Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration in the study of thyroid nodule and multinodular goitre.

OBJECTIVE: Ultrasonography and cytology obtained by fine-needle aspiration are part of the basic study of the thyroid nodule. Although they are not diagnostic in every case, they are cost-effective methods that inform surgical treatment and its extent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonography associated with fine-needle aspiration to predict malignancy in nodular thyroid pathology. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: We collected prospective data from patients undergoing thyroidectomy by single nodule or multinodular goitre between 2006 and 2016. A total of 417 patients were included. Ultrasounds were classified as suspected of malignancy if they had 2 or more of the following characteristics: hypoechogenicity, microcalcifications, intranodular central hypervascularization, irregular margins and poorly defined edges. MEASUREMENTS: Ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration accuracy. RESULTS: In the postoperative study, 40% presented malignant pathology. 33% of patients with nonsuspicious ultrasound and 73% of those with suspicious ultrasound had malignant disease. Among patients with single nodule and suspicious ultrasound, the malignancy rate reached 80%. As for cytology, 100% of Bethesda VI patients, 88% of V, 63% of IV, 31% of III and 12% of II were found to have carcinoma. The combination of the 2 tests showed a high predictive value, particularly in cases of Bethesda IV cytology. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid cytology provides high predictive value of the presence of carcinoma. The predictive value of ultrasound is also high, mainly in the study of isolated nodules. The combination of the 2 tests results in increased diagnostic accuracy.

Human papillomavirus detection by PCR assay in a large series of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions with cytohistological correlation and follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) are the precursors of invasive cervical carcinomas and are generally associated with the integration of mucosotropic human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA into the host cell genome. Detection of HPV is easy to perform nowadays, even in laboratories with limited technological capacity, and follow-up procedures for patients with HSIL are well established. STUDY DESIGN: HPV detection was performed in a large group of patients with HSIL, and results were correlated with cytological, histological, and colposcopic findings. Discrepancies were examined and discussed. RESULTS: Conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) screening detected 446 HSIL (0.20%) in 218,906 cervical smears. HPV detection by PCR was positive in 339/358 (94.7%) patients. The strains involved were: HPV 16 in 180 patients (53.1%), HPV 18 in 35 (10.3%), HPV 31/33 in 27 (8%), HPV 6/11 in 10 (2.96%), and an unidentified type in 73 (30%). For the last 97 patients (2006-2007), HPV typing was expanded with the following results: HPV 52 was detected in 9 patients (9.2%), HPV 58 in 6 (6.1%), HPV 51 in 4 (4.1%), HPV 68 in 2 (2.0%), and HPV 39 in 1 (1.0%). The number of nonidentified patients dropped to 9 (9.4%); in addition, 14/97 (14.4%) patients were infected with 2 or more viral types. Finally, 19 (5.3%) patients were HPV negative. Colposcopy revealed minor changes in 59 patients (17.3%), major changes in 264 (77.6%), and normal findings in 17 (5.1%). A biopsy was taken in 331/446 patients, and the diagnosis of HSIL or overt malignancy was histologically confirmed in 281 (84.9%) patients: CIN II in 46, CIN III in 224, and histologically upgraded in 11 (6 microinvasive squamous carcinomas, 1 squamous carcinoma, 2 in situ endocervical adenocarcinomas, and 2 microinvasive endocervical adenocarcinomas). Thirty-five patients (10.6%) were downgraded to CIN I and 15 (4.5%) patients had a negative biopsy. Follow-up in the negative-biopsy patients confirmed the existence of SIL in 11 patients [1 HSIL and 10 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL)] while 4 were considered false positives (atrophic changes, 2; reactive changes, 2). After treatment, 31/331 (9.36%) patients displayed recurrence (HSIL in 29 and LSIL in 2). The viral strains involved in patients with recurrence were HPV 16 in 16 patients (51.6%); HPV 18 in 4 (12.9%); HPV 16 and 18 in 1 (3.2%); HPV 31 in 1 (3.2%); HPV 52 in 1 (3.2%); HPV 18, 31, and 58 in 1 (3.2%); HPV 68 in 1 (3.2%); HPV 51 and 73 in 1 (3.2%), and an unidentified type in 5 (16.1%). Follow-up in 14/19 HSIL and HPV-negative patients confirmed the existence of cervical pathology. CONCLUSIONS: HPV detection improves diagnostic sensitivity and provides an ideal tool for monitoring the response to treatment in HSIL patients. The pathogenic relevance of HPV strain 18 may be greater than previously assumed.

[Locoregional recurrences after conservative treatment of breast cancer stage I-II]. / Recidivas locorregionales tras el tratamiento conservador del cáncer de mama en estadios I y II.

BACKGROUND: Since 1992 conservative treatment of breast cancer (stage I and II: clinical TNM) has been established as an alternative to mastectomy in our hospital. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse locoregional recurrence features and to compare prognosis with regard to to site of recurrence. METHOD: Between 1987 and 1993, 489 patients with breast cancer (stages I and II) were treated with conservative surgery and radiation therapy at the Hospital Sant Pau of Barcelona. Mean follow-up was 58.8 months [between 12-144]. 35 patients developed locoregional recurrence. We considered two groups: local recurrence in breast only; and locoregional recurrence such as nodal recurrence with or without simultaneous breast recurrence. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic analysis. An extensive study was performed in all patients to rule out distant metastasis. Last follow-up was December 1999. RESULTS: The locoregional recurrence rate after conservative treatment was 7.5% and that of local recurrence was 3.06%. Recurrences were diagnosed in 80% of patients by physical examination, while 20% of patients had noticed the tumor recurrence themselves. Histologic grade III tumors had a higher number of locoregional recurrences than local recurrences (p = 0.030). Locoregional recurrences had lower overall survival rate (p = 0.0005), lower disease-free survival rate (p = 0.0012) and shorter time period without distant metastasis (p < 0.0005) than local recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Most recurrences were diagnosed by clinical examination during follow up. Histologic grade III was related to locoregional recurrences. Local recurrences had a better prognosis than locoregional recurrences.