Multifocality as independent prognostic factor in papillary thyroid cancer - A multivariate analysis.

PURPOSE: The incidence of multifocality of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) ranges from 18 to 87.5% The mechanisms of multifocal spreading, correlation with tumor size, histology variants of PTC, lymph node metastases, and prognostic impact remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of multifocality on relapse and survival rates of patients with PTC by analyzing the correlation of multifocality with patient age, gender, tumor size, histological variants of PTC, presence of lymph node metastases and extent of surgery. METHODS: 153 patients with PTC were included in this study. Patients with pT4 tumors or initially distant metastases were excluded from study. Total thyroidectomy was done in all 153 patients. Central and level III and IV lateral neck lymph node dissection was done in 76.5% of the patients, followed by modified radical neck dissection if positive. RESULTS: Multifocality was found in 43 (28%) whole thyroid gland specimens, and was significantly more frequent in patients older than 45 years and in tumors greater than 4 cm in diameter (p<0.01). Presence of multifocality didn't significantly correlate with gender, histology variants of PTC or lymph node metastases. In a median follow up of 84 months locoregional relapse occurred in 8.4% and 1.3% of the patients, while 7.2% patients died due to PTC. The incidence of relapse was significantly higher (p<0.01), and relapse free interval and survival were significantly shorter (p=0.0095, p=0.0004, respectively) in patients with multifocal PTC. Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that multifocality was independent prognostic factor for both disease-free interval (DFI) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients with PTC. CONCLUSION: Due to high incidence of multifocality and potential prognostic impact, total thyroidectomy should be advocated in all patients with PTC, aiming to reduce relapse rate and improve DFI and CSS.

Lymph node metastases in clinically N0 patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinomas - a single institution experience.

PURPOSE: To register the frequency of central and lateral lymph node metastases (LNMs) from papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMCs), and to assess whether sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy of the lateral compartment is an accurate technique to select patients with true positive but clinically negative lymph nodes for one-time selective lateral neck dissection (sLND). The correlation between tumor characteristics (size, multifocality, bilaterality, capsular invasion) and LNMs was analyzed. METHODS: During a 10-year-period (2004-2013), 111 clinically N0 patients with PTMCs had total thyroidectomy, central neck dissection and SLN biopsy of the lateral neck compartment in our institution. SLN mapping was performed by subcapsular injection of 0.2 to 0.5ml of 1% methylene blue dye. If SLNs were positive on frozen section, one-time sLND was done. RESULTS: Forty per cent of PTMCs were multicentric. LNMs were detected in 25% of the patients and isolated central LNMs were found in 18% of the patients. Lateral LMNs were present in 7% of the patients, of which 4% were isolated, skip LNMs. All these patients had therapeutic sLND. Specificity and sensitivity of SLN biopsy were 100% and 57%, positive and negative predictive values were 100% and 97%, respectively. Method's accuracy was 97%. CONCLUSIONS: SLN biopsy of the lateral neck compartment is more precise than physical examination and ultrasonography for detection of lateral LNMs in clinically N0 patients with PTMCs. Intraoperative assessment of lateral lymph nodes (SLNs) provides one-time therapeutic dissection for patients with occult LNMs at initial operation, reducing the need for additional operations. This method provides appropriate disease staging and optimizes treatment.

Lymphatic drainage, regional metastases and surgical management of papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in pyramidal lobe--a single institution experience.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) arising in pyramidal lobe (PL) is very rare. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of single PTC focus in PL and its lymphonodal metastases, as well as to present a single surgeon experience in management of PL PTC. We performed a retrospective analysis of records of all patients surgically treated for PTC in our institution from year 2003 to 2013. Only patients with single PTC focus in PL were included. Out of total 753 patients, majority (66.52%) had PTC focus in one of the lobes, while only 3 patients (0.4%) had solitary PTC focus in PL. They were all females, aged 36, 41 and 22. During surgery, methylene-blue dye was injected peritumorally. After frozen section analysis of excised PL and isthmus and confirmation of malignancy, we performed total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection, as well as sentinel lymph node biopsy in both jugulo-carotid regions. Pathology showed encapsulated PTC stage T1 and solitary metastasis in Delphian lymph node of the youngest patient. All patients were disease free in the follow-up. PTC single focus in PL is very rare and only individual experiences can be discussed regarding the extent of the surgery.

Surgical management of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents: 33 years of experience of a single institution in Serbia.

Well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents is rare but demonstrates aggressive behavior. Gross lymph node metastases and distant metastases are common upon first clinical presentation. During a 33-year period (1981-2014) at the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, 62 children and adolescents underwent surgery due to well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Mean age was 16.7 (range 7-21) years. At the time of diagnosis 6% of patients had lung metastases. Total thyroidectomy or completion thyroidectomy was performed for all patients followed by central neck dissection and frozen section examination of jugular-carotid compartments. Median follow-up was 10.9 (range 0.69-33.05) years and median tumor size was 20 (range 2-60) mm. Papillary carcinoma was found in 96%, and follicular and Hürthle cell carcinoma in 2% of patients. Multifocal tumors were found in 50% and capsular invasion in 60% of patients. Lymphonodal metastases in either central or lateral neck compartments were found in 73% of patients. Multifocality and capsular invasion were significantly more frequent in patients less than 16 years of age (both p < 0.01). Median disease-free interval had not been reached and overall survival rate was 100%. Well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents is characterized by a high rate of loco-regional aggressiveness, multifocality, capsular invasion, lymph node metastases and distant metastases at the time of diagnosis. Adequate surgical approaches should be performed for both primary and recurrent disease in young patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in order to achieve loco-regional disease control and longer disease-free survival.

Survival prognostic factors in patients with colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis treated with cytoreductive surgery and intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: a single institution experience.

PURPOSE: The aim of this research was to examine overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with colorectal peritoneal carcinomatosis (CRC-PC), treated with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and intraoperative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), as well as to analyse factors of prognostic significance. METHODS: We included 61 patients with pathological/and computerized tomography (CT) confirmation of CRC-PC, treated with CRS+HIPEC from 2005 to 2012. Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) score was used for quantitative assessment of the CRC-PC extent. We performed CRS following the Sugarbaker's principles in all patients with PCI ≤20 and only in 3/61 (4.92%) patients with PCI >20. HIPEC (oxaliplatin 410 mg/m(2) in 2000mL isotonic solution and 41?C) was performed using RanD Performer® HT perfusion system during 30-60 min. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to determine significant factors for OS and DFS. RESULTS: The follow-up ranged from 1 to 83 months (median 22). Median OS was 51 months (95% confidence interval/ CI 22+). Median DFS for patients without residual disease (57/61, 93.44%) was 23 months (95% CI 16+). One-, 2- and 6-year OS (DFS) were 78.6% (68.3%), 58.7% (46.7%) and 50.5% (38.1%), respectively. By the end of the study, 55.74% of the patients were still alive. Cox multivariate analysis indicated PCI score as a parameter of highly prognostic significance for patients treated with CRS+HIPEC (p<0.001). Patients with PCI (13 (vs PCI ≥13) had significantly longer OS and DFS (p<0.001), also confirmed for PCI subcategories (PCI <7 vs 7≤ PCI <13 vs PCI ≥13). All patients with PCI <7 are still alive. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that CRS+HIPEC significantly improves the survival of CRC-PC patients. This treatment modality should be considered as the most suitable in well-selected patients with this disease.

Right thyroid hemiagenesis with adenoma and hyperplasia of parathyroid glands -case report.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid hemiagenesis is a rare anomaly, more commonly seen on the left side (ratio 4:1) and in females (ratio 3:1). The first to describe this anomaly was Handfield Jones in 1852. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a 66 year old female patient with right thyroid hemiagenesis, parathyroid adenoma on the side of hemiagenesis and parathyroid hyperplasia on the contralateral side. The patient had neck pain and was diagnosed as Hashimto thyroiditis with hyperparathyroidism. Parathyroid hormone, thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Ab) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) were elevated. Neck ultrasound and technetium 99mTc-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) scintigraphy confirmed the right thyroid hemiagenesis, but not adenoma of parathyroid glands. Intraoperatively, right thyroid hemiagenesis was confirmed and left loboistmectomy was performed with removal of left inferior hyperplastic parathyroid gland. Postoperative PTH (parathyroid hormone) levels were within normal range. Five months after the operation PTH level was elevated again with calcium values at the upper limit. MIBI scintigraphy was performed again which showed increased accumulation of MIBI in the projection of the right parathyroid gland. Surgical reexploration of the neck and excision of the right upper parathyroid adenoma was performed which was located behind cricoid laryngeal cartilage. After surgery a normalization of calcium and PTH occured. CONCLUSION: From available literature we have not found the case that described parathyroid adenoma on the side of thyroid hemiagenesis,with parathyroid hyperplasia on the contralateral side.

Surgical management of primary thyroid carcinoma arising in thyroglossal duct cyst: an experience of a single institution in Serbia.

Thyroglossal duct cyst (TDC) carcinoma is a comparable rare entity and treatment strategies have not been standardized. Here, we report a favorable outcome of TDC carcinoma patients based on our therapeutic strategy. Twelve patients with TDC carcinoma treated in our department from 1986 to 2012 were enrolled. Ten patients underwent Sistrunk's procedure in other institutions and referred to our institution for re-operation after the diagnosis of TDC carcinoma and the remaining two underwent initial surgery in our institution. Eleven patients were diagnosed as papillary and one as follicular carcinoma originating from TDC. We performed total thyroidectomy for 11, and limited thyroidectomy for one patient. Three patients (25%) had carcinoma lesions in the thyroid. We routinely dissected level I bilaterally and 6 of 11 patients (55%) with papillary carcinoma-type TDC carcinoma had metastasis. Level II/III nodes were biopsied and if positive, we performed level II-IV dissection. Of the 5 patients positive for level II/III, 2 were also positive for level IV. For the 3 patients with synchronous carcinoma in the thyroid, we performed level VI dissection and two had metastasis in this level. To date, 1 patient showed a recurrence to the lung, but none of the patients in our series died of carcinoma. For surgery of TDC carcinoma, Sistrunk's procedure, total thyroidectomy with level I dissection is mandatory. Whether level II-IV dissection is performed depends on pathology of biopsied level II/III nodes. Level VI dissection is also recommended especially when carcinoma lesions are pre/intra operatively detected in the thyroid.

Mutational and clinico-pathological analysis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in Serbia.

Molecular pathogenesis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is largely associated with mutational changes in the BRAF, RAS family and RET genes. Our aim was to assess clinico-pathological and prognostic correlations of these PTC-specific gene alterations, with a particular emphasis on the BRAF mutation, in a group of 266 Serbian PTC patients, for the first time. The reference center-based retrospective cohort included 201 (75.6%) females and 65 (24.4%) males aged 48.0±16.1 years (8-83 years old, range) diagnosed and treated for PTC during 1993-2008. Follow-up period was 53.1±41.6 months (7-187 months, range). BRAF and RAS mutations were determined by direct sequencing of genomic DNA. RET/PTC rearrangements were analyzed by RT-PCR/Southern blotting. Genetic alterations were detected in 150/266 tumors (56.4%). One tumor displayed two genetic alterations. The BRAF(V600E) was found in 84/266 (31.6%) cases, RAS mutations in 11/266 (4.1%) and RET/PTC in 55/266 (20.7%; 42/266 (15.8%) RET/PTC1 and 13/266 (4.9%) RET/PTC3). On multivariate analysis BRAF(V600E) was associated with the classical papillary morphology (P = 0.05), the higher pT category (P = 0.05) and advanced clinical stage (P = 0.03). In a proportional hazard model, BRAF(V600E) did not appear to be an independent risk factor for the faster recurrence (P = 0.784). We conclude that under the extensive thyroid surgery and limited application of radioiodine ablation BRAF(V600E) may not be an indicator of poorer disease-free survival during the short to middle follow-up period. However, it has a potential to contribute to patients stratification into high- and low-risk groups.

Parathyroid dual tracer subtraction scintigraphy: small regions method for quantitative assessment of parathyroid adenoma uptake.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was quantitative assessment of parathyroid adenoma (PTA) uptake in dual tracer dynamic scintigraphy. METHODS: In 78 patients, median age 58 (19-80) years, surgically treated for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), with parathyroid hormone median 125 (70-658) pg/ml, we performed preoperative parathyroid scintigraphy, following EANM guidelines of subtraction and double-phase protocol (2009) using two tracers: Tc-99m pertechnetate and Tc-99m MIBI. In addition to standard subtraction processing and visual interpretation of delayed MIBI planar images of neck and mediastinum in oblique sections (positions according to ultrasound PTA localisation), we developed Submarine processing software that enables selecting custom regions grid sizes ≥6 mm (as this solution was not present in commercial software) to follow time activity curve changes in thyroid tissue and PTA. Histopathology in 53/78 patients revealed PHPT and in 25/78 patients thyroid nodular disease only, and thyroid malignancy occurred in total of 15/78 (19 %) patients. PHPT group included 44 solitary PTA, 8 patients with hyperplasia and one parathyroid carcinoma. The median macroscopic volume of PTA was 717.5 (15-6125) mm(3). Concomitant PHPT and thyroid nodular disease occurred in 24/53 patients and among them 8 patients had thyroid malignancies. RESULTS: PTA showed typical pattern of late peak on time activity curves characterized by median start time on 15 (10-25) min, the peak amplitude mean 19 (±5) % above thyroid declining washout curve, and duration of peak 6 (4-10) min, allowing PTA to "emerge" like submarine, independent from thyroid tissue and lesions. The ratio of PTA-to-normal thyroid uptake at peak maximum was 1.35 (±0.21). The thyroid TACs results of normal 29/78 (37 %) patients, benign nodular 34/78 (44 %) patients, and malignancy in 15 (19 %) patients were all presented by declining exponential curves. The slope analysis of TACs in normal thyroid tissue, thyroid benign and malignant lesions (linear fitted logarithm of TAC) showed no difference (the same negative slope: -0.04). Submarine processing was sensitive in detection of small lesions, in hyperplasia, and concomitant thyroid nodular disease. CONCLUSIONS: The novel Submarine processing confirmed specific PHPT pattern and was effective in the group with potential pitfalls of standard interpretation, increasing sensitivity and specificity of standard processing subtraction algorithm. Prolonged MIBI accumulation was present in malignant as well as benign thyroid nodules with identical TAC slope.

Usefulness of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy of Contralateral Neck Region in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Here, we present a 9-year-old male boy admitted at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia due to enlarged lymph node in the left lateral neck region and palpable tumor in the upper pole of the left thyroid lobe. Clinically and sonographically, there were no metastases in the right jugulo-carotid chain, but the lymph nodes in the central pretracheal neck compartment and left jugulo-carotid chain were metastatic. Chest X ray, abdominal ultrasound, and laryngoscopy findings were normal. After injection of 2 mL of methylene blue dye in the normal right lobe, we accessed the right lateral neck region and the colored sentinel lymph node was removed, which was proven to be metastatic on frozen section analysis. Then, we explored entire thyroid gland and there were no nodules in the right lobe. The left lobe was explored and tumor was verified, which was in close contact to the infrahyoid muscles. We performed left loboisthmectomy by shaving off left lobe from trachea. Three foci of papillary carcinoma were found in the upper pole of left lobe 11 mm, just below 6 mm, and in isthmic region focus of 6 mm. We proceeded with the removal of the right lobe and central lymph nodes, including Delphian, which was metastatic, pretracheal, right paratracheal, and the lymph nodes behind the right recurrent laryngeal nerve down to the aortic arch. Upper mediastinal lymph nodes were removed. In the central neck region and upper mediastinal compartment, 15 lymph nodes were removed and 11 were metastatic. Right modified radical neck dissection from region two to four was performed. Twenty-one lymph nodes were examined, 5 were metastatic, including the sentinel lymph node. Left modified radical neck dissection, from level IIB to V, was performed on two incisions, which enabled reaching left level II and common carotid artery bifurcation. Left lateral lymph nodes were removed in one piece, berry picking must be avoided. Of 21 removed lymph nodes, 5 were metastatic in the left lateral region. A total of 57 lymph nodes were removed and 21 were metastatic. We showed the necessity and usefulness of sentinel lymph node biopsy of contralateral neck region by injecting vital dye in the normal right lobe. We confirmed the presence of metastases in a patient with clinically and sonographically negative lymph nodes. All authors declare no conflict of interest. Runtime of video: 10 mins.

Difference between Luminal A and Luminal B Subtypes According to Ki-67, Tumor Size, and Progesterone Receptor Negativity Providing Prognostic Information.

BACKGROUND: The St. Gallen International Expert Consensus of 2011 proposes a new classification system for breast cancer based on its division into five subgroups. The criteria to identify these subtypes were recently refined at the 2013 Conference. In this respect, the authors of this paper have conducted a retrospective analysis of breast cancer subtypes, related to Ki-67 and involvement of the axillary lymph nodes (ALNs). The analysis was performed only in the cases of invasive breast cancer in the pT2 stages. The research and results of the paper have shown that investigating the value of these parameters could be of great benefit in future treatment strategies of invasive breast cancer. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of breast cancer subtypes, tumor nodal metastatic staging, and histopathological grading of 108 cases has been performed according to the methods recommended and provided by the St. Gallen International Expert Consensus Report, 2011. The estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), and Ki-67 of 108 tumor samples were all investigated by immunohistochemistry according to the methods used to classify breast cancer subtypes as proposed in the St. Gallen Consensus Report, 2011. Invasive breast cancers (n = 108) were immunohistochemically classified as follows: 28 (25.92%) as Luminal A, 51 (47.22%) as Luminal B (HER2 negative), 21 (19.44%) as Luminal B-like (HER2 negative), 2 (1.85%) as HER2 positive, and 6 (5.55%) as being a triple-negative subtype. RESULTS: The conclusion was made that when Ki-67 was found to be higher, patients also showed a higher involvement in their ALNs. The chi-square test shows the difference to be significant (chi-square = 4.757; P = 0.029). Luminal B subtypes had the highest percentage (54.9%) of involvement of lymph nodes when compared to the other four subtypes. The Luminal B subtype had a higher percentage (51.4%) of involvement of lymph nodes than did Luminal A (10.7%). The chi-square test also shows the difference to be significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A combination of the Ki-67 index, HER negative tumors, PR negativity, and a low value that can be used to segregate ER positive pT2 tumors into prognostically significantly different clinical outcomes may be utilized clinically to guide patient management in accordance with these tumor characteristics.

Genetic alterations in quadruple malignancies of a patient with multiple sclerosis: their role in malignancy development and response to therapy.

Multiple cancers represent 2.42% of all human cancers and are mainly double or triple cancers. Many possible causes of multiple malignancies have been reported such as genetic alterations, exposure to anti-cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy and reduced immunologic response. We report a female patient with multiple sclerosis and quadruple cancers of different embryological origin. Patient was diagnosed with stage III (T3, N1a, MO) medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), multicentric micropapillary thyroid carcinoma, scapular and lumbar melanomas (Clark II, Breslow II), and lobular invasive breast carcinoma (T1a, NO, MO). All tumors present in our patient except micropapillary thyroid carcinomas were investigated for gene alterations known to have a key role in cancer promotion and progression. Tumor samples were screened for the p16 alterations (loss of heterozygosity and homozygous deletions), loss of heterozygosity of PTEN, p53 alterations (mutational status and loss of heterozygosity) and mutational status of RET, HRAS and KRAS. Each type of tumor investigated had specific pattern of analyzed genetic alterations. The most prominent genetic changes were mutual alterations in PTEN and p53 tumor suppressors present in breast cancer and two melanomas. These co-alterations could be crucial for promoting development of multiple malignancies. Moreover the insertion in 4(th) codon of HRAS gene was common for all tumor types investigated. It represents frameshift mutation introducing stop codon at position 5 which prevents synthesis of a full-length protein. Since the inactivated RAS enhances sensitivity to tamoxifen and radiotherapy this genetic alteration could be considered as a good prognostic factor for this patient.

Three Cases of Combined Therapy in Primary Breast Lymphoma (PBL) with Successful Outcomes.

Primary malignant lymphoma of the breast is a rare tumor, defined as a tumor localized in the breast with or without axillary lymph-node metastases. Such a tumor is mainly found in female patients and located more frequently in the right breast. It is difficult to make primary breast lymphoma (PBL) diagnosis before operation, and PBL diagnosis is mainly based on pathological biopsy and immunohistochemical staining. In this paper, the cases of three patients who had PBL, and who were treated for it at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia between 2008 and 2012, are reviewed and discussed. These cases of PBL had no recorded reoccurrence of the disease and were originally treated by surgery, radiotherapy R-CHOP, and/or chemotherapy. While there is no consensus to the question of how to best treat PBL (ie, with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or combined therapy), it is hoped that this review will offer insight into successful treatment procedures for tumors of this category.

Rare localisation of breast cancer metastasis to thyroid gland.

INTRODUCTION: Metastases to the thyroid gland are very rare. They are usually seen in malignant melanoma, kidney, breast cancer and lung cancer. CASE REPORT: We presented a 54-years-old female patient with breast cancer diagnosed in 2002. The adequate surgical procedure was done and the tumor and axillary lymph nodes were removed. The patient also received adjuvant postoperative chemotherapy. After seven years of a disease free period, the first relapse of the disease was detected as thyroid gland tumor with axillary lymphadenopathy. The patient had a good response to systemic treatment so the surgical removal of thyroid gland and enlarged lymph nodes was performed. Histopathological analysis confirmed metastasis with breast cancer origin. Radical mastectomy was also preformed. Second relapse of the disease was detected 10 months later, while the patient was on hormonal therapy. It was manifested as the appearance of bone and skin metastases, pleural effusion and lymphadenopathy. CONCLUSION: This case report emphasized the importance of detailed examination of any new onset of thyroid swelling in a patient with previous history of malignancy.

Intraductal papilloma of ectopic breast tissue in axillary lymph node of a patient with a previous intraductal papilloma of ipsilateral breast: a case report and review of the literature.

The presence of ectopic breast tissue in axillary lymph nodes (ALN) is a benign condition that must be differentiated from primary or metastatic carcinoma. Here we report a patient who underwent excision of enlarged ALN 10 years after she had received surgical treatment of ipsilateral breast for an intracystic intraductal papilloma (IDP). Histological examination of the removed ALN revealed that the proliferative lesion consisted of papillary and tubular structures lined by luminal cuboidal cells and a distinct outer layer of myoepithelial cells resembling IDP of the breast. Immunostaining with a set of immunohistochemical markers including AE/AE3, alpha-smooth muscle actin and p63 in combination with estrogen and progesterone receptors confirmed the diagnosis of ectopic IDP.This case shows that even though benign proliferative change in ectopic breast tissue is an extremely rare phenomenon, this possibility should be taken into account for correct diagnosis.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy may be used to support the decision to perform modified radical neck dissection in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic significance of lymph node metastases (LNM) in follicle cell-derived differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is still controversial. The management of cervical lymph nodes varies from "berry picking" to modified radical neck dissection (MRND). The incidence of LNM in papillary thyroid carcinoma varies from 27% to 80%. The importance of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for decisions about the surgical management of lymph nodes in DTC has been the subject of several previous studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 40 patients with DTC methylene blue dye was applied peritumorally. Both SLN and non-SLN in the lower third of the jugulo-carotid chain were dissected prior to total thyroidectomy and routine dissection of the central neck compartment and examined by frozen-section and standard histology. MRND was performed in 9 cases of LNM in the lateral neck compartment. RESULTS: The SLN identification rate was 92.5%. Metastases in SLNs were revealed by frozen-section histology in 7 cases, leading to immediate MRND. The findings were confirmed on standard HE examination. In 2 false-negative cases SLN metastases were revealed on standard histology and MRND was performed 1 week later. The specificity of the method was 100%, sensitivity 77.7%, negative predictive value 94%, positive predictive value 100%, with overall accuracy of 95%. CONCLUSION: Our results seem to imply that SLN biopsy in the jugulo-carotid chain using methylene blue dye mapping may be a feasible and valuable method for estimating lymph node status in the lateral neck compartment. It may be helpful in the detection of true-positive but nonpalpable lymph nodes, and in such cases may support the decision to perform MRND in patients with DTC.

[Morphological characteristics of the phyllodes tumours of the breast]. / Morfoloske karakteristike filodnih tumora dojke.

Tumor phyllodes arise from stroma component of the terminal ductulo-lobular unit (TDLU). Stromal and epithelial proliferation are present in the same time. The stromal component grow th more intensive and dominante over the epithelial component. Clinically, macroscopically and microscopically tumor phyllode look like fibroadenoma which is more common lesion than tumor phyllodes. The differentiation between these two lession is important because the fibroadenoma almost never reccur bur the reccurence is ofthen in tumor phyllodes especially in incomplete excision. The fibroadenoma growth is never over 3 cm, but the growth of tumor phyllodes is sometimes over the 20 cm. The clinica differentiation in smaller lesions is very hard, macroscopical differentiation is a litle better, but the final diagnosis is microscopical. Biological behavior is not in the correlation with histological picture. Histologically, we can differentiate benign, borderline and malignant tumor phyllodes.