Analysis and evaluation of the efficacy of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The choice of the most appropriate therapeutic approach for a diagnosed papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) remains controversial. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) for unifocal PTMC with a diameter of ≤0.6 cm. METHODS: A total of 63 consecutive patients with PTMC treated with MWA were studied retrospectively. MWA was performed using the hydrodissection technique and multidimensional fixed-needle principle. We analyzed the absorption of the MWA area and evaluated the prognosis over a follow-up period of 24 months. In addition, 83 patients with PTMC who underwent surgery were selected. The operating room characteristics and procedural complications of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: In the MWA group, the volume of nodules (p < 0.05) decreased from 0.04 ± 0.03 cm3 to 0.0001 ± 0.0004 cm3 at the 24-month follow-up after MWA, and the volume reduction rate (p < 0.05) was 99.43 ± 1.58%. The incidence of temporary reactive hyperplastic lymphadenectasis was higher and that of other complications was lower in the MWA group than in the surgery group. One percent of the patients in the surgery group had recurrence or metastasis, but none were detected in the MWA group. The loss of thyroid tissue volume (p < 0.001), operating room time (p < 0.001), and the mean length of hospital stay (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the MWA group than in the surgery group. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided MWA is an effective treatment strategy for unifocal PTMC with a diameter of ≤0.6 cm.

Abnormal performance of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM): a case misdiagnosed as achalasia of cardia.

BACKGROUND: Pseudoachalasia is a rare disease that behaves similarly to achalasia (AC), making it sometimes difficult to differentiate. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of 49-year-old male with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction misdiagnosed as achalasia. No obvious abnormalities were found in his initial examinations including upper digestive endoscopy, upper gastrointestinal imaging and chest computed tomography (CT). During the subsequent introduced-peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), it was found that the mucosal layer and the muscular layer had severe adhesion, which did not receive much attention, delayed the clear diagnosis and effect treatment, and ultimately led to a poor prognosis for the patient. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that when patients with AC found mucosal and muscular adhesions during POEM surgery, the possibility should be considered that the lesion may be caused by a malignant lesion.

Short-term outcome of totally minimally invasive versus hybrid minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy.

OBJECTIVES: For resectable esophageal cancer, the choice of total minimally invasive esophagectomy (TMIE) or hybrid minimally invasive esophagectomy (HMIE) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes of TMIE and HMIE under the Ivor-Lewis procedure. METHODS: The data of 145 patients diagnosed with middle or lower esophageal cancer who underwent radical Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between January 2018 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The short-term outcomes such as complications during surgery or within 30 days after surgery and postoperative pain were analyzed. RESULTS: All patients were divided into TMIE group (75 patients) and HMIE group (70 patients). No significant difference was observed in the baseline characteristics of the two groups. TMIE was associated with less blood loss than the HMIE group (p < 0.05). A total of 54 (37.2%) patients had postoperative complications. Although the two groups were statistically similar in the incidence of major complications, patients in the HMIE group were more likely to have pneumonia compared with those in the TMIE group. The numeric rating scale for pain was significantly higher in the HMIE group (p = 0.002) and more patients required an additional opioid analgesia after esophagectomy (p = 0.282). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, according to perioperative outcomes, TMIE can benefit patients better than HMIE.