimally invasive endoscopy-assisted neck dissection to treat lateral cervical metastasis of thyroid papillary carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: Traditional open surgery for lateral neck dissection for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) leaves an unsightly scar. It is necessary to apply small incision to complete lateral neck dissection with endoscopy-technique for PTC and to evaluate its feasibility and safety. METHODS: Between March 2010 and May 2011, 6 cases of PTC with no definite lymph node metastasis at level II-IV and 12 cases of PTC at T1-T4 with definite lymph node metastasis at level II-V received minimally invasive endoscopy-assisted lateral neck dissection. After accomplishing thyroidectomy and central compartment dissection, ipsilateral level II-IV,VI orII-VI dissection via small neck incision was performed. RESULTS: This procedure was carried out successfully in all 18 patients. The incision was 5 cm every patient. Postoperative pT1 was 5 cases, pT2 5 cases, pT3 6 cases, pT4 2 cases, pN0 5 cases, N1b 13 cases. Mean operative time for lateral neck dissection was 3.6 hours (ranging 2.5-5.0 hours). No significant blood loss or complications occurred. Thirteen patients showed lymph node metastases in both central or lateral neck. The mean number of harvested nodes was 33.1 (ranging 16-61). No residual or recurrent disease was found in 2-3 years follow-up time. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive video-assisted comprehensive neck dissection for metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma is feasible and safe with excellent cosmetic results.

[Clinical outcomes of salvage surgery for nasopharyngeal carcinoma after irradiation failure].

OBJECTIVE: To study salvage surgery for persistent or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after irradiation failure. METHODS: A total of 84 cases underwent salvage surgery for persistent or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after irradiation failure between 1993 and 2009 was reviewed. rTNM stage: rT1 34 cases, rT2 27 cases, rT3 12 cases and rT4 11 cases; rN0 70 cases, rN1 9 cases and rN2 5 cases; No with distance metastatic. The salvage surgeries were performed using maxillary swing approach (47 cases), transcervical-mandibulo-palatal approach (21 cases), palate nasopharyngectomy (6 cases), lateral rhinotomy (7 cases), and maxillectomy (3 cases). RESULTS: Persistent or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after irradiation failure was resected completely in 57 patients (67.9%) and there were microscopic residual diseases in 27 patients (32.1%). The median follow-up was 27 months. Postoperative recurrence occurred in 35 cases. Thirty-six patients died of recurrence, metastasis and other diseases. The overall 5 year survival rate was 43.6%. Cox regression analysis indicated the complete resection for persistent or recurrent disease and no cervical metastasis were two independent factors affecting survival. CONCLUSIONS: Salvage surgery for persistent or recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma after irradiation failure is an effective treatment.

[Surgical treatment and prognosis analysis on medullary thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characteristics, the surgical treatments and the prognostic factors of medullary thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: Eighty-two cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma undergoing surgeries between January 1999 and December 2004 were reviewed. There were 39 males and 43 females. Age ranged from 16 to 77 years old, with a median of 46 years old. The calcitonin, chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase were analysed by immunohistochemistry in samples, and calcitonin was detected in 24 cases. Of them, 28 cases underwent lobectomy with isthmectomy, 24 for remained lobe dissection, 16 for total thyroidectomy, and 14 only for neck and upper mediastinal lymph node dissection. Of the 82 cases, 68 cases underwent trachea esophageal ditch dissection, 53 for unilateral neck dissection, 11 for bilateral neck dissection, 13 for upper mediastinal lymph node dissection through trans-cervical approach, and 5 for mediastinal lymph node dissection through inverted T-shaped incision. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the expression rates of calcitonin, chromogranin A and neuron-specific enolase were 95.8%, 88.9% and 80.0% respectively. Total metastasis rate of neck lymph nodes was 68.8%, and the rates in level II, III, IV, V and VI were 27.3%, 47.7%, 59.1%, 11.4% and 52.3% respectively. The overall five-year survival rate was 87.8%. The recurrent rate of contralateral lobes was 5.8% and local recurrent rate was 7.3% respectively. Univariate analysis showed that gender, age and TNM stage were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis revealed that distant metastasis was an independent prognostic factor. CONCLUSIONS: Standard radical surgery of the primary and metastatic lesion is key to the treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Lobectomy with isthmectomy should be applied to sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma, with regular postoperative follow-up, and total thyroidectomy to familial or bilateral medullary thyroid carcinoma. Therefore, detecting the calcitonin is very important for medullary thyroid carcinoma patients' prognosis.

[Cervical lymph node metastasis in clinical N0 papillary thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the patterns of cervical lymph nodes metastasis and the surgical managements of cervical lymph nodes in clinical N0 (cN0) papillary thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: Fifty-one consecutive patients with papillary carcinomas without clinical evidence of cervical lymph node involvement were included in the study between August 2007 and September 2010, in which 53 sides underwent neck lymph node dissection. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy intra-operative hand-held gamma probe detecting and blue dye technique were used to detect the sentinel lymph node (SLN). SLNs were sent to frozen-section and the results were compared with specimen of routine selective neck dissection. All the pathologic specimens were reviewed by pathologists, counting the numbers of pathologic positive nodes and mapping the localization of positive nodes in level II, III, IV, V and VI respectively. The following criteria were used to study the predictive value of lateral neck compartment lymph node metastasis: age, multifocality of the tumor, extracapsular spread (ECS), tumor size, and the number of central compartment metastasis nodes. Univariate analysis with the χ2 test was used to analyze the statistical correlation between lateral neck compartment lymph node metastasis and the other clinical factors. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the multivariate correlates of lateral neck compartment metastasis. RESULTS: The occult lymph node metastasis and lateral neck metastasis rates were 77.4% and 58.5% respectively, central compartment metastasis ≥3 nodes was the only independent predictive factor for the metastasis in lateral neck. Twelve sides were pN0 and other 41 sides were pN+ in all 53 side specimens. Of 41 sides with pN+, 17 sides (41.5%) involved single site and 24 sides (58.5%) involved multi-sites. The distribution of metastasis lymph nodes:level VI 62.3%, level III 52.8%, level IV 30.2%, level II 18.9%, and level V 0%. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical occult lymph node metastasis in cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma mainly localizes in level VI, level III, level IV and level II.Selective neck dissection including level VI, III, IV, II is enough for papillary carcinoma without clinical evidence of cervical lymph node involvement.

[Squamous cell carcinoma of naso-ethmoid sinus: Analysis of 146 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of different therapeutic modalities for squamous cell carcinoma of the nose and ethmoid sinus and prognostic factors. METHODS: One hundred and forty-six cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the nose and ethmoid sinus treated from 1990 to 2007 were reviewed. Of the 146 cases, 28 were at stage I or II; 46 stage III; 72 stage IV. Forty-one patients were treated with preoperative radiation plus surgery (R + S), 22 patients with surgery plus postoperative radiation (S + R), 5 patients with surgery alone (SA), 78 patients with radiotherapy alone (RA). RESULTS: The overall 5 year survival rate of 146 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the nose and ethmoid sinus was 49.1%. The 5 year survival rate of the patients at stage I and II was 95.7%, while the rate was 59.8% in the patients at stage III and 28.2% in the patients at stage IV (χ(2) = 24.15, P < 0.05). The 5 year survival rate was 57.7% in R + S group, 60.4% in S + R group, 100% in SA group, and 38.8% in RA group, respectively (P > 0.05). The 5 years survival rate of N+ patients was lower than that of N0 (χ(2) = 12.326, P < 0.05). Local recurrence and distant metastasis were main causes of death. Cox analysis showed TNM stage and differentiation of tumor were independent significant prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The higher survival rate of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the nose and ethmoid sinus was obtained from combined therapy R + S or S + R. SA gave ideal results for early lesions (stage I and II).

[Clinical study of carotid artery rupture in head and neck cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of carotid ligation in the treatment of the carotid artery rupture(CAR). METHODS: A series of 30 patients who had CAR treated with carotid ligation were reviewed. There were 24 males and 6 females ranging in age from 32 to 76 years, with a mean of 53.9 years. The original sites of tumours were hypopharynx (n = 11), larynx (n = 5), thyroid (n = 6) and others (n = 8). Of the 30 patients, 24 patients had received radiotherapy from 40 - 126 Gy and 10 patients underwent one or more surgical treatments. CAR in all cases occurred after surgical operation. CAR occurred in 5 - 21 days after operation. RESULTS: By pressing the carotid and keeping breathe of the patients immediately after CAR, 25 patients were conscious, 2 patients in coma, and 3 patients died before carotid ligation. Seven cases were applied with carotid ligation, 3 cases with the combined ligation of carotid and brachiocephalic arteries, and 17 cases with carotid ligation plus the repair by pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. The causes of CAR concluded fistula, wound dehiscence, wound infection and transferred flap necrosis. The mende hemorrhage occurred in 14 patients. Of 25 cases with the treatments of carotid ligation, 22 patients survived with no complication, 1 with brief muscle weakness and 2 with unconscious. Clinical follow-up period lasted more than 5 years at least in 6 patients. CONCLUSIONS: CAR is the most dangerous complication in advanced carcinoma of the head and neck. The prompt hemostasis and carotid ligation are effective methods to rescue patients of CAR. It is important to keep patients conscious before carotid ligation surgery, with low rates of death and hemiplegia postoperatively.

[Clinical analysis of 60 cases with maxillary squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical characters, treatment modalities and prognosis of patients with maxillary squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: The clinical data of 60 patients with maxillary squamous cell carcinoma treatment between January 1994 and December 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were treated with three therapy modalities including radiotherapy alone (22 cases), radiotherapy and surgery (R + S, 29 cases) and concurrent chemo-radio-therapy adjuvant surgery (CCR + S, 9 cases). RESULTS: The five year survival rate were 18.2%, 51.7% and 33.3% for patients in the radiotherapy alone group, the R + S group and the CCR + S group, respectively. Patients receiving R + S combined modality therapy had a significantly higher five year survival rate than the patients who were treated radiotherapy alone (χ(2) = 15.62, P < 0.01). The five year survival rate (51.7%) of patients in R + S group was significantly higher than that (33.3%) of patients in CCR + S group (χ(2) = 4.28, P < 0.05), and also higher than that (18.2%) of patients in radiotherapy group (χ(2) = 9.49, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The combined therapy of radiation and surgery was a good choice of treatment for the patients with maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma. The role of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy adjuvant surgery in the treatment of maxillary sinus squamous cell carcinoma needs further to research.

[Role of parathyroid hormone measurement in prediction for symptomatic hypocalcaemia after total thyroidectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium in prediction for hypocalcaemia after total thyroidectomy. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-five patients undergoing total or complete total thyroidectomy were reviewed retrospectively. The indications included bilateral carcinoma, undifferential carcinoma, surroundings invasion, distant metastasis and huge benign lesions. Preoperative and postoperative PTH, calcium concentrations and their decline levels were compared between Jan. 2005 and May 2009. The role of PTH value and decline level predicting for symptomatic hypocalcaemia were analyzed by receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curve. RESULTS: After total thyroidectomy, 85 patients (51.5%) developed hypocalcemia. Symptoms were reported by 36 patients (21.8%). The mean concentration of PTH for normocalcaemia (80 cases), asymptomatic hypocalcaemia (49 cases) and symptomatic patients (36 cases) were 31.0 ng/L, 19.6 ng/L and 11.9 ng/L, respectively. The mean decline level for the three groups were 28.6%, 52.6% and 78.0%, respectively. PTH value and its decline level had a poor predicting value for symptomatic hypocalcaemia and high negative predicting value for asymptomatic patients. The serum calcium concentration more than 2.0 mmol/L, PTH level higher than 15 ng/L and PTH decline less than 50% had the good negative predicting value of 97.6%, 90.3% and 96.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative PTH and its decline level were significantly correlated with postoperative serum calcium concentration but had a low accuracy for predicting symptomatic hypocalcaemia. The serum calcium concentration more than 2.0 mmol/L, PTH level higher than 15 ng/L and PTH decline less than 50% had the good predicting value for asymptomatic patients. Calcium should be routinely supplemented in the first 24 h after total thyroidectomy to reduce the rate of hypocalcemia and the severity of hypocalcemia symptoms.

[Clinical analysis of posterior hypopharyngeal wall squamous cell carcinoma: a report of 36 cases].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Posterior hypopharyngeal wall squamous cell carcinoma is few in clinic. This study was to discuss its treatment and the simultaneous reconstruction and function of hypopharyngeal wall. METHODS: Clinical data of 36 posterior hypopharyngeal wall squamous cell carcinoma patients (24 men and 12 women; 4 in stage I, 4 in stage II, 9 in stage III, 19 in stage IV), treated in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between Jun. 1967 and Jan. 2000, were retrospectively analyzed. Of the 36 patients, 20 received combined therapy (surgery plus radiotherapy), 10 received radical radiotherapy, 3 received surgery alone, 3 received salvage surgery after failure of radiotherapy (2 at neck, 1 at hypopharynx and neck). Simultaneous reconstruction of hypopharyngeal wall used gastric tissue, jejunum tissue, ileum tissue, musculi pectoralis majoris flap, forearm flap, larynx tissue, gastroepiploic tissue, platysmal flap, and musculus trapezius flap. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates were 40% in combined therapy group, and 30% in radical radiotherapy group. In surgery alone group, 2 patients were died, and 1 was lost of follow-up. All 3 patients in salvage surgery group were died within 3 years. Of the 24 patients underwent surgery, 4 (17%) underwent local resection, 20 (83%) underwent hypopharyngeal reconstruction; of the 20 patients, 11 (55%) patients used gastric tissue or jejunum tissue, and 9 (45%) patients used other tissues; no patient died during perioperation; the occurrence of complications was 15%; the reconstruction success rate was 85%; the mean time to eating was 2-3 weeks; 3 patients suffered local recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The combined therapy, emphasized on resume swallow function, has good effect on posterior hypopharyngeal wall squamous cell carcinoma. Simultaneous reconstruction of hypopharynx may resume swallow function without increase of prognosis hazard. Gastric and jejunum tissues are mainly used in reconstruction. Local resection could be applied to some patients to preserve swallow function.

[Surgical therapy of subglottic carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, surgical procedures and correlated prognostic factors of the cases with subglottic carcinoma; to seek for the optimal surgical treatment for the patients suffering from subglottic carcinoma. METHODS: Twenty-four cases with subglottic carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed, the disease-free survival rates of the patients at 3 years were analyzed according to the different T N phases and the surgical modalities. RESULTS: The free-disease survival rate at 3 years was 50.0% (12/24) for 24 cases with subglottic carcinoma. The survival rates of 19 cases with total laryngectomy was 47.4% (9/19), and the survival rates in T2, T3, T4 phases were respectively 1/1, 6/11, 2/7. The survival rates of 5 cases with partial laryngectomy was 3/5, the survival rates in T2, T3 phases were respectively 3/4, 0/1, and the surgical margins were verified to be positive in 2 of 5 cases being performed partial laryngectomy. The metastasis rate of lymph nodes was 33.3% (8/24). The survival rates of patients with N0, N1, N2 disease were respectively 10/16, 1/4, 1/4. The positive lymph nodes were verified in the neck regions of II-VI and superior mediastinum. CONCLUSIONS: Prognoses of the cases with subglottic carcinoma were poor, early treatment could result in good effect. Until now total laryngectomy still the mainly treatment of subglottic carcinoma. Only the patients with earlier subglottic carcinoma are amenable to partial laryngectomy and should be given postoperative irradiation. Lymph node metastasis was a very important prognostic factor. Paratracheal lymph nodes are the sentinel nodes for subglottic carcinoma, and it is reasonable to probe the nodes. Once verifying positive lymph node, the typical neck dissection involving I-VI regions and superior mediastinum should be performed.

[The surgical treatment and reconstructive methods in management of hypopharyngeal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To study the surgical treatment and the long-term effect of different reconstructive methods in surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer. METHODS: A retrospective review of 303 (265 males, 38 females, ages ranging from 32 to 77 years) cases with hypopharyngeal cancer that were treated with surgical treatment from 1965 to 1998 were accomplished. Of the 303 cases, 130 cases were treated with different reconstructive methods and 173 cases without reconstruction. Of the 130 (stage II, 5; III, 16; IV, 109) cases, 94 were originated from pyriform sinus, 18 from posterior pharyngeal wall and 18 from postcricoid. Fifteen patients were reconstructed with free jejunum. Eighty-one patients were performed total pharyngo-larygo-oesophagectomy and gastric pull-up. Ten patients were treated with vascularized colon. Twenty patients were reconstructed with pectorals major myocutaneous flap. Four patients were reconstructed with other methods. Of the 173 (stage I, 7; II, 12; III, 51; IV, 103) cases, 160 were originated from pyriform sinus, 8 from posterior pharyngeal wall and 5 from postcricoid. RESULTS: The overall 3 and 5 years survival rate of 130 patients with reconstruction were 43.2%, 36.4% respectively. The overall 5 years survival rate of 173 patients with no reconstruction was 47.7%. The overall rate of regular swallowing was over 80%. The mortality rate in period of surgery of gastric pull-up and pectorals major myocutaneous flap were 8.6% and 15% respectively. No patients with free jejunum and vascularized colon died. The overall complication rate in nineties was lower than before 1990 (chi2 = 13.457, P = 0.004). The highest complication rate occurred in patients with pectorals major myocutaneous flap. In contrast to other reconstruction methods, the rate of success of swallowing was higher in patients with free jejunum. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients these reconstruction techniques enable functional rehabilitation of swallowing. Even high survival rate was obtained after extended partial pharyngolaryngectomy.