Radioactive iodine-125 seed localization as an aid in reoperative neck surgery.

BACKGROUND: Scarring and disrupted tissue planes add to already-complex neck anatomy and make localization of nonpalpable pathology difficult in cervical endocrine reoperations. We describe the use of radioactive iodine-125 seed localization (RSL) in 6 patients with metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and 2 with recurrent hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: Eight patients had 2-D ultrasound-guided RSL of the target lesion, 0-3 days preoperatively. Intraoperative gamma probe (Neoprobe) was used to plan incision placement and localize the implanted seed. Recorded operative variables included: number of lymph nodes (LNs) harvested, estimated blood loss (EBL), operative time, length of stay (LOS) and RSL and operative complications. RESULTS: All patients had successful resection of the targeted area and removal of the radioactive seed. There was no seed migration. Two complications occurred in the thyroid group. CONCLUSION: Radioactive iodine 125 seeds facilitate successful localization of endocrine pathology during reoperative cervical procedures.

Extrathyroidal extension predicts negative clinical outcomes in papillary thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: The eighth edition American Joint Committee on Cancer tumor-node-metastasis staging for well-differentiated thyroid cancers, no longer considers "minimal" extrathyroidal extension for tumor staging. This change prompted us to examine the effect of extrathyroidal extension on patient outcomes. METHODS: Patients (n = 177,497) in the 2016 National Cancer Database with classic papillary thyroid cancer were evaluated to determine the effect of extrathyroidal extension on overall survival and risk for nodal and distant metastases. Kaplan-Meier curves with the log-rank test were used to evaluate survival differences. Multivariable Cox and logistic regression analyses included relevant clinicopathologic variables (e.g. age, sex, race, and Charlson Comorbidity Index). RESULTS: Patients with "minimal" extrathyroidal extension had worse survival versus patients with no extrathyroidal extension (10-year survival 89.3% vs 93.1%, hazard ratio 1.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.35; P < .001). Any extrathyroidal extension was associated with higher risks for lymph node (odds ratio 2.78; 95% confidence interval, 2.69-2.87) and distant metastasis (odds ratio 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 3.05-4.04). These associations persisted when comparing "micro" (extension into the thyroid capsule) versus none for nodal risk (odds ratio 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-1.33) and distant metastasis (OR 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.09). CONCLUSION: All levels of extrathyroidal extension, including microscopic, were associated with increased risk for nodal and distant metastasis. Both minimal and macroscopic extrathyroidal extension were also associated with decreased overall survival. Such findings have the potential to affect the clinical decision making for patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.

Same day discharge after thyroidectomy is safe and effective.

Historically, thyroidectomies have been performed as inpatient operations due to concerns of postoperative bleeding and symptomatic hypocalcemia. We aim to demonstrate that outpatient thyroidectomy can be performed safely. METHODS: This report outlines a 7-year retrospective analysis (2009-2016) of outpatient vs inpatient thyroidectomies, with outcomes including hematoma, blood loss, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, symptomatic hypocalcemia, and postoperative emergency room (ER) visits. RESULTS: A total of 1460 thyroidectomies were performed: 1272 (87%) outpatient and 188 (13%) inpatient. Five outpatients: 4 total thyroidectomies (TT), 1 TT with a central lymph node dissection (CLND), and 1 partial thyroidectomy (PT) developed postoperative hematomas (0.34%) at post-discharge hour 3, 9, 10, 13, and 42. Average time to discharge was 2 hours and 37 minutes. Hematomas were evacuated successfully in the operating room under local anesthesia with a 2-day average hospital stay. There were no differences between TT, thyroid lobectomy (TL), and PT procedures for postoperative hematoma (p=0.17). Outpatient compared to inpatient thyroidectomy was more likely to have been performed in patients with lower American Society of Anesthesia scores (2.3 vs 2.9, p<0.0001), less mean blood loss (74 vs 227 ml, p<0.0001), lesser age (52 vs 56 years, p=0.0012), less extensive dissection (p<0.0001), and fewer RLN injuries (2.4% vs 8.5%, p<0.0001). There was no difference between outpatient and inpatient symptomatic hypocalcemia (6.3% vs 9.6%, p=0.09), 30-day postoperative ER visits (8.8% vs 9.6%, p=0.73), and postoperative hematoma (0.39% vs 0%, p=0.39). There was one inpatient mortality from stroke. CONCLUSION: Postoperative hematomas can be managed safely without life-threatening complications suggesting outpatient thyroidectomy can be performed safely by an experienced surgeon, and adverse sequelae dealt with in a safe and effective manner.