Combining the American Thyroid Association's Ultrasound Classification with Cytological Subcategorization Improves the Assessment of Malignancy Risk in Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules.

Background: The risk of malignancy (RoM) of indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs) shows a high variability in interinstitutional cohorts. The RoM is partially associated with the cytological degree of atypia and the ultrasound (US) pattern. This study evaluated the cancer risk of ITNs by jointly considering the cytological subcategory and the American Thyroid Association (ATA)-based US risk classification. Methods: This study features a retrospective cohort from two Brazilian centers comprising 238 ITNs with confirmed outcomes. US classification, according to ATA-based guidelines, and cytological subcategorization were determined. The cytological subgroups were as follows: (1) nuclear atypia (NA) related to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) but insufficient to categorize the cytology as suspicious for malignancy; (2) architectural atypia without NA (AA); (3) both architectural and nuclear atypia (ANA); (4) oncocytic pattern (OP) without NA; and (5) NA not related to PTC (NANP). NA was divided into three subgroups: nuclear size and shape, nuclear membrane appearance, and/or chromatin aspects. Results: The overall frequency of malignancy was 39.5%. Among the cytological subcategories, the highest RoM was related to the NA (43.9%) and to the ANA (43.5%), followed by AA (29.4%), and OP (9.4%). NA was positively and independently associated with cancer (odds ratio [OR]: 4.5; confidence interval [CI: 1.2-16.6]) as was the occurrence of ANA (OR 6.6 [CI 1.5-29.5]). AA and OP were not independently associated with cancer. Both ATA-based high- and intermediate-risk categories showed an independent association with cancer (OR 6.8 [CI 2.9-15.5] and OR: 2.6 [CI 1.1-5.8], respectively). ITNs with cytological findings of NA or ANA when combined with intermediate US patterns had RoM values of 47.5% and 56.7%, respectively. Both cytological subcategories, when combined with the ATA high-suspicion class reached an RoM >70%. The type of NA with the highest odds for cancer was related to the nuclear membrane (OR 11.5). Conclusions: The RoM of ITNs can reach almost 80% when both NA and ATA-based high-risk US features are present. The presence of such cytological features also increased the RoM in the ATA-based intermediate-risk US category. In addition, AA and OP were not independently related to higher cancer risk. These results strengthen the recommendations for combing cytological subcategorization and US risk classification in the workup for ITNs before the decision of a molecular testing, clinical observation, or diagnostic surgery.

Teaching with research: a strategy for students of postgraduation in medicine.

OBJECTIVE: Promoting a scientific activity of research to students of a graduation program as a reflexive tool of teacher and formative practice of necessary activities to construction of a research in medical education. METHODS: Graduation students of surgery at UFRJ did a research, randomly interviewing a population of medical teachers who acts at Medicine Universities of Rio de Janeiro. The study was structured in three steps: definition of the investigative content; realization of 150 interviews before field research and discussion about the results. RESULTS: The majority of interviewees (85%) assert to know the recent trends of education, but when they express their thoughts they leave doubts about the real knowledge of the subject. The expositive classes were used by 90% of the interviewees; only 10% of them utilized strategies of teaching to transmit the contents. Just 52% of the doctors said that they had already heard about the Resolution CNE/CES N° 4/2001. CONCLUSION: The teaching with research challenged the students as investigators preparing them to the research and construction of the necessary scientific attitudes in the graduation and assisting them in solving the investigated problem. The results highlighted that the found peaces of information in the research were not accurate to feature a real dimension of the update, showing that it is recommended new studies.

Ensino com pesquisa: uma estratégia formadora para alunos de pós-graduação em medicina / Teaching with research: a strategy for students of postgraduation in medicine

OBJETIVO: promover e observar, de forma participativa, uma atividade científica acompanhada de uma renovação didático-metodológica que desenvolvesse a atitude científica e, ao mesmo tempo, proporcionasse o estudo sobre a atualização dos conhecimentos pedagógicos dos médicos que atuam como docentes em faculdades de medicina. MÉTODOS: alunos do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Cirurgia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, de duas turmas consecutivas, realizaram uma pesquisa, na qual entrevistaram aleatoriamente 150 professores-médicos que atuam em faculdades de Medicina do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. O estudo foi estruturado em três etapas: definição do conteúdo investigativo; realização de entrevistas, mediante pesquisa de campo e discussão dos resultados. RESULTADOS: a maioria dos professores-médicos entrevistados (85%) afirma conhecer as tendências atuais da educação, mas, ao expressar o pensamento, deixam dúvidas sobre o real conhecimento do assunto. As aulas expositivas foram utilizadas por 90% dos entrevistados e os demais (10%) utilizaram outras estratégias de ensino para transmitir os conteúdos. Somente 52% dos médicos afirmaram já ter ouvido falar sobre a Resolução CNE/CES nº 04/2001. CONCLUSÃO: a atividade de ensino com pesquisa desafiou os estudantes como investigadores preparando-os para a pesquisa e construção de atitudes científicas necessárias na pós-graduação, auxiliando-os na solução do problema investigado. Os resultados destacam que as respostas obtidas na entrevista não foram precisas para caracterizar a dimensão real da atualização pedagógica dos professores médicos.

OBJECTIVE: Promoting a scientific activity of research to students of a graduation program as a reflexive tool of teacher and formative practice of necessary activities to construction of a research in medical education. METHODS: Graduation students of surgery at UFRJ did a research, randomly interviewing a population of medical teachers who acts at Medicine Universities of Rio de Janeiro. The study was structured in three steps: definition of the investigative content; realization of 150 interviews before field research and discussion about the results. RESULTS: The majority of interviewees (85%) assert to know the recent trends of education, but when they express their thoughts they leave doubts about the real knowledge of the subject. The expositive classes were used by 90% of the interviewees; only 10% of them utilized strategies of teaching to transmit the contents. Just 52% of the doctors said that they had already heard about the Resolution CNE/CES N° 4/2001. CONCLUSION: The teaching with research challenged the students as investigators preparing them to the research and construction of the necessary scientific attitudes in the graduation and assisting them in solving the investigated problem. The results highlighted that the found peaces of information in the research were not accurate to feature a real dimension of the update, showing that it is recommended new studies.

Parathyroid carcinoma and oxyphil parathyroid adenoma: an uncommon case of misinterpretation in clinical practice.

A 46 year-old male presented with persistently high level of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), despite successful resection of an oxyphilic cell parathyroid adenoma of the left lower gland. Renal function and serum calcium were normal, leading to vitamin D deficiency being considered. Tc99m-sestamibi parathyroid scintigraphy showed no capitation, but a cervical ultrasound demonstrated an increase in the lower parathyroids. Surgery confirmed that the right gland was normal but the left corresponded to parathyroid carcinoma. The patient developed severe hypocalcemia, with PTH values being consistent with hypoparathyroidism for a few months. However, a progressive increase in calcium and PTH serum levels indicated recurrence of disease. Tc99m-sestamibi scintigraphy demonstrated hyperfixation in topography of the left inferior parathyroid and the patient was subjected to a third and more extensive surgery, with removal of lymph nodes and adjacent thyroid tissue. Serum calcium and PTH remained elevated, requiring loop diuretics and intravenous bisphosphonates to control hypercalcemia. Cervical radiotherapy was implemented as adjuvant therapy. After two months the patient complained of dyspnea, and a CT scan of the chest demonstrated areas of parenchymal condensation, suggestive of actinic pneumonitis. At the 2-year follow-up no major issues were evident.

Ectopic and extranumerary parathyroid glands location in patients with hyperparathyroidism secondary to end stage renal disease

Supranumerary or ectopic parathyroid glands are the main cause of persistent hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) submitted to parathyroidectomy (PTx). PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence and location of parathyroid glands in these patients. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with ESRD and severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT2) had been submitted to total PTx at HUCFF from December 2001 to July 2005. Surgery was always performed by the same surgeon, who described in details the location of the glands. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (45.7 percent) had ectopic glands, which were also extranumerary in five of them (14.3 percent). The most common locations were the thyroid parenchyma (33.3 percent), thyroid-thymus conduit (18.5 percent), and thymus (14.8 percent). Before PTx, the sensibility of ultrasonography and scintigraphy with technetium-99m Sestamibi was low (48.3 percent and 35.3 percent, respectively). Moreover, 51.4 percent of the nodules found at US were thyroid nodules. However, 99mTc-Sestamibi was useful to identify ectopic glands in those two patients with persistent HPT after PTx. CONCLUSION: The presence of extranumerary and ectopic parathyroid glands in HPT2 is sufficiently important to justify their exhaustive search. As the preoperative image exams present low sensibility to locate them, it is necessary to develop an exploratory routine embracing the most common sites of location.

A principal causa cirúrgica de persistência da doença após paratireoidectomia no hiperparatireoidismo secundário à insuficiência renal crônica (HPT2) é a existência de paratireóides supranumerárias e/ou ectópicas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o número, prevalência de ectopia e localizações mais comuns das paratireóides nestes pacientes. MÉTODOS: Acompanhamos prospectivamente pacientes com HPT2, submetidos à paratireoidectomia no HUCFF, entre dezembro/2001 e julho/2005. Todos foram operados pelo mesmo cirurgião, que descreveu detalhadamente a localização das paratireóides encontradas. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 35 pacientes: em cinco (14,3 por cento) foi encontrada uma quinta glândula, supranumerária; dezesseis (45,7 por cento) possuíam glândulas ectópicas; as localizações mais comuns foram parênquima intratireoidiano (33,3 por cento), trajeto conduto tireotímico (18,5 por cento) e timo (14,8 por cento). As principais glândulas ausentes na presença de ectopia foram as inferiores esquerdas (29,6 por cento) e direitas (25,9 por cento). A sensibilidade da ultra-sonografia e da cintigrafia com sestamibi na detecção dos nódulos foi baixa (48,3 por cento e 35,3 por cento, respectivamente). Além disso, 51,4 por cento das ultra-sonografias mostraram incidentalomas tireoidianos. CONCLUSÃO: A presença de paratireóides supranumerárias e ectópicas no HPT2 é suficientemente relevante para justificar sua procura exaustiva. Como os exames de imagem pré-operatórios contribuem muito pouco para localizá-los, é necessário que se desenvolva uma rotina de exploração abrangendo as localizações mais comuns.

Ectopic and extranumerary parathyroid glands location in patients with hyperparathyroidism secondary to end stage renal disease.

UNLABELLED: Supranumerary or ectopic parathyroid glands are the main cause of persistent hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) submitted to parathyroidectomy (PTx). PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence and location of parathyroid glands in these patients. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with ESRD and severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT2) had been submitted to total PTx at HUCFF from December 2001 to July 2005. Surgery was always performed by the same surgeon, who described in details the location of the glands. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (45.7%) had ectopic glands, which were also extranumerary in five of them (14.3%). The most common locations were the thyroid parenchyma (33.3%), thyroid-thymus conduit (18.5%), and thymus (14.8%). Before PTx, the sensibility of ultrasonography and scintigraphy with technetium-99m Sestamibi was low (48.3% and 35.3%, respectively). Moreover, 51.4% of the nodules found at US were thyroid nodules. However, 99mTc-Sestamibi was useful to identify ectopic glands in those two patients with persistent HPT after PTx. CONCLUSION: The presence of extranumerary and ectopic parathyroid glands in HPT2 is sufficiently important to justify their exhaustive search. As the preoperative image exams present low sensibility to locate them, it is necessary to develop an exploratory routine embracing the most common sites of location.

Cirurgia do hiperparatireoidismo / Surgery of hyperparathyrodism

Hyperparathyroidism is a desease caused by increase of parathormone secretion, leading to a misfunction of calcium metabolism. Although not very common among population in general, it is frequently observed in patients with cronic renal disease. It can involve a slight syntomatic form, but as a whole, its main repercurssions occur in skeletic muscles, urinary and intestinal systems. The authors conduct a broad revision of the literature, focusing on the methods of diagnosis and spot checking before and during the operations of parathyroid glands. Surgical recommendations, tatic aspects and types of surgery to be implemented are discussed. A systematization for adequate surgical technics performed at the General Surgery Service of Clementino Fraga Filho Hospital of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is fully discribed and recommended.

Valor da dosagem da tireoglobulina no seguimento de pacientes com carcinoma diferenciado da tireóide submetidos à tireoidectomia parcial / Value of serum thyroglobulin measuremat in the follow-up of patients with differentiated carcinoma treated by partial thyroidectomy

OBJETIVO: Estudar o valor da dosagem da tireoglobulina (Tg) plasmática na detecção de recidivas, nos pacientes com carcinoma diferenciado da tireóide, submetidos à tireoidectomia parcial. MÉTODOS: São analisados, retrospectivamente, 48 pacientes portadores de carcinoma diferenciado e submetidos à tireoidectomia parcial que foram acompanhados no pós-operatório com dosagens de Tg plasmática. O exame foi realizado no paciente com TSH suprimido (< 0,6mU/cc) e o valor da Tg de 10ng/cc considerado como limite entre os casos com e sem suspeita de recidiva. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 8,1 anos. RESULTADOS: Onze pacientes apresentaram Tg elevada (> 10ng/cc) e quatro eram portadores de doença benigna capaz de elevar a Tg como hipertireoidismo (dois casos) e doença de Hashimoto (dois casos). Estes quatro pacientes não foram considerados na análise estatística. Os sete restantes foram considerados suspeitos de recidiva tumoral que foi confirmada em seis (verdadeiro positivo) e não confirmada em um (falso positivo). Nos 37 pacientes com Tg baixa (< 10ng/cc) apenas um apresentou recidiva (verdadeiro negativo: 36 e falso negativo: 1). A análise estatística da capacidade da Tg em detectar recidivas mostrou: sensibilidade 85 por cento; especificidade 94 por cento; valor preditivo positivo 85 por cento; valor preditivo negativo 84 por cento e acurácia 95 por cento. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho mostraram que a dosagem da Tg é de valor na detecção de possibilidade de recidivas no seguimento de pacientes operados por carcinoma diferenciado mesmo quando submetidos à cirurgia parcial.

BACKGROUND: Serum thyroglobulin determination has been reported to be a sensitive indicator of recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of serum thyroglobulin levels in predicting tumor recurrency after parcial thyroidectomy. METHODS: Forty eight patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma were followed with serum thyroglobulin measurement after parcial thyroidectomy. Patiens recived hormonal suppressive therapy to maintain plasma TSH level below 0,6 mU/cc. Mean follow-up was 8,1 years. Serum thyroglobulin level above 10ng/cc was considered suspect of tumor recurrency. RESULTS: Eleven patients showed serum thyroglobulin level above 10 ng/cc. In four of them, elevations were considered spurious (hiparthyroidisme - 2 cases, and Hashimoto disease - 2 cases) and were excluded from statistical analysis. In the other 7, tumor recurrence was demonstrated in 6 (true positive: 6; false positive: 1). In 37 patients with low thyroglobulin level, only 1 had recurrence (true negative: 36; false negative: 1). Statistical analysis show sensibility 85 percent, specificity 94 percent, positive predictive value 85 percent, negative predictive value 84 percent and accuracy 95 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Serum thyroglobulin determination is an useful test to identify patients with persistent or recurrent differenctiated cancer, inicially submited to parcial thyroidectomy.

Grau de aderência após ressecção parcial e reconstituição do ovário / Adhesion after partial resection and ovarian reconstruction of the ovary

Objetivo: comparar o grau de aderências no ovário de acordo com diferentes tipos de fechamento do córtex ovariano. Métodos: quinze coelhos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em três grupos, de acordo com o tipo de fechamento do córtex ovariano, sendo utilizados a diatermia bipolar, a poliglactina 910 5-0 e o categute simples 5-0. Após 2 semanas os animais foram sacrificados e o grau de aderências do ovário direito foi avaliado segundo a classificação de Diamond. O ovário esquerdo, não incisado, serviu de controle. Na análise estatística foram empregados a análise de variância (ANOVA), o teste de Scheffé e o teste t de Student. Resultados: as médias dos escores de aderência para o grupo bipolar, poliglactina e categute simples foram 0,7, 1,5 e 2,0, respectivamente. A análise de variância detectou diferença significativa (p=0,02) entre os três grupos. Usando-se o teste de Scheffé para a comparação dos grupos dois a dois, encontrou-se uma diferença significativa apenas entre o grupo bipolar e o grupo do categute simples. Comparando-se o grupo em que se usaram suturas (independente do material empregado) com o grupo bipolar verificou-se uma diferença estatisticamente significativa (p=0,01) entre as médias dos escores de aderência do ovário direito (1,8 e 0,7, respectivamente). Conclusões: os resultados obtidos no presente estudo estão de acordo com os dados da literatura, indicando que o fechamento por segunda intenção do córtex ovariano é mais vantajoso, em relação à formação de aderências, que o fechamento como uso de suturas.

Tireoidectomia unilateral no carcinoma diferenciado da tireóide de baixo risco: uma cirurgia inadequada / Unilateral thyroidectomy for patients of the low-risk group with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: an unsuitable surgery

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar os doentes operados de carcinoma diferenciado da tireóide no Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho (HUCFF); avaliar a divisão destes doentes em alto e baixo riscos e a validade da cirurgia conservadora nos pacientes com carcinoma diferenciado de baixo risco. MÉTODO: Foram analisados 169 pacientes operados no HUCFF por carcinoma diferenciado da tireóide. Cento e cinqüenta e dois (90 por cento) eram mulheres e 17 (10 por cento) homens. A idade variou entre 13 e 85 anos com mediana de 39 anos. Cento e onze tumores (65,7 por cento) eram papilíferos e 58 (34,3 por cento) foliculares. RESULTADOS: Vinte e um por cento apresentaram metástases linfonodais cervicais quando vistos pela primeira vez e 1,7 por cento metástases a distância. Houve 75 cirurgias unilaterais (lobectomia subtotal ou total) e 94 bilaterais (tireoidectomia subtotal, lobectomia total + lobectomia subtotal ou tireoidectomia total). 127 casos (75,2 por cento) foram considerados pacientes de baixo risco e 42 casos (24,8 por cento) de alto risco. O seguimento pós-operatório foi conseguido em 155 pacientes: 116 entre os de baixo risco, com seguimento médio de 8,4 anos (extremos: um ano a 21 anos) e 39 entre os de alto risco (seguimento médio cinco anos, extremos um ano e 17 anos). Foram encontrados 13 recidivas tumorais (8,3 por cento) e cinco óbitos pelo tumor (3,2 por cento) em toda a série: 10 (8,6 por cento recidivas e nenhum óbito nos pacientes de baixo risco e três recidivas (7,5 por cento) e cinco óbitos (12,5 por cento) nos de alto risco. Nos pacientes de baixo risco submetidos à tireoidectomia parcial houve 7,5 por cento de recidivas e nos pacientes com tireoidectomia total a ocorrência de recidivas foi de 10 por cento. Não houve óbitos pelo tumor em nenhum dos grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Os pacientes com tumores de baixo risco apresentam evolução mais favorável: número igual de recidivas (relativamente aos tumores de alto risco), porém menos graves...

BACKGROUND: Recent studies challenge the efficacy of unilateral resection in the prevention of recurrences in differentiated thyroid carcinoma of low-risk group. Our objectives were to compare recurrence rates after unilateral and bilateral resections in our so-called low-risk group and to evaluated the accuracy of the criteria used to classify patients into high and low-risk group. METHODS: We evaluate outcome of 169 patients who underwent surgery for differentiated thyroid carcinoma at the HUCFF. They were divided in 2 groups: low-risk patients (n = 127) and high-risk patients (n = 42). Unilateral resection was undertaken in 71 patients of the low-risk group and in 4 of the high-risk group; bilateral resection was the operation used in 56 and 38 patients, respectively, in each of these groups. RESULTS: Follow-up was obtained in 155 patients in a mean period of 8.4 years for 116 low-risk patients and 5 years for 39 high-risk ones. In high-risk group recurrence occurred in 3 patients (7.5 percent) and there were 5 tumor related deaths (12.5 percent). In the low-risk group, there were 13 recurrences (8,3 percent) but no death occurred. The difference in recurrence rate between groups does not attain statistical e significance (p= 0.57). Recurrence occurred in 5 (7.5 percent) in the low-risk patients submmited to unilateral resection and in 5 (10 percent) of those submmited to bilateral resection. CONCLUSIONS: The division of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma in high and low-risk groups is useful is predicting more aggressive recurrences and tumor-related deaths. Unilateral resection in low-risk patients is not associated with higher recurrence rates.

Histoplasmose do colon, simulando tumor maligno sincronico, em pacientes HIV+ / Colonic histoplasmosis mimicking syndronic malignant tumor in HIV+ patient

O aumento da incidencia de doenças imunodeficientes vem sendo responsavel pelo aparecimento de diversas afecçoes com evoluçao pior e diferente da habitualmente conhecida. E apresentado um caso de histoplasmose em paciente HIV+ que comprometeu o colon em dois segundos, levando a quadro suboclusivo, cuja clinica, propedeutica e aspecto per-operatorio ou macroscopico sugeriam cancer em fase avançada com comprometimento de ganglios peritumorais e a distancia. Foi realizado estudo microscopico com coloraçao especial, que revelou presença do Histoplasma capsulatum dentro das celulas

Esplenectomia e infecçäo / Splenectomy and infection

A funçäo do baço na luta contra a infecçäo encontra-se bem estabelecida. Sua presença faz-se necessária para a formaçäo de anticorpos opsonizantes contra organismos encapsulados e representa a principal área de fagocitose na ausência deste anticorpo. Näo existe dúvida que o risco de infeccäo tardia por bactérias encapsuladas aumenta após a esplenectomia. Portanto sempre que possível, a cirurgia conservadora deve ser aplicada