A novel artificial intelligence-based endoscopic ultrasonography diagnostic system for diagnosing the invasion depth of early gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: We developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) system for diagnosing the invasion depth of early gastric cancer (EGC), and we evaluated the performance of this system. METHODS: A total of 8280 EUS images from 559 EGC cases were collected from 11 institutions. Within this dataset, 3451 images (285 cases) from one institution were used as a development dataset. The AI model consisted of segmentation and classification steps, followed by the CycleGAN method to bridge differences in EUS images captured by different equipment. AI model performance was evaluated using an internal validation dataset collected from the same institution as the development dataset (1726 images, 135 cases). External validation was conducted using images collected from the other 10 institutions (3103 images, 139 cases). RESULTS: The area under the curve (AUC) of the AI model in the internal validation dataset was 0.870 (95% CI: 0.796-0.944). Regarding diagnostic performance, the accuracy/sensitivity/specificity values of the AI model, experts (n = 6), and nonexperts (n = 8) were 82.2/63.4/90.4%, 81.9/66.3/88.7%, and 68.3/60.9/71.5%, respectively. The AUC of the AI model in the external validation dataset was 0.815 (95% CI: 0.743-0.886). The accuracy/sensitivity/specificity values of the AI model (74.1/73.1/75.0%) and the real-time diagnoses of experts (75.5/79.1/72.2%) in the external validation dataset were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Our AI model demonstrated a diagnostic performance equivalent to that of experts.

Colonic diverticular bleeding due to a rupture of an ileocolic artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to colonic diverticulitis.

A 53-year-old woman with a history of recurrent right lower quadrant pain presented with slightly bloody stools in April 2023. She was initially diagnosed with acute diverticulitis using an abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan and was treated conservatively. On the second day, however, she reported significant hematochezia. A subsequent contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed an extravasation in the ascending colon, which was promptly managed with colonoscopy. Despite initial hemostasis, she experienced recurrent bleeding. Another contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed a pseudoaneurysm with ongoing extravasation in the same area. Angiography confirmed a pseudoaneurysm in a branch of the ileocolic artery, which was successfully treated by embolization. She was discharged after an 18 day hospital stay. This case highlights a pseudoaneurysm caused by diverticulitis.

Endoscopic Removal and Conservative Treatment of a Small Bowel Perforation Caused by a Toothpick: A Case Report.

This case report describes a unique instance of small bowel perforation in a 49-year-old woman caused by an ingested toothpick. Initially suspected of colonic diverticulitis, a final diagnosis of small bowel perforation was made later, and the toothpick was successfully removed via endoscopy. This case emphasizes the need to consider foreign body ingestion in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain and demonstrates the feasibility of conservative endoscopic approaches in similar cases.

Prognosis of anemic patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data regarding whether anemia is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: Patients with AF undergoing PCI at 15 institutions between January 2015 and March 2021 were included in this analysis. Based on the baseline hemoglobin levels, moderate to severe anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels <11 g/dL, and mild anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels 11-12.9 g/dL for men and 11-11.9 g/dL for women. Clinical outcomes within 1 year, including major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, and stroke) and major bleeding events (BARC 3 or 5), were compared among patients with moderate/severe anemia, mild anemia, and no anemia. RESULTS: In a total of 746 enrolled patients, 119 (16.0%) and 168 (22.5%) patients presented with moderate/severe and mild anemia. The incidence of MACE (22.5%, 11.0%, and 9.1%, log-rank p < 0.001), all-cause death (20.0%, 7.2%, and 4.8%, log-rank p < 0.001), and major bleeding events (10.7%, 6.5%, and 2.7%, log-rank p < 0.001) were the highest in the moderate/severe anemia group compared with the mild and no anemia groups. Multivariable Cox regression analyses determined moderate/severe anemia as an independent predictor for MACE (p = 0.008), all-cause death (p = 0.005), and major bleeding events (p = 0.031) at 1 year after PCI. CONCLUSION: Moderate/severe anemia was significantly associated with the higher incidence of MACE and all-cause death as well as major bleeding events compared with mild and no anemia in AF patients undergoing PCI.

Ansa Cervicalis External Branch Anastomosis to Restore High Tone Voice in Thyroid Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Injury to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN) causes low-pitch voice and voice fatigue, particularly in female subjects, and available treatments are limited. Here, we assess a novel surgical procedure to restore a high-tone voice: ansa cervicalis to EBSLN anastomosis (A-E anastomosis). METHODS: Between November 2012 and April 2022, 13 patients (12 female) underwent unilateral EBSLN resection and A-E anastomosis, while 20 (16 female) underwent EBSLN resection during thyroid surgery. Patients (4494 women and 1025 men) with normal laryngoscopy scheduled for thyroid surgery served as normal controls. Phonatory function was examined using a Phonation Analyzer PA-1000 preoperatively and intermittently postoperatively. RESULTS: In patients who underwent A-E anastomosis, high-tone voice pitch decreased significantly postoperatively (673.9-471.5 Hz, p = 0.047), with restoration achieved within 5 months. The mean voice pitch in female patients who underwent A-E anastomosis, EBSLN resection, and controls were 580.4, 522.8, and 682.0 Hz, respectively, indicating a significant decrease in EBSLN resection patients than controls (p = 0.002). The (mean - 1SD) of high-tone voice pitch in female controls was 497 Hz; exceeding this may indicate recovery to a high-tone voice. Overall, 73% (8/11) of A-E anastomosis patients exceeded this value, which was marginally larger than the 43% (6/14) who underwent EBSLN resection. Data on male subjects are limited. There were no cases of adverse functional or cosmetic events. CONCLUSIONS: A-E anastomosis, a novel simple procedure, restored high-tone voice to some extent without any adverse events and thus warrants further investigation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Impact of time from diagnosis to chemotherapy on prognosis in advanced pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Due to the aggressive nature and poor prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer, prompt initiation of treatment is critical. We investigated the effect of the interval between cancer diagnosis and initiation of chemotherapy on survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. METHODS: In this retrospective, single-centre study, consecutive patients with advanced pancreatic cancer between April 2013 and March 2022 were analyzed. Data were extracted from the electronic medical records of patients who received chemotherapy for metastatic, locally advanced or resectable pancreatic cancer or who received chemotherapy due to either being intolerant of or declining surgery. We compared overall survival between two groups: the early waiting time group (waiting time ≤30 days from diagnosis to chemotherapy initiation) and the elective waiting time group (waiting time ≥31 days). Prognostic factors, including biliary drainage, were considered. The impact of waiting time on survival was assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses with Cox proportional hazard models. A 1:1 propensity score matching approach was used to balance bias, accounting for significant poor prognosis factors, age and sex. RESULTS: The study involved 137 patients. Overall survival exhibited no statistically significant difference between the early and elective waiting time groups (207 and 261 days, P = 0.2518). Univariate and multivariate analyses identified poor performance status and metastasis presence as predictors of worse prognosis. This finding persisted post propensity score matching (275 and 222 days, P = 0.8223). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that initiating chemotherapy ˃30 days later does not significantly affect treatment efficacy compared to within 30 days of diagnosis.

Efficacy of prophylactic clip closure in reducing the risk of delayed bleeding after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection in patients on anticoagulant therapy: Multicenter prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: The high rate of delayed bleeding after colorectal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy remains a problem. Whether prophylactic clip closure reduces the rate of delayed bleeding in these patients is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic clip closure in patients receiving anticoagulants. METHODS: This multicenter prospective interventional trial was conducted at nine referral centers in Japan. Patients regularly taking anticoagulants, including warfarin potassium or direct oral anticoagulants, and undergoing ESD for colorectal neoplasms were enrolled. The discontinuation of anticoagulants was minimized according to recent guidelines. After the ESD, post-ESD ulcers were prophylactically closed using endoclips. The primary end-point was the incidence of delayed bleeding. The sample size was 45 lesions, and prophylactic clip closure was considered effective when the upper limit of the 90% confidence interval (CI) for delayed bleeding did not exceed 20%. RESULTS: Forty-five lesions were used, and three were excluded. Complete closure was achieved in 41/42 lesions (97.6%). The overall delayed bleeding rate was low, at 4.9% (2/41; 90% [CI] 0.8-14.5), which was significantly lower than that at the prespecified threshold of 20% (P = 0.007). The median closure procedure time was 17 min, and the median number of clips was nine. No massive delayed bleeding requiring transfusion, interventional radiology, or surgery was observed, and no thromboembolic events were observed. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic clip closure may reduce the risk of delayed bleeding following colorectal ESD in patients receiving anticoagulants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN000036734).

Utility and advantage of the unroofing technique for gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Background and aim: Various techniques for direct biopsy from gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors (SETs) have been reported, although no standard method has been established. A common feature of these techniques is the removal of overlaying mucosa to enable direct biopsies from the SETs. These methods have been synthesized under the collective term "unroofing technique". We conducted a multicenter retrospective study to assess its efficacy and identify potential complications. Methods: This study was conducted in 10 hospitals and involved all eligible patients who underwent unroofing techniques to obtain biopsies for gastrointestinal SETs between April 2015 and March 2021. The primary endpoint was the diagnostic accuracy of the unroofing technique, and the secondary endpoints were the incidence of adverse events and the factors contributing to the accurate diagnosis. Results: The study included 61 patients with 61 gastrointestinal SETs. The median tumor size was 20 mm, and the median procedure time was 38 min, with 82% successful tumor exposure. The rate of pathological diagnosis was 72.1%. In 44 patients with a pathological diagnosis, two showed discrepancies with the postresection pathological diagnosis. No factors, including facility experience, organ, tumor size, or tumor exposure, significantly affected the diagnostic accuracy. There was one case of delayed bleeding and two cases of perforation. Conclusion: The diagnostic yield of the unroofing technique was acceptable. The unroofing technique was beneficial regardless of institutional experience, organ, tumor size, or actual tumor exposure.

5-Aminosalicylic Acid-Induced Liver Injury in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report.

Introduction: Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) associated with 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is a rare but potentially life-threatening adverse event. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 58-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis who developed DILI after initiating maintenance therapy with the multimatrix system 5-ASA. The patient presented with grade 4 liver enzyme elevation on day 98 after initiating 5-ASA and was admitted to the hospital. Blood tests revealed the mixed liver injury, and imaging studies showed no abnormalities except for mild lymph node enlargement. Liver biopsy revealed acute lobular hepatitis with interfacial activity. The patient's score on the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group 1999 revised scoring system was a total score of 10, causing a suspicion for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. The DDW-J 2004 scale calculated a total score of six, indicating a high probability of DILI. We suspected DILI due to 5-ASA, and the 5-ASA formulations were discontinued. The patient was treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and neominophagen C, and her liver function gradually improved without steroid treatment. Finally, we definitively diagnosed DILI based on the pathological findings and clinical course after discontinuation of 5-ASA. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of monitoring liver function in patients receiving 5-ASA therapy.

Drug-induced Interstitial Nephritis in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis Treated with 5-Aminosalicylic Acid.

This report describes the case of a 76-year-old man with ulcerative colitis who developed interstitial nephritis after starting 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) therapy. The patient experienced an initial improvement in symptoms, but developed fatigue, anorexia, and severe renal dysfunction 2.5 months later. Renal biopsy confirmed drug-induced interstitial nephritis, and conservative treatment with fluid replacement and the discontinuation of 5-ASA improved the patient's condition. Clinicians should monitor patients receiving 5-ASA therapy for potential adverse effects, particularly renal injury, and promptly investigate symptoms of renal dysfunction. Early recognition and discontinuation of the offending agent may prevent further damage and improve patient outcomes.

Comparison of the effect of ethanol infusion into the vein of Marshall between with and without collateral veins.

BACKGROUND: Despite the potential benefits of ethanol infusion into the vein of Marshall (EIVOM) for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, concerns about its reversible and unpredictable effects persist. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of EIVOM in the vein of Marshall (VOM) with collateral veins (CVs) during mitral isthmus and AF ablation. METHODS: We included 142 AF patients. EIVOM was performed before radiofrequency ablation, and low-voltage areas (<0.5 mV) were measured before, immediately after, and 1 h after EIVOM. RESULTS: Among the 142 patients, 93 (65%) underwent EIVOM, and among these, 35 (37%) were found to have CVs. In the VOM with CVs group, areas with low voltage measured 0 (0-1.85) cm2 before EIVOM, 6.9 (4.1-11.2) cm2 immediately after EIVOM, and 5.7 (3.5-10.6) cm2 1 h after EIVOM. Conversely, in the group designated as VOM without CVs-from which the nine leakage cases were excluded-the areas measured 0 (0-1.35) cm2 , 5.5 (2.6-11.8) cm2 , and 4.7 (1.8-13.5) cm2 at the respective time points. MI line block was fully achieved in 89% (31/35) of cases in the VOM with CVs group and 88% (44/49) in the VOM without CVs groups (p = .94). There was no significant difference in the outcome of AF ablation between these groups (log-rank p = .73). Additionally, no significant difference was observed between EIVOM (+) and EIVOM (-) groups (log-rank p = .59). CONCLUSION: EIVOM effectively creates MI line block, and its beneficial effects are sustained for at least 1 h after the procedure despite the low-voltage areas showing a slight reduction in size.

Non-Pure Intestinal Phenotype as an Indicator of Progression in Sporadic Nonampullary Duodenal Adenomas: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to evaluate the natural course of sporadic nonampullary duodenal adenomas (SNDAs) and determine the risk factors of progression. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the follow-up outcomes of patients with biopsy-diagnosed SNDA between April 2010 and March 2016 at 13 institutions. All initial biopsy specimens were centrally evaluated. Only those diagnosed with adenomas were included. Mucinous phenotypes were classified into pure intestinal and non-pure intestinal phenotypes. Cumulative incidence rates of carcinoma and tumor enlargement were evaluated. Tumor enlargement was defined as a ≥25% or 5-mm increase in tumor size. RESULTS: Overall, 121 lesions were analyzed. Within a median observation period of 32.7 months, 5 lesions were diagnosed as carcinomas; the cumulative 5-year incidence of carcinoma was 9.5%. Male sex ( P = 0.046), initial lesion size ≥10 mm ( P = 0.044), and non-pure intestinal phenotype ( P = 0.019) were significantly associated with progression to carcinoma. Tumor enlargement was observed in 22 lesions, with a cumulative 5-year incidence of 33.9%. Initial lesion size ≥10 mm ( P < 0.001), erythematous lesion ( P = 0.002), high-grade adenoma ( P = 0.002), Ki67 negative ( P = 0.007), and non-pure intestinal phenotype ( P = 0.001) were risk factors of tumor enlargement. In a multivariate analysis, an initial lesion size ≥10 mm ( P = 0.010) and non-pure intestinal phenotype ( P = 0.046) were independent and significant risk factors of tumor enlargement. DISCUSSION: Lesion size ≥10 mm and non-pure intestinal phenotype on initial biopsy are risk factors of cancer progression and tumor enlargement in cases with SNDA. Thus, management effectiveness may be improved by focusing on lesion size and the mucinous phenotype.

Active surveillance for adult low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma-a review focused on the 30-year experience of Kuma Hospital.

Active surveillance (AS) for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), which was initiated at Kuma Hospital (Kobe, Japan) in 1993 and Cancer Institute Hospital (Tokyo) in 1995, is now gradually being adopted worldwide, and several prospective studies have described the favorable outcomes of PTMC patients who underwent AS. The most important factor predicting PTMC growth is young age, and PTMC enlargement in young patients may be affected by high serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone. This review notes that one patient showed lung metastasis after conversion surgery (CS) following AS, but there are no reports of patients dying of thyroid carcinoma during or after AS. Some PTMCs enlarge or show newly appeared metastatic nodes requiring CS, and findings on the postoperative prognosis and incidence of significant surgical complications (e.g., permanent vocal cord paralysis, hypoparathyroidism) do not differ significantly between patients who underwent CS after AS and those who underwent immediate surgery (IS). IS has been associated with significantly higher incidences of these complications compared to AS as the initial management. Several studies have examined the quality of life (QoL) of patients who underwent AS versus IS, and reported discrepant findings regarding various psychological conditions (including anxiety). Medical costs for AS and IS vary regionally, and in Japan, the 10-year total cost of IS was 4.1 times greater than that of AS in 2017. Taken together, the existing findings demonstrate that AS can be appropriate for the initial management of patients with PTMC.

Tumor volume-doubling rate is negatively associated with patient age in papillary thyroid microcarcinomas under active surveillance.

BACKGROUND: Active surveillance of low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinomas has gained popularity worldwide as a management strategy. We previously reported that young age was associated with tumor enlargement by ≥3 mm. Here, we used the tumor volume-doubling rate to study the age-related tumor volume dynamics of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas under active surveillance. METHODS: Between 2005 and 2019, 2,896 patients diagnosed with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinomas underwent active surveillance. We excluded patients who underwent ultrasound examination fewer than 4 times, had coexisting Graves' disease, or were treated with levothyroxine at the time of diagnosis, and we enrolled 2,129 patients for this study. We divided them into 3 subsets based on the age at diagnosis: young (<40 years), middle-aged (40-59 years), and elderly (≥60 years). The tumor volume-doubling rate was calculated based on ultrasound-derived tumor sizes and the respective examination date for each patient. RESULTS: Overall, 140 patients (6.6%) had moderate or rapid growth (tumor volume-doubling rate ≥0.3/year), and the incidence significantly decreased with advanced age (P < .01): 11.3%, 7.1%, and 5.0% in the young, middle-aged, and elderly groups, respectively. Tumor regression (tumor volume-doubling rate <0/year) was detected in 1,200 patients (56.4%), and the incidence significantly increased with age (P < .01): 44.6%, 55.3%, and 60.0% in the young, middle-aged, and elderly groups, respectively. On multivariate analysis, both the ≥60 years and 40 to 59 years age groups were independent negative predictors of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma enlargement and positive predictors of tumor regression. CONCLUSION: Tumor volume-doubling rate analysis demonstrated that the incidence of tumor enlargement decreased and that of tumor regression increased with advancing age in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinomas.

Fulminant Marginal Keratitis Induced by Atezolizumab, a Programmed Death Ligand 1 Inhibitor for Lung Cancer.

Introduction: With the increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, ocular adverse events have gained attention. We describe a case of atypical keratitis presumably induced by atezolizumab, a programmed cell death ligand 1 inhibitor. Case Presentation: A 73-year-old Japanese woman developed ring-shaped marginal infiltrations with epithelial breakdown of the corneas in both eyes. The patient had advanced small cell lung cancer and had received intravenous carboplatin, etoposide, and atezolizumab. She was treated with topical administration of 0.1% sodium phosphate betamethasone and 0.5% moxifloxacin six times daily. On day 14 following initial presentation, marked reduction of bilateral corneal infiltration was observed. During the succeeding cycles of chemotherapy, marginal keratitis did not recur, and then, the topical steroid was gradually tapered. Conclusions: Cancer immunotherapy, including atezolizumab, may lead to active T-cell recruitment into the cornea, which result in autoimmune corneal keratitis. We believe that this report is informative to both ophthalmologists and oncologists involved in the treatment of patients receiving cancer immunotherapy.

Impact of Initial Body Weight Loss on Prognosis in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: Insights From a Single-Center Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer (PC) has a poor prognosis, with body weight loss commonly observed at diagnosis. However, the impact on PC prognosis of weight loss at the time of diagnosis on PC prognosis is unknown. METHODS: This retrospective, single-center study enrolled consecutively patients diagnosed with metastatic or locally advanced PC or resectable PC who were intolerant of or refused surgery. Patients who had lost more than 5% of their body weight or more than 2% and had a body mass index (BMI) of less than 20 kg/m2 at diagnosis were classified as experiencing body weight loss. Patients were subclassified into 2 groups: patients with and without weight loss. The study evaluated patient-related and PC-related factors affecting prognosis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess factors affecting prognosis. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Additionally, 1:1 propensity score matching was performed to reduce bias. RESULTS: In total, 220 patients were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 74 years, and 49.1% were male. Weight loss at diagnosis was observed in 43.2% of patients. There were no significant differences in clinical factors, except for anthropometric parameters, between the groups. The median survival time did not differ between the weight loss and no weight loss groups (149 and 173 days, respectively, P = .669). After matching, no significant differences in survival times were observed between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study found no association between weight loss at diagnosis and prognosis in patients with advanced PC treated with best supportive care or chemotherapy.

Multivariate Profiling of Metabolites and Volatile Organic Compounds in Citrus depressa Hayata Fruits from Kagoshima, Okinawa, and Taiwan.

Citrus depressa Hayata is a small-fruit citrus species; it is indigenous to Kagoshima, Okinawa, and Taiwan. The metabolites and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that affect the flavor of its fruits have not been investigated based on geographical origin. In the present study, we investigated the metabolite and VOC profiles of 18 C. depressa cultivation lines from these regions. Multivariate analysis revealed differences in the metabolites of C. depressa based on its cultivation origins; variations in sugar, sugar alcohol, and amino acid contents were also observed. Fruits from Kagoshima and Okinawa had higher galactinol, trehalose, xylose, glucose, and sucrose intensities than fruits from Taiwan (log2-fold change; 2.65-3.44, 1.68-2.13, 1.37-2.01, 1.33-1.57, and 1.07-1.43, respectively), whereas the Taiwanese lines contained higher leucine, isoleucine, serine, and alanine. In contrast to the Taiwanese Nantou line, other cultivation lines had comparable total VOC contents, and the VOCs of all lines were dominated by limonene, γ-terpinene, and p-cymene. Accordingly, the highest VOC intensities were recorded in the Nantou line, which was followed by Shikunin sweet (Kagoshima) and Taoyuan (Taiwan) (log10 normalize concentration; 5.11, 3.08, and 3.01, respectively). Moreover, multivariate analysis plots elucidated the difference in the VOCs of Ishikunibu (Okinawa), Shikunin sweet, and Taoyuan and between those of most Kagoshima and Okinawa cultivation lines. These results suggest that both the cultivation line and origin influence the metabolites and VOCs of C. depressa, thus possibly affecting its flavor quality; the data provide a valuable insight for utilizing C. depressa of different cultivation lines and origins to produce foods and beverages.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve's course running anteriorly to a thyroid tumor.

The thyroid gland's neurovascular relationship is commonly portrayed as the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) coursing posteriorly to the thyroid gland. We report a rare case with the RLN running anteriorly to a thyroid tumor. A 56-year-old Japanese woman underwent a thyroidectomy for a benign thyroid tumor. Preoperatively, computed tomography confirmed that part of the tumor had extended into the mediastinum and was descending posteriorly up to the brachiocephalic artery. Intraoperatively, when the sternothyroid muscle was incised to expose the thyroid gland, a cord (nerve)-like structure was observed directly anterior to the thyroid tumor. Although the course of this cord-like structure was clearly different from the "traditional" course of the right RLN, the possibility that the structure was the RLN could not be excluded. The structure was traced back in order to preserve it; we saw that it entered the larynx at the lower margin of the cricothyroid muscle and approximately at the level of the cricothyroid junction through the back of the normal thyroid tissue. With intraoperative neuromonitoring, the structure was identified as the RLN. As a result, the course of the RLN run anterior to the tumor but then posterior to the 'normal thyroid' i.e. into it normal anatomical position. Had we assumed that the RLN was behind the thyroid tumor, we would have damaged the RLN. It would not be possible to diagnose this abnormal running course of the RLN reliably before surgery, but extra care should be taken in similar cases, that is, when a large thyroid tumor is descending posteriorly up to the brachiocephalic artery on the right side.

Dual antithrombotic therapy with oral anticoagulant and P2Y12 inhibitors in patients with atrial fibrillation after percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of dual antithrombotic therapy (DAT) with oral anticoagulant and P2Y12 inhibitors (P2Y12i) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have not been well investigated. The purpose of this study was first to evaluate clinical outcomes of DAT with P2Y12i compared with triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT), and then to compare DAT with low-dose prasugrel and DAT with clopidogrel, in patients with AF undergoing PCI. METHODS: This study was a multicenter, non-interventional, prospective and retrospective registry. A total of 710 patients with AF undergoing PCI between January 2015 and March 2021 at 15 institutions were analyzed. Clinical outcomes within 1 year, including major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and major bleeding events (BARC 3 or 5) were compared between patients receiving DAT (n = 239) and TAT (n = 471), and then, compared among prasugrel-DAT (n = 82), clopidogrel-DAT (n = 157), and TAT. RESULTS: The DAT group showed significantly lower incidence of MACE and major bleeding events compared with the TAT group (log-rank p = 0.013 and 0.047). In the multivariable Cox regression analyses, DAT (p = 0.028), acute coronary syndrome (p = 0.025), and anemia (p = 0.015) were independently associated with MACE. In addition, anemia (p = 0.022) was independently associated with, and DAT (p = 0.056) and thrombocytopenia (p = 0.051) tended to be associated with, major bleeding events. When analyzed among the prasugrel-DAT, clopidogrel-DAT, and TAT groups, there were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the prasugrel-DAT and clopidogrel-DAT groups, and similar trends were observed for both 2 groups in comparison with the TAT group. CONCLUSIONS: In AF patients undergoing PCI, DAT was associated with lower incidence of MACE and major bleeding events compared with TAT. In comparison of P2Y12i, there might be no significant difference in the incidence of MACE and bleeding events between prasugrel-based DAT and clopidogrel-based DAT.