Corrosion behavior of Ti-Pt-coated stainless steel for bipolar plates in polymer electrolyte membranes under water electrolysis conditions.

In this study, the corrosion behavior and degradation mechanism of Ti-Pt-coated stainless steel bipolar plates were investigated through electrochemical tests and surface analysis in a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) operating environment. The coated bipolar plate has a corrosion current density of only 1.68 × 10-8 A/cm2, which is an order of magnitude lower than that of the bare SS316L substrate (1.94 × 10-7 A/cm2), indicating that its corrosion resistance is superior to that of bare SS316L substrate. However, in the PEMWE operating environment, the protection efficiency of the coating and the corrosion resistance of the coated bipolar plate decreased. The degradation of the coated bipolar plate can be attributed to electrolyte penetration into the blistering areas of the coating layer with micro voids. Defects in the coating layer occur because of the pressure of oxygen gas generated within the coating layer under high-potential conditions, thereby exposing the substrate to the electrolyte and corrosion.

Impact of Tumor Size on Prognosis in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer with Gross Extrathyroidal Extension to Strap Muscles: Redefining T3b.

The prognostic significance of tumor size in T3b differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains debated and underexplored. This study aimed to examine the varying impact of T3b based on tumor size, analyzing disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival. A retrospective review of 6282 DTC patients who underwent thyroid surgery at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital from September 2000 to December 2017 was conducted. T3b was classified into three subcategories, T3b-1 (≤2 cm), T3b-2 (2-4 cm), and T3b-3 (>4 cm), using the same size criteria for T1, T2, and T3a. T3b-1 showed no significant difference in disease specific survival compared to T1, and both disease-free and disease-specific survival curves were sequentially ranked as T1, T3b-1, T2, T3a, T3b-2, and T3b-3. The modified T category, reclassifying T3b-1 as T1, demonstrated superior staging performance compared to the classic T category (c-index: 0.8961 vs. 0.8959 and AUC: 0.8573 vs. 0.8518). Tumors measuring 2 cm or less within the T3b category may require downstaging, and a modified T category could improve the precision of prognostic staging compared to the current T category.

Overweight as a biomarker for concomitant thyroid cancer in patients with Graves' disease.

The incidence of concomitant thyroid cancer in Graves' disease varies and Graves' disease can make the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules more challenging. Since the majority of Graves' disease patients primarily received non-surgical treatment, identifying biomarkers for concomitant thyroid cancer in patients with Graves' disease may facilitate planning the surgery. The aim of this study is to identify the biomarkers for concurrent thyroid cancer in Graves' disease patients and evaluate the impact of being overweight on cancer risk. This retrospective cohort study analyzed 122 patients with Graves' disease who underwent thyroid surgery at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (Seoul, Korea) from May 2010 to December 2022. Body mass index (BMI), preoperative thyroid function test, and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TR-Ab) were measured. Overweight was defined as a BMI of 25 kg/m² or higher according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Most patients (88.5%) underwent total or near-total thyroidectomy. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients who were overweight had a higher risk of malignancy (Odds ratios, 3.108; 95% confidence intervals, 1.196-8.831; p = 0.021). Lower gland weight and lower preoperative TR-Ab were also biomarkers for malignancy in Graves' disease. Overweight patients with Graves' disease had a higher risk of thyroid cancer than non-overweight patients. A comprehensive assessment of overweight patients with Graves' disease is imperative for identifying concomitant thyroid cancer.

Optimal timing for the first cystoscopic follow-up using time-to-treatment initiation analysis of oncologic outcomes in primary non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Various guidelines recommend the first follow-up cystoscopy at 3 months; however, no data exist on the optimal timing for initial follow-up cystoscopy. We tried to provide evidence on the timing of the first cystoscopy after the initial transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-BT) for patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) using big data. This was a retrospective National Health Insurance Service database analysis. The following outcomes were considered: recurrence, progression, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality. Exposure was the time-to-treatment initiation (TTI), a continuous variable representing the time to the first cystoscopy from the first TUR-BT within 1 year. Additionally, we categorized TTI (TTIc) into five levels: < 2, 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, and 8-12 months. A landmark time of 1 year after the initial TUR-BT was described to address immortal-time bias. We identified the optimal time for the first cystoscopy using Cox regression models with and without restricted cubic splines (RCS) for TTI and TTIc, respectively. Among 26,660 patients, 16,880 (63.3%) underwent cystoscopy within 2-4 months. A U-shaped trend of the lowest risks at TTI was observed in the 2-4 months group for progression, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality. TTI within 0-2 months had a higher risk of progression (aHR 1.36; 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.15-1.60; p < 0.001) and cancer-specific mortality (aHR 1.29; 95% CI 1.05-1.58; p = 0.010). Similarly, TTI within 8-12 months had a higher risk of progression (aHR 2.09; 95% CI 1.67-2.63; p < 0.001) and cancer-specific mortality (aHR 1.96; 95% CI 1.48-2.60; p < 0.001). Based on the RCS models, the risks of progression, cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality were lowest at TTI of 4 months. The timing of the first cystoscopy follow-up was associated with oncologic prognosis. In our model, undergoing cystoscopy at 4 months has shown the best outcomes in clinical course. Therefore, patients who do not receive cystoscopy at approximately 4 months for any reason need more careful follow-up to predict a poor clinical course.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Early Detection with Ultrasonography of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Study on a Korean Population.

BACKGRUOUND: There is debate about ultrasonography screening for thyroid cancer and its cost-effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of early screening (ES) versus symptomatic detection (SD) for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in Korea. METHODS: A Markov decision analysis model was constructed to compare the cost-effectiveness of ES and SD. The model considered direct medical costs, health outcomes, and different diagnostic and treatment pathways. Input data were derived from literature and Korean population studies. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated. Willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold was set at USD 100,000 or 20,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to address uncertainties of the model's variables. RESULTS: In a base case scenario with 50 years of follow-up, ES was found to be cost-effective compared to SD, with an ICER of $2,852 per QALY. With WTP set at $100,000, in the case with follow-up less than 10 years, the SD was cost-effective. Sensitivity analysis showed that variables such as lobectomy probability, age, mortality, and utility scores significantly influenced the ICER. Despite variations in costs and other factors, all ICER values remained below the WTP threshold. CONCLUSION: Findings of this study indicate that ES is a cost-effective strategy for DTC screening in the Korean medical system. Early detection and subsequent lobectomy contribute to the cost-effectiveness of ES, while SD at an advanced stage makes ES more cost-effective. Expected follow-up duration should be considered to determine an optimal strategy for DTC screening.

Cost-effectiveness of intraoperative neural monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerves in thyroid lobectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Purpose: Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after thyroid surgery may cause vocal cord palsy (VCP), which leads to unexpected additional costs. In recent years, intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) has been used to lower the incidence rate of VCP. This study aimed to analyze postoperative management costs for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods: We analyzed the medical records of patients who underwent lobectomy for PTC from September 2018 to August 2019 at The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital. A total of 411 patients were enrolled and all the patients had voice examinations. We investigated the total costs in the IONM and non-IONM groups during a maximum 1-year follow-up and calculated the additional costs due to VCP by subtraction of the mean values in each group. Results: The incidence rate of VCP was 3.9% (16 of 411). Extrathyroidal extension was related to VCP in Cox regression tests and accounted for 3.2% (13 of 411). VCP rate did not show a significant difference between the IONM and non-IONM groups (4.1% vs. 3.8%, P = 0.883). Total costs for postoperative management were higher in the IONM group than in the non-IONM group (US $328.2 ± $220.1 vs. $278.7 ± $141.4, P < 0.05). However, the additional costs due to VCP were significantly lower in the IONM group than in the non-IONM group ($474.1 ± $150.3 vs. $568.9 ± $367.6, P < 0.005). Conclusion: The use of IONM can mitigate the increase in costs by saving additional expenses associated with VCP.

Diagnostic utilities of washout CYFRA 21-1 combined with washout thyroglobulin for metastatic lymph nodes in thyroid cancer: a prospective study.

Cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis is common in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). This study evaluated the utility of the washout CYFRA 21-1 level, combined with the thyroglobulin (Tg) concentration, in terms of diagnosis of LN metastasis. We prospectively enrolled 53 patients who underwent thyroid surgery to treat DTC with lateral cervical LN metastases. Preoperative ultrasound guided needle localization was used to surgical sampling of specific LNs during the operation. The intraoperative washout Tg and CYFRA 21-1 levels were measured in such LNs. The Tg and CYFRA 21-1 levels differed significantly between metastatic and benign LNs. The cutoff values were 2.63 ng/mL for washout CYFRA 21-1 and 22.62 ng/mL for Tg. Combined use of the washout Tg and CYFRA 21-1 levels afforded the highest diagnostic accuracy (92.5%), better than that of individual markers. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) were 94.6%, 90.0%, 91.4%, 93.8%, respectively. The conjunction of the washout CYFRA21-1 and Tg levels enhances the diagnostic accuracy of LN metastasis in DTC patients. The washout CYFRA 21-1 level may be useful when malignancy is suspected, especially in cases where the cytology and washout Tg findings do not provide definitive results.

Postoperative pain management using an intravenous combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen compared with acetaminophen alone after thyroidectomy: A prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Multiple medications are more effective than single agents for postoperative pain management. We investigated the analgesic effects of an intravenous combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen immediately after thyroidectomy. METHODS: In this double-blind clinical trial, 62 patients who underwent thyroidectomies were randomized to either the treatment (1000 mg acetaminophen, 300 mg ibuprofen) or control (1000 mg acetaminophen) group. Postoperative pain intensity was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) 0, 15, and 30 min after recovery room admission. Opioid rescue consumption was also recorded. RESULTS: The VAS scores were significantly lower in the treatment than in the control group 15 [3 (2-4.3) vs. 5 (3-6); p = 0.015] and 30 [3 (2-4.3) vs. 4 (3-5); p = 0.018] min after recovery room admission, as were the opioid rescue dose requirements (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Combined intravenous acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be better than acetaminophen alone for immediately acute postoperative pain after thyroidectomy.

Safety and surgical outcomes of single-port trans-axillary robot-assisted thyroidectomy: Experience from a consecutive series of 300 patients.

Since the introduction of the single-port (SP) robotic system, SP trans-axillary robot-assisted thyroidectomy (SP-TART) has been performed. We aimed to evaluate the safety and surgical outcomes of SP-TART in a consecutive series of 300 cases. We analyzed 300 patients with thyroid disease who underwent SP-TART from October 2021 to May 2023 in St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul, Korea. We analyzed the patients' clinicopathological characteristics and perioperative outcomes according to surgical extent. Of the 300 cases analyzed, 250 patients underwent less than total thyroidectomy (LTT), 31 patients underwent total thyroidectomy (TT), and 19 patients underwent TT with modified radical neck dissection (TT c mRND). The mean operative times for LTT, TT, and for TT c mRND were 69.8 ± 23.6, 104.2 ± 30.7, and 223.7 ± 72.4 min, respectively. Complications, including postoperative bleeding, transient hypoparathyroidism, and vocal cord palsy, were observed in nine, six, and six LTT, TT, and TT c mRND cases. The SP-TART method is a safe and feasible surgical option with a short operative time, good surgical outcome, and excellent cosmetic results.

Preparation of Hot-Melt-Extruded Solid Dispersion Based on Pre-Formulation Strategies and Its Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy.

In this study, an amorphous solid dispersion containing the poorly water-soluble drug, bisacodyl, was prepared by hot-melt extrusion to enhance its therapeutic efficacy. First, the miscibility and interaction between the drug and polymer were investigated as pre-formulation strategies using various analytical approaches to obtain information for selecting a suitable polymer. Based on the calculation of the Hansen solubility parameter and the identification of the single glass transition temperature (Tg), the miscibility between bisacodyl and all the investigated polymers was confirmed. Additionally, the drug-polymer molecular interaction was identified based on the comprehensive results of dynamic vapor sorption (DVS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, and a comparison of the predicted and experimental values of Tg. In particular, the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-based solid dispersions, which exhibited large deviation between the calculated and experimental values of Tg and superior physical stability after DVS experiments, were selected as the most appropriate solubilized bisacodyl formulations due to the excellent inhibitory effects on precipitation based on the results of the non-sink dissolution test. Furthermore, it was shown that the enteric-coated tablets containing HPMC-bisacodyl at a 1:4 ratio (w/w) had significantly improved in vivo therapeutic laxative efficacy compared to preparations containing un-solubilized raw bisacodyl in constipation-induced rabbits. Therefore, it was concluded that the pre-formulation strategy, using several analyses and approaches, was successfully applied in this study to investigate the miscibility and interaction of drug-polymer systems, hence resulting in the manufacture of favorable solid dispersions with favorable in vitro and in vivo performances using hot-melt extrusion processes.

BRAFV600E Positivity-Dependent Effect of Age on Papillary Thyroid Cancer Recurrence Risk.

BRAFV600E positivity is associated with increased aggressiveness of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and age is an important prognostic factor. However, the association between age and BRAFV600E positivity and the recurrence risk has not been investigated. This study aimed to investigate the impact of age on recurrence between patients with BRAFV600E-positive and -negative PTC. Patients with PTC who underwent initial thyroid surgery between January 2010 and December 2018 at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (Seoul, Republic of Korea) were retrospectively reviewed. The BRAFV600E-positive (n = 1768) and BRAFV600E-negative groups (n = 428) were divided into two subgroups: younger (<35 years) and older groups (≥55 years). In the BRAFV600E-positive group, the younger group exhibited higher lymphatic and vascular invasion rates, more positive lymph nodes, higher lymph node ratios, and higher recurrence rates than the older group (5.9% vs. 2.1%). Multivariate analysis revealed that age, lymphatic invasion, and N category were significant risk factors in the BRAFV600E-positive group. In the BRAFV600E-positive group, the younger group had a higher recurrence risk than the older group (OR, 2.528; 95% confidence interval, 1.443-4.430; p = 0.001). In the BRAFV600E-negative group, age had no impact on recurrence risk. These results contribute to tailored treatment strategies and informed patient management.

Cost-Effectiveness of Active Surveillance Compared to Early Surgery of Small Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Study on a Korean Population.

BACKGROUND: Recently, active surveillance (AS) has been introduced as an alternative to early surgery (ES) for the management of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), because of its indolent features and low mortality. However, its cost effects have not been determined and the findings of current studies differ, according to each country's medical system. METHODS: A Markov model was constructed to compare the cost-effectiveness of AS and ES, based on a reference case of a 40-year-old patient diagnosed with PTMC. Costs and transition probabilities were derived from previous clinical studies in Korean populations, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and net monetary benefit (NMB) were calculated. The willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold was set at USD 100,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to address the uncertainties in the model's variables. RESULTS: From the base scenario, the cumulative costs and effectiveness were both higher in ES than AS. The ICER for ES, compared with AS, was USD 6,619.86/QALY, lower than the set WTP. The NMB difference between AS and ES increased across the stages (USD 5,980 at the first stage and USD 159,667 at the last stage). The ICER increased along with decreasing age and increasing cost of surgery. The higher the ES utility score and the lower that of AS, the more cost-effective ES, with WTP set at USD 30,000. CONCLUSION: In the current Korean medical system, ES is more cost-effective than AS. ES is more cost-effective as it is diagnosed at young age and followed-up for a long time.

Clinical Implication of Bilateral and Unilateral Multifocality in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is commonly characterized by multifocality, which is associated with aggressive features and a less favorable prognosis. The current study aimed to compare the clinicopathologic characteristics and long-term oncological outcomes of bilateral and unilateral multifocal PTC. The medical records of 1745 patients with multifocal PTC who underwent thyroid surgery at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathological characteristics and recurrence rates were compared based on cancer laterality. Further, 357 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were matched to investigate the recurrence risk and disease-free survival (DFS). Before propensity score matching (PSM), there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the bilateral and unilateral multifocal PTC groups. Cancer laterality was not a predictor of DFS based on the Cox regression analyses. However, after PSM, unilateral multifocality was associated with a significantly high risk of recurrence. Similarly, unilateral multifocality was associated with a significantly poor DFS based on the Kaplan-Meier analysis. Compared with bilateral PTC, unilateral multifocal PTC was associated with a poor DFS. A comprehensive preoperative examination should be performed to detect multifocality before the initial surgical intervention for optimal treatment. Postoperative short-term follow-up is recommended for unilateral multifocal PTC for recurrence surveillance.

Lymph Node Ratio Predicts Recurrence in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Low Lymph Node Yield.

The American Thyroid Association risk stratification system suggests that having >5 metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) increase the recurrence risk in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, little is known about PTC with <5 harvested LNs. This study aimed to stratify patients with low-LN-yield (low-LNY) PTC based on lymph node ratios (LNRs). From 2007 to 2017, 6317 patients who underwent thyroidectomies were diagnosed with PTC at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, and 909 patients with low LNYs were included in the study. Tumor recurrence was compared based on LNR. The LNR cutoff was determined using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Forty-six patients (5.1%) experienced recurrences over a mean follow-up period of 127.24 ± 33.6 months (range, 5-190 months). The cutoff for the low-LNR (n = 675) and high-LNR (n = 234) groups was 0.29 (AUC = 0.676, 95% CI = 0.591-0.761, p < 0.001). The recurrence rate was significantly higher in the high-LNR group compared to the rate in the low-LNR group (12.4% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis using Cox regression revealed that tumor size and LNR ≥ 0.29 were independent prognostic factors for recurrence. Therefore, LNR can be utilized to stratify the risk of recurrence in patients with low-LNY PTC.

Injectable sustained-release poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres of exenatide prepared by supercritical fluid extraction of emulsion process based on a design of experiment approach.

This study aimed to develop an improved sustained-release (SR) PLGA microsphere of exenatide using supercritical fluid extraction of emulsions (SFEE). As a translational research, we investigated the effect of various process parameters on the fabrication of exenatide-loaded PLGA microspheres by SFEE (ELPM_SFEE) using the Box-Behnken design (BBD), a design of experiment approach. Further, ELPM obtained under optimized conditions and satisfying all the response criteria were compared with PLGA microspheres prepared using the conventional solvent evaporation (ELPM_SE) method through various solid-state characterizations and in vitro and in vivo evaluations. The four process parameters selected as independent variables were pressure (X 1), temperature (X 2), stirring rate (X 3), and flow ratio (X 4). The effects of these independent variables on five responses, namely the particle size, its distribution (SPAN value), encapsulation efficiency (EE), initial drug burst release (IBR), and residual organic solvent, were evaluated using BBD. Based on the experimental results, a desirable range of combinations of various variables in the SFEE process was determined by graphical optimization. Solid-state characterization and in vitro evaluation revealed that ELPM_SFEE improved properties, including a smaller particle size and SPAN value, higher EE, lower IBR, and lower residual solvent. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study results indicated better in vivo efficacy with desirable SR properties, including a reduction in blood glucose levels, weight gain, and food intake, for ELPM_SFEE than those generated using SE. Therefore, the potential drawback of conventional technologies such as the SE for the preparation of injectable SR PLGA microspheres could be improved by optimizing the SFEE process.

Digital Game-Based Korean Language Learning for Russian Immigrant Children.

Objective: With the elements of competition and reward, digital game-based learning is reportedly more effective than traditional instruction methods. Moreover, children with attention problems are reportedly often interested in internet games. We hypothesized that digital game-based learning can improve the effectiveness of educational opportunities in Russian immigrant children and could be more effective in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) compared with other children. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as an 8-week crossover study that comprised 4 weeks of game rounds and 4 weeks of control rounds for two groups. Wise-Ax™ is a casual digital game for vocabulary education among Russian immigrant children. To develop the game, 1200 Korean words were selected from the word pool suggested by the Korean Government's Department of Education. A total of 26 students participated in the study. At 4 and 8 weeks, all students took the Korean language ability tests. Results: The study found that more than 80% of the children were satisfied with their digital game-based Korean education, which greatly improved their Korean language ability compared with the traditional teaching methods. Children with ADHD showed a greater increase in the Korean ability test compared with children without ADHD in the game round. Conclusion: Wise-Ax could be an effective tool to help improve the Korean language ability of Russian immigrant children, especially those with ADHD.

Persistent subjective voice symptoms for two years after thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Voice change after thyroidectomy is an important issue in thyroid surgery. However, little is known about long-term voice outcomes after thyroidectomy. This study investigates the long-term voice outcomes of thyroidectomy up to two years after surgery. Also, we analyzed the pattern of recovery through acoustic tests over time. METHODS: We reviewed data from 168 patients who underwent thyroidectomy between January 2020 and August 2020 at a single institution. The Thyroidectomy-related Voice and Symptom Questionnaire (TVSQ) score and acoustic voice analysis results were examined preoperatively and postoperative one, three, and six months, and one and two years after surgery. We divided patients into two groups based on the TVSQ score (≥15 or <15) at two years postoperatively. We investigated the difference of acoustic characteristics between the two groups and analyzed correlations between acoustic parameters and various clinical and surgical factors. RESULTS: Voice parameters tended to recover, but some parameters and TVSQ scores exhibited deterioration two years after surgery. In the subgroups, among the many clinicopathologic factors examined, voice abuse history including professional voice users (p = 0.014), greater extent of thyroidectomy and neck dissection (p = 0.019, p = 0.029), and high pitch voice (F0; p = 0.005, SFF; p = 0.016) were associated with high TVSQ score at two years. CONCLUSIONS: Patients frequently experience voice discomfort after thyroidectomy. After surgery, voice abuse history including professional voice users, greater extent of surgery, and higher pitch voice are associated with worse voice quality and increased risk of persistent voice symptoms over the long-term.

Clinical Significance of the Lymph Node Ratio of the Second Operation to Predict Re-Recurrence in Thyroid Carcinoma.

The purpose of this study was to establish the risk factors for re-recurrences and disease-specific mortality (DSM) in recurrent thyroid cancer. Patients with recurrent thyroid cancer who underwent initial thyroid surgery from January 2000 to December 2019 at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (Seoul, Korea) were assessed. Clinicopathological characteristics and long-term oncologic outcomes were compared between patients with one recurrence (n = 202) and patients with re-recurrences (n = 44). Logistic regression and cox-regression analyses were conducted to determine the risk factors for re-recurrences and DSM, respectively. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the cutoff value for lymph node ratio (LNR) as a predictor of re-recurrences. DSM was significantly higher in the re-recurrence group compared with the single-recurrence group (6.8% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.019). Surgical treatment at the first recurrence significantly lowered the risk of re-recurrences. Age (≥55), male sex, and LNR (≥0.15) were independent significant risk factors for re-recurrences in patients who underwent surgery at the first recurrence. Surgical resection is the optimal treatment for initial thyroid cancer recurrence. LNR at re-operation is more effective in predicting re-recurrence than the absolute number of metastatic LNs.

The learning curve for single-port transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy (SP-TART): experience through initial 50 cases of lobectomy.

The new da Vinci® single-port (SP) robotic system, which utilizes a smaller incision and work space compared to the previous versions, is suitable for thyroidectomy. This study aimed to evaluate the learning curve for SP transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy (SP-TART) in a single-center. Fifty consecutive patients who underwent SP-TART between October 2021 and April 2022 in Seoul St. Mary's Hospital in Seoul, Korea, were included in this retrospective analysis. We examined the clinicopathological characteristics and short-term surgical outcomes and assessed the learning curve for SP-TART using cumulative summation analysis. The mean operation time was 57.8 ± 14.1 min, and the mean tumor size was 1.0 ± 0.7 (range, 0.3-3.7) cm. The patients were discharged approximately 2 days after surgery, and only two (4%) patients developed postoperative complications, including drainage-site bleeding and surgical site infection. Risk factors for long operation time were thyroiditis, amount of blood loss, and lymph node metastasis. The learning curve for SP-TART was 20 cases for the experienced robotic surgeon. SP-TART is technically feasible and safe with a short incision length and short operation time. It is a valuable alternative operative option with good surgical outcomes and outstanding cosmetic results.

Prospective voice assessment after uncomplicated thyroidectomy: A comprehensive analysis of a single centre experience.

OBJECTIVES: Voice change after uncomplicated thyroidectomy has been an important issue in the field of thyroid surgery. The aim of this study was to promote understanding of voice change after uncomplicated thyroidectomy by analysing the results for a large number of patients from a single institute. DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 2879 consecutive patients who underwent thyroidectomy and voice evaluation between January 2014 and December 2019 in a single institute. All the patients had their vocal status assessed using videostroboscopy, acoustic voice analyses, aerodynamic study, and Thyroidectomy-related Voice and Symptom Questionnaire (TVSQ) scores preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. We analysed the pattern of voice changes over time and differences in voice parameters based on clinical factors. To confirm the usefulness of the TVSQ, the correlation between TVSQ scores and objective parameters was analysed. Lastly, predictive factors for persistent voice symptoms were analysed. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. RESULTS: The frequency ranges and TVSQ scores exhibited significant deterioration until 6 months following surgery. Among clinical factors, the extents of thyroidectomy and neck dissection were associated with worse voice parameters. The TVSQ score was significantly correlated with objective voice parameters. The extents of thyroidectomy and neck dissection were predictive of persistent voice symptoms at 6 months after thyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: After uncomplicated thyroidectomy, most voice parameters tended to recover, but some parameters remained aggravated even at 6 months after surgery. With more extensive surgery, worse voice quality and the higher risk of persistent voice symptoms may be anticipated.