Primary hyperparathyroidism and negative Tc99 sestamibi imaging: to operate or not?

BACKGROUND: The indications for surgery in primary hyperparathyroidism (1HPT) are the same for patients with and without localization on imaging. However, patients with negative imaging may not be referred for surgery or the surgeon may be reluctant to operate. We compare outcomes in patients with negative imaging to those with localization. METHODS: A review of patients who underwent primary operation for 1HPT with a preoperative Tc99 sestamibi I-123 (MIBI) scan was conducted. Imaging, laboratory, operative findings, pathologic findings, and outcomes were used to compare patients with negative scans to those with localization. RESULTS: A total of 2,681 patients had an operation for 1HPT with preoperative MIBI. MIBI imaging was negative in 136 (5.7 %). The negative MIBI group had a lower calcium (10.9 vs. 11.0 mg/ml, P=0.02), phosphorus (2.9 vs. 3.1 mg/dl, P<0.001), and urinary calcium (251 vs. 287 mg/ml, P=0.02) and no difference in parathyroid hormone, 25-OH vitamin D, or bone loss. Multigland resection was higher with a negative scan (32 vs. 13 %, P<0.001). A curative operation was performed in 90.4 % with a negative MIBI compared to 97.5 % with localization (P<0.001). Patients who underwent successful surgery despite a negative MIBI scan had lower calcium (10.8 vs. 11.1 mg/ml, P=0.04) and parathyroid hormone (98 vs. 196 pg/ml, P=0.03) than those not cured. Patients with both a negative ultrasound result and negative MIBI had a cure rate of 89 %. CONCLUSIONS: A curative operation is performed at an acceptably lower rate with negative MIBI imaging. A decision for surgery with a negative MIBI finding should consider lower cure rates and symptom severity.

Adrenalectomy improves outcomes of selected patients with metastatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Indications and survival benefit for adrenalectomy (ADX) in the setting of metastasis are not clearly defined. We aimed to determine which patients with primary malignancies may benefit from ADX performed for metastasis. Mayo Clinic institutional outcomes in patients with metastatic disease to the adrenal(s) treated by adrenalectomy were compared to stage-matched historical controls from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. METHODS: A retrospective review (1992-2010) was conducted to identify patients treated with ADX for metastatic cancer at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Associations of clinical, surgical, and pathologic features with overall survival (OS) were evaluated using Cox proportional regression models. OS for those treated with ADX was compared with that for SEER database stage-matched patients who underwent primary resection without resection of distant disease using log-rank tests. RESULTS: A total of 166 patients underwent ADX for metastatic primaries involving the kidney 60, lung 24, sarcoma 19, colon 15, pancreas 13, and other-35. Patients with sarcoma and kidney, lung, and pancreatic tumors who underwent ADX had better OS at 1, 2, and 3 years than did the SEER-matched controls. Respectively, the rates were for sarcoma (100, 93, 86% vs. 57, 36, 30%), kidney (86, 80, 72% vs. 55, 37, 27%), lung (91, 69, 52% vs. 52, 34, 25%), and pancreas (79, 56, 45% vs. 33, 20, 12%). Univariate analysis identified primary diagnosis <2 years before ADX, other distant site, pancreatic primary, palliative operation, and persistent disease as risk factors for death. CONCLUSIONS: An aggressive surgical approach results in improved OS in patients with metastatic disease arising from soft tissues, kidney, lung, and pancreas. Other tumors may benefit, but larger study cohorts are needed for a meaningful comparison.

Clinical presentation and treatment considerations in children with acute omental torsion: a retrospective review.

Omental torsion is an underdiagnosed cause of abdominal pain in children. It resembles appendicitis, and the diagnosis is often made surgically. We review the presentation, treatment, and outcomes in the largest reported series to date. We recorded demographics, diagnostics, treatment, and histopathology in 18 children with omental torsion between May 2000 and 2007. We found a 4:1 male to female ratio and 85 per cent met criteria for obesity based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention body mass index-for-age growth chart calculations. Fourteen of 18 (78%) presented with right lower quadrant pain concerning for appendicitis and seven of 18 (39%) with fever, nausea, or vomiting. Mild leukocytosis was found in 78 per cent of patients. All but one was taken to surgery with a diagnosis of appendicitis. Partial omentectomy, either open (50%) or laparoscopic (50%), was performed in all cases. The appendix, resected in 17 patients, was grossly normal. However, 30 per cent of specimens had histopathologic findings of appendicitis. Hospital discharge, after symptom resolution, averaged 33 hours. Surgeons should have a high index of suspicion for omental torsion when evaluating obese children for right lower quadrant pain. Both surgical approaches provide the diagnosis and treatment with minimal morbidity and rapid recovery. We advocate simultaneous appendectomy because appendicitis is often encountered with the torsion.

Imaging of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

Current multimodal imaging techniques offer practicing providers the adequate framework to plan and accomplish care for patients with thyroid and parathyroid disorders. Available imaging modalities include ultrasonography (US), nuclear scintigraphy, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). US remains the most cost-effective and the safest approach for the initial evaluation of the thyroid gland. Parathyroid subtraction scintigraphy provides localization of pathologic parathyroid glands with the greatest sensitivity. Localizing imaging studies allow for surgical planning with minimal risk and morbidity to the patient. CT scan and MRI play an adjunctive role in the further characterization of neck pathology.