Use of ultrasound elastography in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules: a prospective study.

Purpose: Elastography is a real-time non-invasive ultrasonography modality wherein the tissue stiffness is evaluated by calculating the degree of tissue distortion in response to an external force. This study was undertaken to assess the diagnostic value of elastography in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules. Methodology: In this prospective comparative study, a total of 52 thyroid nodules from 44 euthyroid patients undergoing fine needle aspiration cytology were assessed. Elastography was performed by a single experienced sonologist, wherein the nodules were graded as per elastography scoring (ES), and the strain ratio (SR) for each nodule was computed. Final histopathology findings of the patients undergoing surgery were compared to elastography findings, and measures of diagnostic accuracy to differentiate between benign and malignant nodules were determined for ES and SR. Results: Thirty (68.2%) females and 14 (31.8%) males, with a mean age of 45.18 ± 11.23 years, were assessed. Fourteen (31.8%) patients underwent thyroidectomy, and histopathology was reported for 18 (34.6%) nodules. In all, nine (17.3%) nodules were malignant, and 43 (82.7%) nodules were considered benign. ES demonstrated a sensitivity of 88.9%, specificity of 88.3%, PPV of 61.5%, NPV of 97.4%, and accuracy of 88.5% to identify benign thyroid nodules. The mean SR for benign nodules was significantly lower as compared to malignant nodules (2.72 ± 0.62 vs. 4.52 ± 0.75, P < 0.0001). The optimal cut-point value for SR to differentiate benign and malignant thyroid nodules was determined to be 3.8, with the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy being 88.9%, 95.4%, 80%, 94.6%, and 94.2%, respectively. Conclusion: Ultrasound elastography (ES and SR) demonstrated good diagnostic efficacy to differentiate benign thyroid nodules from the malignant ones, and can be a good supplementary tool to gray-scale ultrasonography. It can also help in reducing the rates of unnecessary fine needle-aspiration biopsy.

Differences in the Presentation and Outcome between Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Primary Hyperparathyroidism Indian Women: A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is an endocrine disorder wherein enlargement of one or more of the parathyroid glands causes autonomous overproduction of the parathyroid hormone (PTH), which leads to high serum calcium levels. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the clinical, laboratory, and operative variables between premenopausal (pre-M) and postmenopausal (post-M) women with PHPT. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of the data of female patients who underwent surgery for PHPT at a single center, from January 2011 to December 2020, was done. Patients with familial PHPT and secondary hyperparathyroidism were not included. Results: Of the 130 women with PHPT, 44.6% were pre-M and 55.4% were post-M. A significantly higher number of pre-M females were symptomatic compared to post-M females (pre-M vs. post-M, 84.5% vs. 68.1%, P = 0.031). Renal calculi were more common in pre-M women (34.5% vs. 18.1%, P = 0.032), while the rest of the clinical features were comparable between the two groups. The proportion of women with osteoporosis (6.7% vs. 19.4%, P = 0.071), hypertension (13.8% vs. 34.7%, P = 0.012), and diabetes mellitus (3.5% vs. 16.7%, P = 0.033) was lesser in the pre-M group. Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase levels were significantly more prevalent in the pre-M group (37.9% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.032). The mean serum calcium (12.35 ± 1.28 vs. 11.96 ± 1.22 mg/dL, P = 0.079), median serum PTH (334 vs. 239 pg/mL, P = 0.051), and median weight of the operated adenomas (1.75 vs. 1.45 g, P = 0.075) were also higher in pre-M females. The proportion of ectopic adenomas and multiple adenomas, presurgery adenoma localization rates, and disease cure rates did not differ according to the menopausal status. The occurrence of postoperative hungry bone syndrome was higher in the pre-M women (15.5% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.008). Conclusion: The majority of women with PHPT are post-M, but symptomatic presentation is more common in pre-M females. The severity of the disease appears to be more in pre-M women; however, imaging and operative variables generally did not significantly differ between the two groups.

Differences in the Clinical Presentation and Biochemical Profile of the Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism with regard to their Serum Vitamin D Levels: a Single-center Experience.

The association between vitamin D deficiency and primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is common and has clear implications. Vitamin D deficiency is commonly seen in PHPT population and exacerbates its severity with skeletal and metabolic effects. Retrospective data collection and review were done in patients who underwent surgery for PHPT at a tertiary care hospital in India between January 2011 and December 2020. A total of 150 subjects were included in the study and were divided into group 1 (vitamin D < 20 ng/ml, deficient), group 2 (vitamin D 21-29 ng/ml, insufficient), and group 3 (vitamin D > 30 ng/ml, sufficient). There was no difference in the duration of symptoms or the symptomatology between the three groups. Mean pre-operative serum calcium and serum phosphorous levels were also comparable in all the three groups. Mean pre-operative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in the three groups were 703 ± 996 vs 343.6 ± 396 vs 343.6 ± 396 pg/ml, respectively (P = 0.009). There was a statistically significant difference in group 1 vs groups 2 and 3 in their mean weight of the parathyroid gland (P = 0.018) and high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (P = 0.047). Post-operative symptomatic hypocalcemia was observed in 17.3% of patients. Post-operative hungry bone syndrome occurred in 4 patients, all in group 1. PHPT in patients with low serum vitamin D was associated with higher serum PTH levels, increased frequency of high serum ALP levels, and higher weight of the excised gland, with no difference in the serum calcium and phosphorous.

Fracture Liaison Services in India: Challenges and Opportunities.

Osteoporosis, often referred to as the "silent thief of bones," is defined by the National Institutes of Health as the "skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing a person to an increased risk for fracture."1 Fragility fractures, which result from minor or unnoticed trauma, are more than just physical injuries; they have far-reaching consequences that not only lead to severe pain and reduced mobility but also affect aspects like quality of life, healthcare costs, and overall societal well-being. Literature shows that in postmenopausal women after hip fractures, the expected survival decreases from 12 to 20%.2.

Prevalence of Bacterial Urinary Tract Infection Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors: A Prospective Real-World Setting Study.

Background: Genitourinary tract infections, mycotic as well as bacterial, as defined by clinical symptoms, are one of the common adverse effects associated with the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in clinical trials. However, Indian data in terms of the prevalence of culture-proven bacterial type of urinary tract infection (UTI), and the causative organism is limited. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and causative agents of bacterial UTI among patients with T2DM on SGLT2i. Methodology: This was a prospective longitudinal study involving all patients with T2DM who were prescribed with SGLT2i, uncontrolled on other oral anti-diabetic medications, from June 2019 to February 2020. Prevalence of bacterial UTI was evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks after initiation of SGLT2i. Results: A total of 80 patients were started on SGLT2i. One female patient on canagliflozin had significant asymptomatic bacteriuria and the causative agent was Acinetobacter baumannii. One male patient on dapagliflozin had symptomatic UTI with negative urine culture study. Four patients developed genital mycotic infection. Conclusion: In this real-world study, SGLT2i as a class, was well tolerated with favorable safety profile, and risk of developing significant bacteriuria and/or symptomatic UTI was minimal.

Long-term hormonal and imaging outcomes of adjunctive gamma knife radiosurgery in non-functioning pituitary adenomas: a single center experience.

PURPOSE: Gamma Knife Radiosurgery(GKRS) is an established modality for treatment of non-functioning pituitary adenomas(NFPA). The objective of the study was to assess long-term hormonal and imaging outcomes after adjunctive GKRS in patients with NFPA. METHODS: A retrospective review of records of 109 patients with NFPA, from 1996 to 2020, who received adjunctive GKRS, was performed. Patients who had received GKRS as the primary modality of treatment for NFPA were not included. RESULTS: Sixty-three (57.8%) patients were available for follow up at our institute. The median follow-up period was 47 months (range, 6-260). At a median time of 38 months (range, 8-97), 25 (39.7%) patients developed ≥ 1 new pituitary hormone deficiency. Median time to cortisol deficiency was 38 months (range, 8-55), thyroid hormone deficiency was 45.5 months (range, 12-97) and gonadotropin deficiency was 45 months (range, 21-75). The actuarial risk of developing a new pituitary hormone deficit at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 years was 2.5%, 11%, 26.3%, 28% and 29.7%, respectively. Adenoma size decreased in 36 (57.1%) patients, remained unchanged in 19 (30.2%) patients, and increased in 8 (12.7%) patients. Overall tumor control rate was 87.3%. Endocrinopathy-Free Survival was 47.1%, and tumor Progression-Free Survival was 93.3%, at 5 years. Five (4.6%) patients required additional treatment after GKRS. One (1.6%) patient each had worsening of headache, optic atrophy and cerebellar infarct after GKRS therapy. CONCLUSION: GKRS offers a safe adjunctive treatment modality, with satisfactory long-term preservation of hormone functions and a high rate of tumor control, in patients with NFPA.