Retrospective case-control study examining the relationship between recurrence-free survival and changes in pre- and post-radioiodine therapy serum thyroglobulin levels in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

PURPOSE: Thyroglobulin assay is important to assess the residual or recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Patients with positive serum thyroglobulin levels after radioactive iodine (RAI) adjuvant therapy could achieve long-term recurrence-free survival (RFS). The patient's prognosis could not be confidently estimated based solely on the evaluation of thyroglobulin levels. We investigated the recurrence rate and RFS of patients who received adjuvant RAI therapy after surgery for DTC to clarify the relationship between changes in pre- and post-therapy serum thyroglobulin levels and RFS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent adjuvant RAI therapy between May 2007 and March 2021 were included in this study, whereas those with positive anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, distant metastases, or gross residual tumors were excluded. The change in pre- and post-treatment serum thyroglobulin levels under thyroid-stimulating hormone stimulation was calculated and classified as follows: group A, thyroglobulin levels decreased by ˃10%; group B, thyroglobulin levels within a range of 10% or less; and group C, thyroglobulin levels increased by ˃10%. RFS outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis was performed using the log-rank test, and multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: A total of 74 patients were included. Relapse was seen in 13 of 46 patients in group A, 9 of 15 in group B, and 10 of 13 in group C. Median RFS was 129.00 (95% confidence interval CI 77.79-180.21), 113.00 (95% CI 86.83-139.17), and 33 months (95% CI 6.026-59.974) in groups A, B, and C, respectively. Patients in group C exhibited significantly shorter RFS than those in groups A and B (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in thyroglobulin levels pre- and post-therapy were associated with RFS. Patients with decreased post-therapy thyroglobulin levels had a favorable prognosis, even if their thyroglobulin levels were positive after RAI therapy.

Utility of Novel Clavicle-lifting Technique in Mediastinal Thyroid Surgery: A Case Series Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Symptomatic mediastinal goitre requires surgery and is usually resectable using the cervical approach alone; however, sternotomy is occasionally required. Sternotomy is a highly invasive procedure, and its complications, including mediastinitis and osteomyelitis, can be critical. To date, there have been no reports of non-invasive techniques to avoid sternotomy for mediastinal thyroid tumours. We investigated the safety and efficacy of thyroidectomy using the clavicle lifting technique with a paediatric Kent hook. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 8 patients who underwent thyroidectomy with a clavicle lifting technique between November 2014 and July 2021 at the Department of Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital. The primary endpoint was sternotomy avoidance rate and R0 resection rate. An extension retractor used in paediatric surgery was used for the clavicle lifting technique. RESULTS: Sternotomy avoidance rate and R0 resection rate were 100%. The mean operative time was 161±53.5 min, and the mean blood loss was 125.6±125.8 ml. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications related to the clavicle lifting technique. CONCLUSION: Thyroidectomy with a clavicle lifting technique for mediastinal goitre and thyroid cancer is safe and useful because it avoids sternotomy without causing massive intraoperative bleeding or damage to other organs.

A technique for esophagojejunostomy following robot-assisted gastrectomy: a liner stapler and barbed suture device-based technique: a case series.

Intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy after total or proximal robot-assisted gastrectomy is technically more demanding than gastroduodenostomy and gastrojejunostomy for distal gastrectomy, as well as laparoscopic surgery. We have established a safe and simple esophagojejunostomy procedure using a liner stapler attached to the Da Vinci Surgical System and a barbed suture device. Patients and methods: For esophagojejunostomy after total gastrectomy or proximal gastrectomy with double-tract reconstruction, we choose the "overlap method," in which entry holes were made at the left of the esophageal stump and at 5 cm of the anal side in antimesentric area of the jejunum, followed by anastomosis on the left of the esophagus using SureForm (blue 45 mm) and hand-sewing closure of the common entry hole with V-Loc. We analyzed the short-term surgical outcomes of all patients. Results: 23 patients underwent this reconstruction technique. None of the patients required any further open surgeries. The mean time to perform anastomosis was 24.7±2.8 min. The postoperative course was uneventful in 22 patients; a single patient developed minor anastomotic leakage (Clavien-Dindo grade 3), which was treated with conservative therapy employing a drainage tube. Conclusion: Our esophagojejunostomy method following robot-assisted gastrectomy is simple and feasible, with acceptable short-term outcomes, and could represent the procedure of choice for esophagojejunostomy.

A Retrospective Analysis of Perioperative Chemotherapy and Coronavirus Disease in Patients With Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Since January 2020, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases have been confirmed in Japan, and the number of patients with COVID-19 has been increasing. Two emergency declarations have been made previously and one is currently in effect. Based on our experience of a situation that could affect cancer treatment, this study retrospectively examined the correlation between perioperative anticancer therapy and COVID-19 incidence in patients with breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent perioperative anticancer therapy for breast cancer at our hospital from February 2020 to February 2021 were included in this study. The presence or absence of COVID-19, timing of anticancer drug initiation, and clinical data were collected. RESULTS: No cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in patients receiving perioperative anticancer therapy at our hospital. CONCLUSION: Regimen modification, active use of supportive care, and patient lifestyle were factors reducing the incidence of COVID-19.

Stereotactic radiotherapy using the CyberKnife is effective for local control of bone metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer.

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is associated with a good long-term prognosis, but bone metastases can adversely affect patients' quality of life and survival. Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) can deliver high-dose irradiation to target lesions and it has been reported to be useful for various cancers. However, few studies have examined the efficacy of SRT for thyroid cancer. In the present study, the aim was to investigate the efficacy of SRT using the CyberKnife for bone metastases from DTC. From September 2013 to April 2018, SRT with the CyberKnife system was used to treat 60 bone metastases from DTC in 13 patients. The patients' medical records were retrospectively reviewed to obtain information about the adverse events associated with SRT. Of the 60 lesions, 40 could be evaluated by follow-up CT for therapeutic effectiveness, and the RECIST criteria were used to assess the response. The cancers were papillary cancer in 3 patients, follicular cancer in 9 and poorly differentiated cancer in 1. SRT was delivered in 1-10 fractions, with a median dose of 27 Gy (range, 8-48 Gy). Adverse events were infrequent and mild. The median follow-up of the 40 lesions was 11 (range, 2-56) months. The responses were partial response in 2 lesions, stable disease in 37 lesions and progressive disease in 1 lesion, with a 1-year local control rate of 97.1%. The present study showed that SRT using the CyberKnife system was a feasible and effective treatment for bone metastases of DTC.

Usefulness of Stereotactic Radiotherapy Using the CyberKnife for Patients with Inoperable Locoregional Recurrences of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection is the preferred treatment for locoregional recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). However, some recurrences are unresectable because of their aggressive invasion or severe adhesions. On the other hand, stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) enables high-dose irradiation to target lesions, and its usefulness for various cancers has been reported. The objective of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of SRT as salvage treatment for locoregional recurrence of DTC. METHODS: Between August 2011 and December 2017, 52 locoregional recurrent lesions in 31 patients with recurrent DTC were treated by SRT using the CyberKnife system. Information on the adverse events associated with SRT was retrospectively collected from the patients' medical records. Of the 52 lesions, 33 could be evaluated for therapeutic effectiveness by follow-up CT, and response was assessed using the RECIST criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients had papillary carcinoma, 5 had follicular carcinoma, and 1 had poorly differentiated cancer. SRT was delivered in one to 20 fractions, and the median dose was 30 Gy (range 15-60 Gy). Adverse events were not frequent, but 1 patient developed bilateral vocal cord palsy that required emergent tracheostomy. The median follow-up period of 33 lesions was 14 months (range 1-54 months). Complete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease were seen in 10, 11, 9, and 3 patients, respectively. The 3-year local control rate was 84.6%. CONCLUSION: SRT using the CyberKnife system was found to be a feasible and effective treatment to suppress the growth of locoregional recurrence of DTC.

Breast metastasis nine years after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: The breast is a rare site for metastatic disease. We report a rare case of breast metastasis 9 years after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and include a review of the relevant literature. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An 82-year-old woman who developed an RCC underwent left nephrectomy in 2005. In October 2014, computed tomography (CT) revealed a mass of approximately 1cm in the lateral portion of the right breast. Breast ultrasonography (US) revealed a well-circumscribed, hypoechoic mass at the same site. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) was performed, but the sample was inadequate because it did not capture breast duct epithelial cells. In June 2015, follow-up US revealed enlargement of the mass, and core needle biopsy (CNB) was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Histological examination resulted in the diagnosis of breast metastasis from an RCC. The patient underwent surgery for partial mastectomy in November 2015. The patient was asymptomatic and free of detectable disease at 18-month follow-up. DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of breast metastasis by imaging examination is difficult, and the results of FNA examination are often inconclusive because of the absence of breast duct epithelial cells. Only 22 cases of breast metastasis from RCC have been described in the literature. In almost all the reported cases, lumpectomy or partial mastectomy was performed. CONCLUSION: It is important that histological diagnosis be determined by CNB and by other methods if the patient has a history of malignancy, and minimally invasive therapy should be performed in accordance with the prognosis.

Primary ectopic breast cancer of the vulva, treated with local excision of the vulva and sentinel lymph node biopsy: a case report.

Primary breast cancer fairly infrequently occurs in ectopic breast tissue, and primary ectopic breast cancer of the vulva is particularly rare. Only 26 cases have been published in the English-language literature, and there has been no report of primary breast carcinoma of the vulva in Japan. We report a rare case of primary ectopic breast cancer of the vulva that was treated with local excision of the vulva and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). The patient was a 72-year-old woman who had noticed a right vulvar tumor 10 years earlier. The tumor was excised by the Department of Plastic Surgery of our hospital. The histology of the vulvar tumor revealed an invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, and immunohistochemical staining of the vulvar specimen showed the tumor cells to be 100% estrogen-receptor-positive and 100% progesterone-receptor-positive. All margins of resection were positive for neoplastic involvement. An additional local excision of the vulva and right inguinal SLNB were performed in our department. The intraoperative frozen section was negative for metastasis, and lymph node dissection was not performed. The final pathology was negative for residual disease, and a partially normal ductal component was present. Adjuvant hormonal therapy with an aromatase inhibitor was indicated post-operatively. The patient was asymptomatic and free of detectable disease at a 6-month follow-up. Due to the rarity of this diagnosis, there are no established guidelines for treatment. Although cases in which SLNB was performed are rare, we consider SLNB to be an effective alternative to inguinal node dissection for ectopic primary breast cancer of the vulva.

Risk of deep venous thrombosis in drain clamping with tranexamic acid and carbazochrome sodium sulfonate hydrate in total knee arthroplasty.

The aim of this randomized prospective study was to clarify risks associated with a drain-clamping method using tranexamic acid and carbazochrome sodium sulfonate hydrate after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Subjects comprised 100 patients scheduled to undergo TKA, randomized into 2 groups: 50 patients received the drain-clamping method using tranexamic acid and carbazochrome sodium sulfonate hydrate and 50 patients received drain-clamping with saline. Although bleeding volume was significantly lower in the group with tranexamic acid and carbazochrome sodium sulfonate hydrate, risk of asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis as detected by ultrasonography was comparable between groups. Tranexamic acid and carbazochrome sodium sulfonate hydrate in the drain-clamping method help reduce bleeding after TKA without increasing the risk of deep venous thrombosis.

Mobile-bearing total knee arthroplasty improves patellar tracking and patellofemoral contact stress: in vivo measurements in the same patients.

Controversies exist in clinical study concerning the effect of rotating platform on patellar tracking. The aim of this in vivo study was to compare tibial rotation, patellar tracking, and patellofemoral contact stress in mobile and fixed-bearing platform intraoperatively in the same knee. Sixty-six knees of posterior-stabilized total knee prostheses were evaluated using a computed tomography-guided navigation system. Medial shift and lateral tilt of patella were significantly smaller in mobile knee. Averaged maximum contact stress was significantly smaller in mobile knee than fixed knee. However, tibial rotation during flexion has no significant difference. This study showed that mobile platform total knee arthroplasty significantly improved patellar tracking and decreased patellofemoral contact stress.