Physical Activity and Thyroid Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study in Catania (South Italy).

BACKGROUND: The health benefits of physical activity are well established, but the association between physical activity and thyroid cancer remains poorly understood. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between physical activity and thyroid cancer in order to determine type, frequency, and duration of exercise needed to maximize prevention. METHOD: Cases, diagnosed from January 2009 to July 2018, and controls were enrolled at the University Hospital "Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele" of Catania (South Italy). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 106 cases (91.2% papillary type) and 217 controls were enrolled. Physical activity was rare in Catania (32.8%) and was not correlated to risk of total thyroid cancer (OR: 0.997; 95% CI: 0.515-1.929). Conversely, walking every day for at least 60 minutes reduced the risk of thyroid cancer (OR: 0.357; 95% CI: 0.157-0.673). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that daily walking duration was associated with lower risk of thyroid cancer using a case-control study. Unfortunately, the frequency of physical activity often declines with age, particularly among the elderly, thus more research on physical activity adherence is needed to determine which approaches are most effective in promoting sustained physical activity participation.

Hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy: iPTH levels and iPTH decline are predictive? Retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Hypocalcemia is the most common complication of thyroid surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the early predictive factors of postoperative hypocalcemia and to analyze their efficiency. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 345 consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy at the Endocrine Surgery Department (Policlinico G. Rodolico Hospital of Catania) between January 2011 and November 2013. We measured serum intact parathormone (iPTH) levels preoperatively and 4 h after surgery. The threshold values of hypocalcemia for iPTH levels and iPTH relative decline were obtained by receiver operating curves (ROC) analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of hypocalcemia was 32.2% (111 of 345 patients). Our statistical analysis revealed that hypocalcemia rate was strongly correlated with the lower iPTH values and greater iPTH decline (P < 0.001). The threshold enabling prediction of hypocalcemia were 12,5 pg/mL for iPTH and 55,7% for relative iPTH decline. Patients with iPTH <12,5 pg/mL developed hypocalcemia in 58.6% of cases while those with iPTH ≥12,5 pg/dl in 18.8%. Among 175 patients with iPTH relative decline greater than 55,7% hypocalcemia was diagnosed in 91 cases (52%), while other 170 patients with iPTH relative decline less than 55,7% developed hypocalcemia only in 20 cases (11,7%). CONCLUSIONS: The decreased iPTH levels and increased iPTH relative decline resulted to be an accurate predictive factors of postoperative hypocalcemia. The early administration of Calcium and vitamin D in the high-risk patients should be put on in order to prevent the symptoms of hypocalcemia and to reduce the costs and duration of hospitalization.

Post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism, what should we keep in mind?

AIM: Hypoparathyroidism and the resulting hypocalcemia is a common iatrogenic complication following surgical procedures to the neck, and commonly, to the thyroid gland. The aim of this study was to review the available literature to summarize current data related to the development of hypoparathyroidism after thyroid surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An analysis of the surgical literature was performed using the search engine EMBASE and PubMed with particular reference to the principal risk factors related to the post-thyroid surgery hypoparathyroidism. Moreover the medical records of 345 patients, who underwent thyroid surgery at the Section of Endocrine Surgery - Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Advanced Technologies "G. Ingrassia" University of Catania, Italy, were also examined. RESULTS: The definition of hypoparathyroidism varies widely in literature. There is a wide range of reported incidences of transient and permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism in literature. Extensive surgery, malignant disease and concomitant central and/or lateral neck dissection, autoimmune or Grave's' disease and re-operation represent the most recognized risk factors. A wide consensus exists about transplanting a parathyroid gland when it seems to be nonviable. DISCUSSION: Although many improvements have been done in surgical technique, hypoparathyroidism seems to be one of the most common complication after total thyroidectomy. In this study we discuss the diagnosis methods and the importance of its early prediction regardless it is transient or permanent. Recovery time is under discussion: some author consider a gland permanent injury if restoring functionality does not occur within 6 months other 12 months. To assess the parathyroid gland function some authors have been using postoperative PTH level as a useful tool for predicting hypocalcemia. CONCLUSIONS: Many efforts are required to address the problem of a consensus on best define these complications. An early low PTH level after total thyroidectomy is associated with a high risk of permanent hypoparathyroidism and normal levels usually exclude long-term parathyroid glands dysfunction. However, the cost of the PTH assay may limit its widespread application. Despite the reassuring presence of new therapeutic strategies, intra-operative preservation of the parathyroid glands is the best prophylaxis to avoid postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. KEY WORDS: Hypoparathyroidism, Thyroid surgery.

The thyroid disease in the elderly: Our experience.

INTRODUCTION: The number of elderly people in Italy is growing, so it is important to study the presentation of diseases in these subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected 1362 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for different thyroid diseases from January 2008 to December 2014. The patients weredivided into two groups, according to the age. The patients aged 65 years and over were included in the group A, and the patients under the age of 65 years were included in the group B. DISCUSSION: Thyroid diseases in the elderly often present with atypical symptoms which are very similar to symptoms of the aging process. In elderly hypothyroidism occurs frequently sub-clinically and hyperthyroidism is often presented with cardiovascular symptoms. In our study we evaluated the differences in incidence of thyroid diseases in the elderly and in the younger groups of patients. CONCLUSION: The data analyzed in this study showed that in the elderly we have a reduced secretion and metabolization of thyroid hormones. The symptomatology in the elderly is nonspecific and can create a delay in the correct diagnosis.

Comparison between Focus Harmonic scalpel and other hemostatic techniques in open thyroidectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this review was to compare the efficacy and surgical outcomes of total thyroidectomy between the Focus Harmonic scalpel (Ethicon, Cincinnati, OH) and other hemostatic procedures. METHODS: An extensive search was conducted using the PubMed and Cochrane databases from January 2008 to October 2014. Operating time, blood loss, pain, complications, and hospital stay were evaluated. RESULTS: When compared with conventional techniques or LigaSure Precise Vessel Sealing System (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN), the use of the Focus Harmonic scalpel reduced operative time by 22,428 minutes and blood loss by 13,914 mL. Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter in the Focus Harmonic scalpel group with a mean reduction of 0.410 days. CONCLUSION: According to our meta-analysis, when comparing the Focus Harmonic scalpel versus conventional techniques, it seems evident that the use of this device in thyroid surgery is associated with a mean reduction in operating time, blood loss, and hospital stay, without any increase in pain and complications. There was no appreciable difference between the Focus Harmonic scalpel and the LigaSure Precise Vessel Sealing System. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: First-1578, 2016.

Thyroidectomy: Natural drainage or negative drainage? Experience with randomized single-center study.

AIM: The aim is to investigate, in relation to the volume of blood drained, which type drainage to use after thyroidectomy natural drainage or negative drainage. MATERIAL OF STUDY: 141 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for multinodular thyroid disease between 22 November 2012 and 7 November 2013 were included in the present study. For the 141 patients a randomized method was used with closed circuit natural drainage (59 cases) or negative drainage (82 cases). The evaluation of the drained volume was performed 24, 48 and 72 hours following surgery. RESULTS: The amount of blood drained during the first 24 hours of the postoperative period averaged 78.59 ml in patients with a negative drain and 54.24 ml in those under natural drainage. After 48 hours, the total volume in the first group was 117.98 ml, while in the second group it was 85.18 ml. In cases where the observation was prolonged up to 72 hours, the average volume was 217 ml in the 10 cases of negative drainage and 117.5 ml in the 4 cases of natural drainage. CONCLUSION: The difference in blood volume observed between the two groups of patients with natural drainage and negative drainage, leads us to conclude that the best drainage in thyroidectomy is the natural one, diverging from the older concept of the use of negative drainage in superficial cavities.

Management of patients with rectus sheath hematoma: Personal experience.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Rectus sheath hematoma (RSH) is a rare clinical entity. It can be mistaken for other intra-abdominal disorders, which can result in diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. This study was undertaken to analyze the clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, and management of patients affected with RSH. METHODS: Between January 2008 and June 2011, eight patients (5 men and 3 women with a mean age of 53 years) with RSH were evaluated according to demographic characteristics, clinical and radiological findings, and methods of treatment. RESULTS: Six patients developed RSH after anticoagulant therapy; one after local trauma, and one after laparoscopic intervention. Six patients were treated nonsurgically; one patient underwent embolization of the inferior epigastric artery and one underwent ligation of the bleeding vessel. The average hospital stay was 6 days. There were no mortality or thromboembolic complications. CONCLUSION: RSH is a rare nonneoplastic entity that is usually associated with abdominal trauma and/or anticoagulant therapy. The gold standard for diagnosis is computed tomography, and ultrasonography can be used in follow-up. The treatment of choice is nonsurgical therapy because RSH is a self-limited condition. Surgical intervention should be reserved for cases with hemodynamic instability.

[Radiation exposure and thyroid cancer]. / Radiazioni ionizzanti e cancro tiroideo.

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the endocrine system. The most frequent type of thyroid malignancy is papillary carcinoma. Thyroid cancer's incidence rates have increased over the last three decades throughout the world. Numerous studies have documented that radiation exposure is a well-established risk factor for the thyroid cancer. It has been reported that exposure to external medical radiation or to external and internal radiation from atomic bomb explosions, nuclear tests or nuclear accidents leads to an increased risk for thyroid cancer. The risk of thyroid cancer is maximal during the first years of life and decreases with increasing age at exposure due to morphologic and functional heterogeneity in the thyroid tissue of children and adults. Also it has been indicated that iodine deficiency increases the risk of the thyroid cancer related to radioactive iodines in case of exposure to radioactive iodines in childhood and the stable iodine supplementation reduces this risk. Ionizing radiation produces a range of mutations in irradiated cells of the thyroid. The prevalence of RET/PTC mutations is significantly higher in papillary carcinomas from childhood patients with the precedent history of radiation.