Effect of pre- and post-treatment α-fetoprotein levels and tumor size on survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by resection, transarterial chemoembolization or radiofrequency ablation: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated treatment modalities and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), by pre-treatment and 3-month post-treatment serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and pre-treatment tumor diameters. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 57 patients treated for HCC in our department from January 2002 to December 2012, including their sex, type of hepatitis, Child class, pre-treatment tumor size, pre-treatment levels of albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), red blood cells, hemoglobin, and total bilirubin, pre- and 3-month post-treatment serum AFP, and treatment modality (transarterial chemoembolization, resection or radiofrequency ablation). Survival was analyzed at 1, 3, and 5 years after treatment. RESULTS: The 57 patients included 44 men and 13 women, of whom 44 had hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, 3 had hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, 3 had both HBV and HCV infection, 1 had both HBV and hepatitis D virus infection, and 3 had alcohol-related liver cirrhosis. Both pre- and post-treatment serum AFP levels significantly correlated with recurrent tumor size (P < 0.05 for both). Pre-treatment tumor size did not correlate with recurrent tumor size. Patients who underwent hepatic resection survived significantly longer than those who underwent transarterial chemoembolization or radiofrequency ablation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum AFP level is useful in diagnosing tumor recurrence and predicting prognosis in HCC patients treated by hepatic resection, transarterial chemoembolization, and radiofrequency ablation. Hepatic resection remains the treatment of choice for HCC in suitable patients.

Simultaneous medullary carcinoma and differentiated thyroid cancer. Case report.

BACKGROUND: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is an uncommon and aggressive tumour representing only 5-10% of all thyroid malignancies. MTC arises from parafollicular thyroid cells (C-cells) producing calcitonin hormone. Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most frequent thyroid tumour (papillary or follicular), representing 80% of all thyroid cancer. DTC derives from follicular thyroid cells, that come from the central thyroid sketch. The association between medullary and papillary thyroid cancer is rare. Several cases have been reported of mixed carcinomas. CASE REPORT: We report two cases of associated medullary and papillary carcinomas in two different foci in patients with respectively Graves' disease and multinodular goiter. A young woman affected by Grave's disease and multinodular goiter under pharmacological treatment with antithyroidal drugs underwent total thyroidectomy. The histopathological examination revealed the presence of a medullary carcinoma of the middle third of right lobe (1.1 cm) with an adjacent papillary microcarcinoma (0.5 cm). A 72-years-old woman, affected by euthyroid multinodular goiter, underwent total thyroidectomy. The pathological findings were two microcarcinomas, medullary (0.44 cm) in the left lobe and papillary (0.22 cm) in the right lobe. CONCLUSION: We can speculate that this coexistence is inferred, not having shown a specific cause that justifies the association between the two types of tumour and the high prevalence of papillary carcinoma.

[Papillary carcinoma in an isthmic thyroglossal duct cyst: clinical considerations]. / Il carcinoma papillifero in cisti del dotto tireoglosso a sviluppo istmico: considerazioni su un' osservazione clinica.

Cancer in a thyroglossal duct cyst is uncommon (incidence: approximately 1%). There are about 250 reported cases in the literature, most of which are papillary cancers or, less frequently, squamous or follicular carcinomas. The preoperative diagnosis of thyroglossal duct cyst carcinoma may be facilitated by an ultrasound neck examination or fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAc). As reported in the literature, however, the diagnosis is often obtained only at histopathological examination. We describe a case of a 43-year-old male patient with a papillary carcinoma in an isthmic thyroglossal duct cyst. Ultrasound of the neck demonstrated a nodular hypo-anechogenic cystic neoformation of the isthmus of the thyroid, while Fnac was not diagnostic. An isthmectomy of the thyroid was initially performed. Frozen examination of the cystic lesion revealed a papillary carcinoma in the thyroglossal duct cyst. A total thyroidectomy with central lymphectomy was therefore performed. Carcinoma in the thyroglossal duct has a low mortality (5-year mortality: < 2%), but a long-term follow-up is mandatory, due to the low, short-and medium-term recurrence rate.

A lethal complication after transarterial chemoembolization with drug-eluting beads for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background. The current standard of care for patients with large or multinodular noninvasive hepatocellular carcinoma is conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). TACE may also be performed with drug-eluting beads, but serious complications of this procedure have been reported. Methods. Aim of this report is to present a patient affected by multifocal HCC who underwent TACE with drug-eluting bead (DEB-TACE). Results. Following the procedure the patient developed a hepatic abscess and biliobronchial fistula resulting in adult respiratory distress syndrome and death. Conclusion. We speculate that DEB-TACE has a prolonged effect on the tumor and the surrounding liver, resulting in progressive enlargement of the necrotic area. This activity that can extend to the surrounding healthy hepatic tissues may continue indefinitely.

[Zuckerkandl's tuberculum: could it be useful in thyroid surgery?]. / Il tubercolo di Zuckerkandl: è un ausilio nella chirurgia della tiroide?

A thorough knowledge of thyroid anatomy could reduce the incidence of lesions to the inferior laryngeal nerve. In view of its relationship with the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the parathyroid gland, Zuckerkandl's tuberculum should be considered an anatomical landmark for the recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery. The aim of the study was to verify whether the identification of Zuckerkandl's tuberculum could be useful to reduce the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve lesions. Four hundred and thirty-two patients underwent thyroid surgery over the period from January 2001 to December 2003 for benign (377 patients) or malignant disease (55 patients). Three-hundred and forty-eight (81%) underwent total thyroidectomy. Zuckerkandl's tuberculum was found in 74.5% of patients, with a high prevalence in the right lobe: in 5% of patients it was grade I, in 50% grade II and in 45% grade III. Its presence was associated with the recurrent laryngeal nerve in almost all cases. Eight of the patients undergoing total thyroidectomy suffered recurrent nerve paralysis, only 4 of which proved definitive. Identification of Zuckerkandl's tuberculum allows safer isolation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and superior parathyroid gland dissection.

Laparoscopic Reversal of Hartmann's Procedure: State of the Art 20 Years after the First Reported Case.

Introduction. Aim of the present work is to review the literature to point out the role of laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann procedure. Material and Methods. Number of patients, age, sex, etiology, Hinchey classification, interval between procedure and reversal, position of the first trocars, mean operative time (min), number and causes of conversion, length of stay, mortality, complications, and quality of life were considered. Results. 238 males (52.4%) and 216 females (47.6%) between 38 and 67 years were analyzed. The etiology was diverticulitis in 292 patients (72.1%), carcinoma in 43 patients (10.6%), and other in 70 patients (17.3%). Only 7 articles (22.6%) reported Hinchey classification. The interval between initial procedure and reversal was between 50 and 330 days. The initial trocar was open positioned in 182 patients (43.2%) through umbilical incision, in 177 patients (41.9%) in right upper quadrant, and in 63 patients (14.9%) in colostomy site. The operative time was between 69 and 285 minutes. A total of 83 patients (12.1%) were converted and the causes were reported in 67.4%. The length of stay was between 3 and 12 days. 5 patients (0.7%) died. The complications concern 112 cases (16.4%). Conclusion. The laparoscopic Hartmann's reversal is safer and achieves faster positive results.