American Association of Clinical Endocrinology And Associazione Medici Endocrinologi Thyroid Nodule Algorithmic Tool.

OBJECTIVE: The first edition of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology/American College of Endocrinology/Associazione Medici Endocrinologi Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Nodules was published in 2006 and updated in 2010 and 2016. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology/American College of Endocrinology/Associazione Medici Endocrinologi multidisciplinary thyroid nodules task force was charged with developing a novel interactive electronic algorithmic tool to evaluate thyroid nodules. METHODS: The Thyroid Nodule App (termed TNAPP) was based on the updated 2016 clinical practice guideline recommendations while incorporating recent scientific evidence and avoiding unnecessary diagnostic procedures and surgical overtreatment. This manuscript describes the algorithmic tool development, its data requirements, and its basis for decision making. It provides links to the web-based algorithmic tool and a tutorial. RESULTS: TNAPP and TI-RADS were cross-checked on 95 thyroid nodules with histology-proven diagnoses. CONCLUSION: TNAPP is a novel interactive web-based tool that uses clinical, imaging, cytologic, and molecular marker data to guide clinical decision making to evaluate and manage thyroid nodules. It may be used as a heuristic tool for evaluating and managing patients with thyroid nodules. It can be adapted to create registries for solo practices, large multispecialty delivery systems, regional and national databases, and research consortiums. Prospective studies are underway to validate TNAPP to determine how it compares with other ultrasound-based classification systems and whether it can improve the care of patients with clinically significant thyroid nodules while reducing the substantial burden incurred by those who do not benefit from further evaluation and treatment.

What is the appropriate role of minimally invasive vs. open surgery for small adrenocortical cancers?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The role of endoscopic adrenalectomy for adrenocortical carcinoma is the most controversial and debated points in adrenal surgery. We reviewed the most recent literature on this topic. RECENT FINDINGS: From the amount of available data (even if not conclusive), the following could be extrapolated: first, for patients with apparently localized disease the adrenal gland should be removed en bloc with the entire retroperitoneal fat pad, which also includes some periadrenal lymph nodes, but no extended resection is necessary in absence of involvement of adjacent structures; second, in experienced centers, oncologic outcome for endoscopic adrenalectomy is not inferior to open adrenalectomy when strict selection criteria and the principles of oncologic surgery are respected. When performed by nonexperienced surgeons, endoscopic adrenalectomy may be associated with a higher rate of positive margin and local recurrence; third, patients observed at specialized referral centers receive a more accurate preoperative workup that allows a better operative planning and a more comprehensive postoperative treatment. SUMMARY: Although waiting for further more exhaustive studies, we think that for suspected adrenocortical carcinoma, smaller than 8-10 cm and without pre or intraoperative evidence of local invasion, endoscopic adrenalectomy in a referral center seems to be an acceptable option.

Ipsilateral Central Neck Dissection Plus Frozen Section Examination Versus Prophylactic Bilateral Central Neck Dissection in cN0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Ipsilateral central compartment node dissection (IpsiCCD) can reduce the morbidity of prophylactic bilateral central compartment node dissection (BilCCD) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) but it carries the risk of contralateral metastases being overlooked. Frozen section examination (FSE) of removed ipsilateral nodes has been proposed to intraoperatively assess nodal status. We compared IpsiCCD plus FSE and BilCCD in clinically unifocal and node negative PTC. METHODS: One hundred patients were prospectively assigned to undergo total thyroidectomy (TT) plus BilCCD or TT plus IpsiCCD. In the IpsiCCD group, removed lymph nodes were sent for FSE. If FSE was positive for metastases, a BilCCD was accomplished. RESULTS: The two groups included 50 patients each. Overall, occult lymph node metastases were found in 41 patients-20 in the IpsiCCD group and 21 in the BilCCD group. FSE correctly identified occult node metastases in 13 of 20 pN1a patients in the IpsiCCD group (overall accuracy 86 %). Seven node metastases were not detected at FSE-five were micrometastases (≤2 mm). Six of 13 patients in the IpsiCCD group who underwent BilCCD and 6 of 21 BilCCD pN1a patients had bilateral metastases. More patients in the BilCCD group showed transient hypocalcemia (27/50 vs. 18/50, respectively) [p = NS]. No patient experienced recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: FSE of ipsilateral nodes is accurate in determining nodal status, allowing the extension of the central neck clearance to be reliably modulated. Routine IpsiCCD plus FSE of the ipsilateral nodes could be a valid alternative to prophylactic BilCCD since it allows accurate staging and may reduce morbidity.

Is intraoperative calcitonin monitoring useful to modulate the extension of neck dissection in patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma?

BACKGROUND: The extension of the compartment-oriented neck dissection at primary surgery in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is controversial. Because a <50 % decrease in intraoperative calcitonin levels (IO-CT) after total thyroidectomy plus central neck dissection (TT-CND) has been associated with residual disease, IO-CT monitoring has been proposed to predict the completeness of surgery. The goal of the present prospective study was to verify the accuracy of IO-CT monitoring. METHODS: All patients scheduled for primary surgery for suspected or proven MTC between November 2010 and January 2013 were included. Calcitonin was measured pre-incision (basal level), after tumor manipulation, at the time TT-CND was accomplished (ablation level), 10 and 30 min after ablation. A decrease >50 % with respect to the highest IO-CT level 30 min after ablation was considered predictive of cure. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were included, and IO-CT monitoring identified 18 of 23 cured patients (true negative results) and 2 of 3 patients with persistent disease (true positive result). In 5 patients with normal basal and stimulated postoperative calcitonin levels, a decrease <50 % was observed (false positive results). In one of three patients with persistent disease a >50 % decrease in IO-CT was observed (false negative results). Specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of IO-CT were 78.2, 66.6, and 76.9 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative calcitonin monitoring is not highly accurate in predicting the completeness of surgical resection. In the present series, relying on IO-CT would result in limited resection in about one third of the patients with residual neck disease and in unnecessary lateral neck dissection in about 20 % of the cured patients.

Synchronous bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome: laparoscopic versus posterior retroperitoneoscopic versus robotic approach.

BACKGROUND: Synchronous endoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy (BilA) can effectively provide definitive cure of hypercortisolism in ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome and in primary adrenal bilateral disease. We compared three different approaches for BilA: transabdominal laparoscopic BilA (TL-BilA), simultaneous posterior retroperitoneoscopic BilA (PR-BilA), and robot-assisted BilA (RA-BilA). METHODS: All patients who underwent BilA between January 1999 and December 2012 at two referral centers (one performing TL-BilA and PR-BilA and one performing RA-BilA) were included. A comparative analysis was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients were included: 5 underwent TL-BilA, 11 underwent PR-BilA, and 13 underwent RA-BilA. No significant difference was found concerning age, gender, diagnosis, and previous abdominal surgery. No conversion to open approach was registered. Operative time was significantly shorter for the PR-BilA group than for the TL-BilA and RA-BilA groups (157.4 ± 54.6 vs 256.0 ± 43.4 vs 221.5 ± 42.2 min, respectively) (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found concerning intraoperative and postoperative complications rate and time to first flatus. Drains were used routinely after PR-BilA and TL-BilA and electively in four RA-BilA patients (P < 0.001). Hospital stay was longer in the TL-BilA and PR-BilA groups than in the RA-BilA group (12.0 ± 5.7 vs 10.8 ± 3.7 vs 4.4 ± 1.7 days, respectively) (P < 0.001). No recurrence or disease-related death was registered. CONCLUSIONS: Operative time was significantly shorter in the PR-BilA group, because it eliminates the need to reposition the patient. The number of drains and the length of hospital stay were reduced after RA-BilA, but this was likely related to different management protocols in different settings. Because no significant difference was found in terms of postoperative outcome, none of the three operative approaches can be considered the preferable one.

Video-assisted versus conventional total thyroidectomy and central compartment neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Although video-assisted (VA) thyroidectomy emerged as effective treatment for selected patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), some concerns remain about obtaining adequate central neck node clearance. We compared patients who underwent VA and conventional total thyroidectomy (TT) and central compartment dissection (CCD) for PTC. METHODS: A total of 52 consecutive patients successfully underwent VA-TT and VA-CCD for PTC (VA group) were compared to 52 controls who underwent conventional TT and CCD (C group) for PTC. RESULTS: The two groups were matched for age (p = 0.75), sex (p = 0.07), and tumor size (p = 1.0). Operating time (p = 0.23), overall postoperative complications (p = 0.41), pT (p = 0.44), and pN (p = 0.84) were similar in the two groups. The mean number of removed nodes was similar (10.6 ± 4.6 in VA group vs. 12.2 ± 5.6 in C group) (p = 0.11).Mean postoperative serum thyroglobulin (sTg) off levothyroxine (LT4) suppressive treatment was 3.2 ± 5.0 ng/ ml in the VA group and 2.6 ± 7.4 ng/ml in the C-group (P = 0.67). Mean postoperative radioiodine uptake (RAIU) was similar in the two groups (1.5 ± 1.3 vs. 1.7 ± 1.3%) (p = 0.49). When pN1a patients alone were considered, no difference was found between the VA group (21 patients) and the controls (24 patients) concerning the mean number of removed nodes (10.3 ± 4.1 vs. 12.4 ± 5.6) (p = 0.16), the mean sTg off LT4 (4.4 ± 6.0 vs. 1.9 ± 2.7 ng/ml) (p = 0.07) and the mean RAIU (1.9 ± 1.5 vs. 1.7% ± 1.3%) (p = 0.63). CONCLUSIONS: The results of VA-TT and CCD in selected cases of PTC appear to be comparable to those of conventional surgery. A longer follow-up and larger series are necessary to draw definitive conclusions concerning longterm outcomes.

Combining early postoperative parathyroid hormone and serum calcium levels allows for an efficacious selective post-thyroidectomy supplementation treatment.

BACKGROUND: Optimal treatment protocol to prevent symptomatic hypocalcemia following total thyroidectomy is still matter of debate. We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of a selective supplementation protocol based on both early postoperative intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and serum calcium levels. METHODS: Two hundred thirty consecutive patients were divided in three different groups of treatment according to iPTH levels 4 h after total thyroidectomy (4 h-iPTH) and serum calcium levels in the first postoperative day (1PO-Ca): group A (4 h-iPTH > 10 pg/ml, 1PO-Ca ≥ 8.5 mg/dl), no treatment; group B (4 h-iPTH > 10 pg/ml, 1PO-Ca < 8.5 mg/dl), oral calcium (OC) 3 g per day; and group C (4 h-iPTH ≤ 10 pg/ml), OC 3 g + calcitriol (VD) 1 µg per day. Development of biochemical and/or symptomatic hypocalcemia was evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients (25.6%) had subnormal 4 h-iPTH levels (≤10 pg/ml) (group C). Among patients with normal 4 h-iPTH levels, 25 (10.9%) had subnormal 1PO-Ca (<8.5 mg/dl) (group B). The remaining 146 patients (63.5%) had normal 4 h-iPTH and 1PO-Ca levels (group A). One patient in group A, 2 in group B, and 18 in group C developed biochemical hypocalcemia. Only one patient in group C experienced major symptoms. Treatment was discontinued within 1 month in all the patients in group B. At a mean follow-up of 303 days, five patients in group C were still under supplementation treatment. CONCLUSION: The proposed supplementation protocol seems efficacious in preventing symptomatic hypocalcemia. It could allow a safe and early discharge of most patients, thus avoiding the constraints and the costs of routine supplementation.

Prospective electromyographic evaluation of functional postthyroidectomy voice and swallowing symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Voice and swallowing symptoms following thyroidectomy in the absence of any demonstration of laryngeal nerves injury are usually considered a functional outcome of uncomplicated operations, mainly related to scar formation and emotional reaction. They could be related to unapparent laryngeal nerve or cricothyroid (CT) muscle injuries detectable only by laryngeal electromyography (LEMG). We correlated such symptoms with LEMG patterns. METHODS: A total of 33 consenting patients undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) were enrolled. Video-strobolaryngoscopy (VSL), acoustic voice analysis (AVA), and maximum phonation time (MPT) were performed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Subjective evaluation of voice (Voice Impairment Score, or VIS) and swallowing (Swallowing Impairment Score, or SIS) were obtained preoperatively and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. At 1 month postoperatively LEMG was performed examining thyroarytenoid (TA) and CT muscles to evaluate the inferior laryngeal nerve (ILN) and the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (EBSLN), respectively. RESULTS: One patient experienced transient vocal cord palsy and was excluded. The remaining 32 patients completed the postoperative evaluation. No significant difference was found between preoperative and postoperative AVA and MPT parameters. Mean VIS was significantly worse than preoperatively 1 and 3 months after TT. No significant difference was found between preoperative and postoperative SIS. LEMG evaluation of TA muscle showed decreased voluntary activity and spontaneous fibrillation potentials in one patient. LEMG of the CT muscle did not reveal any sign of EBSLN injury. CONCLUSIONS: Patients frequently complain of subjective symptoms early after TT. LEMG demonstrated the absence of subclinical laryngeal nerve injury in all but one patient, confirming their functional nature.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinology And Associazione Medici Endocrinologi Thyroid Nodule Algorithmic Tool.

OBJECTIVE: The first edition of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology/American College of Endocrinology/Associazione Medici Endocrinologi Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Nodules was published in 2006 and updated in 2010 and 2016. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology/American College of Endocrinology/Associazione Medici Endocrinologi multidisciplinary thyroid nodules task force was charged with developing a novel interactive electronic algorithmic tool to evaluate thyroid nodules. METHODS: The Thyroid Nodule App (termed TNAPP) was based on the updated 2016 clinical practice guideline recommendations while incorporating recent scientific evidence and avoiding unnecessary diagnostic procedures and surgical overtreatment. This manuscript describes the algorithmic tool development, its data requirements, and its basis for decision making. It provides links to the web-based algorithmic tool and a tutorial. RESULTS: TNAPP and TI-RADS were cross-checked on 95 thyroid nodules with histology-proven diagnoses. CONCLUSION: TNAPP is a novel interactive web-based tool that uses clinical, imaging, cytologic, and molecular marker data to guide clinical decision making to evaluate and manage thyroid nodules. It may be used as a heuristic tool for evaluating and managing patients with thyroid nodules. It can be adapted to create registries for solo practices, large multispecialty delivery systems, regional and national databases, and research consortiums. Prospective studies are underway to validate TNAPP to determine how it compares with other ultrasound-based classification systems and whether it can improve the care of patients with clinically significant thyroid nodules while reducing the substantial burden incurred by those who do not benefit from further evaluation and treatment.

Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastases, and risk factors for recurrence in a high prevalence of goiter area.

BACKGROUND: Although papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is diagnosed with increasing frequency, the best therapeutic option and follow-up protocol have not been established yet, especially in the case of incidental diagnosis. We reviewed our series of patients with PTMC to determine risk factors for recurrence in an area where there is a high prevalence of goiter. METHODS: The medical records of all patients who underwent thyroidectomy with a final pathology report of PTMC between October 2002 and June 2007 were reviewed. PTMC was defined as a papillary thyroid carcinoma 10 mm or less in diameter. Follow-up evaluation was obtained by outpatient consultation and/or telephone interview. RESULTS: In a series of 2,220 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for a thyroid carcinoma, 933 had a PTMC. Diagnosis was incidental in 704 patients (75.5%). Upon multivariate analysis, tumor size, nonincidental diagnosis, and neck node metastases at diagnosis were independent risk factors for extracapsular spread (ECS), while ECS, multifocal disease, and number of removed lymph nodes were independent risk factors for lymph node metastases at diagnosis. Follow-up evaluation was completed in 287 patients, 9 (3.1%) of whom experienced recurrence. The number of removed and metastasized nodes at first operation and the length of the follow-up were independent risk factors for recurrent disease. CONCLUSIONS: Incidental diagnosis of PTMC is frequent in a high prevalence of goiter area. PTMC shows a variable degree of aggressiveness. Management protocols should be based on patient- and tumor-related prognostic factors, as for larger tumors.

Video-assisted minimally invasive parathyroidectomy: benefits and long-term results.

BACKGROUND: In recent years several endoscopic and video-assisted techniques for parathyroidectomy have been described. The role of these techniques, with respect to time-honored conventional surgery, has been largely debated. This paper was designed to review the evidence, and make the recommendations, for the video-assisted/endoscopic approach to parathyroidectomy. METHODS: A database search was conducted in PubMed from which abstracts were screened matching our definition. Publications were further assessed and assigned their respective level of evidence. Additional data were obtained on the basis of our personal experience. RESULTS: Thirty-eight mainly retrospective studies have been published. Only four small, prospective, randomized trials, providing level II evidence, and one retrospective case-control comparative study, providing level IV evidence, have been found. Minimally invasive video-assisted parathyroidectomy (MIVAP) has emerged as one of the leading techniques. To date several randomized studies have shown that MIVAP is an efficacious and feasible procedure with the same complications rate as conventional surgery. Moreover, MIVAP seems to have significant advantages in terms of cosmetic result, postoperative pain and recovery, and patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: From an evidence-based point of view, MIVAP should be considered a valid and validated option for the treatment of sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism sustained by a well-localized, single adenoma. Its role for the treatment of multiglandular diseases (familial hyperparathyroidism, secondary hyperparathyroidism) needs to be better clarified.

Risk factors for local recurrence following lateral neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate risk factors for local recurrence following lateral neck dissection (LND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: Two hundred and nine patients who underwent therapeutic primary or reoperative LND for PTC were included. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-one patients underwent primary LND at our Institution, the remaining 28 were referred for recurrence following LND outside the Institution. Comparing patients who required reoperation for recurrent lateral neck disease with those who did not recur, no significant difference was found concerning sex, tumor size, multifocal disease, extracapsular invasion, histological variant, pT stage (P = NS). At univariate analysis, age, mean number of removed lateral neck nodes at first operation, the extent of initial LND and surgery performed outside the Institution were risk factors for recurrence (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Limited LND and surgery performed at non referral Centers were non tumor-related risk factors for recurrence following therapeutic LND for PTC.

Outcome of adrenalectomy for subclinical hypercortisolism and Cushing syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We compared operative and metabolic outcomes in patients with subclinical Cushing syndrome and Cushing syndrome caused by unilateral adrenal lesion, aiming to clarify the role of glucocorticoid replacement treatment in patients with subclinical Cushing syndrome after adrenalectomy. METHODS: The medical records of all the patients who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy for subclinical Cushing syndrome or Cushing syndrome were reviewed. Diagnostic criteria for subclinical Cushing syndrome were a pathologic dexamethasone suppression test plus 2 additional criteria. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients with subclinical Cushing syndrome and 50 with Cushing syndrome were identified. No significant difference was found between patients with subclinical Cushing syndrome and Cushing syndrome regarding lesion size, operative time, and hospital stay. Two patients out of 29 with subclinical Cushing syndrome and 3 out of 50 patients with Cushing syndrome experienced Clavien-Dindo grade II complications (P = .87). All the patients required postoperative glucocorticoid replacement that was discontinued within 6 months in 28 of the 29 patients with subclinical Cushing syndrome and in 3 out of 50 Cushing syndrome patients (P < .005). At long-term follow-up, adrenalectomy significantly improved hypertension and diabetes in affected patients, with no differences between subclinical Cushing syndrome and Cushing syndrome. Hypercortisolism was resolved in all the cases. CONCLUSION: Operative and metabolic outcomes of adrenalectomy are similar in subclinical Cushing syndrome and Cushing syndrome. Postoperative glucocorticoid replacement treatment is advisable in all patients with subclinical Cushing syndrome. Prolonged adrenal insufficiency is more frequent in Cushing syndrome patients.

Well-differentiated thyroid cancer with a minor poorly differentiated component: clonal heterogeneity through the prognostic role of CXCR4 and BRAF analysis.

Well-differentiated carcinoma (WDC) accounts for up to 90% of all thyroid cancers. The presence of a minor poorly differentiated (PD) component (mainly insular pattern) might represent an additional critical parameter for patients' prognosis and outcome. The role of both CXCR4 (a chemokine inducing cytoskeletal rearrangement and cell adhesion) and BRAF mutation have been studied in WDC (mainly papillary thyroid cancer and its variants), highlighting their critical role in tumor progression, local infiltration, and metastases. We discussed the clonal heterogeneity through the prognostic role of CXCR4 and BRAF mutation in WDC with a minor PD/insular component. Of our 16 WDC cases with a PD/insular component, up to 40% underwent surgery. The cases were subclassified according to the PD percentage as (1) <20% PD and (2) 20% to 40% PD, and were studied for CXCR4 expression and BRAF mutation. CXCR4 and molecular testing were distinctly performed on both components of each lesion. The majority of the cases (69%) showed an extrathyroid and metastatic dissemination. Regardless of the 2 categories, we had 8/16 (50%) patients with disease-free status. CXCR4 was negative in all 16 cases, whereas 3 of them (19%) had a mutated BRAF only in the WDC component of the lesion. WDCs with a minor PD pattern, even when <20%, showed more aggressive features than pure WDCs and should be entirely considered as PD carcinoma. The absence of CXCR4 expression and BRAF mutation in cancers with a minor PD component underlined different pathogenic and metastatic processes in comparison with WDCs.

Video-assisted thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: In 1998, we developed a technique for video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT). In this article we report on the entire series of patients who underwent VAT and discuss the results obtained. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-seven patients were selected for VAT. Eligibility criteria were: thyroid nodules of 35 mm or less in maximum diameter; estimated thyroid volume within normal range or slightly enlarged; small, low-risk papillary carcinomas; neither previous neck surgery nor irradiation; and no thyroiditis. After a learning period, VAT was proposed also for completion thyroidectomy (of previous video-assisted lobectomy) and nodules with maximum diameter up to 45 mm. The procedure is performed by a totally gasless video-assisted technique through a single 1.5- to 2.0-cm skin incision. Dissection is performed under endoscopic vision using a technique very similar to conventional operation. RESULTS: Fifty-three VATs were attempted on 47 patients. Thirty-three lobectomies, 10 total thyroidectomies, and 6 completion thyroidectomies were successfully performed. Six patients with papillary carcinoma underwent central neck lymph node removal by the same access. Mean operative time was 86.8 minutes for lobectomy, 116.0 minutes for total thyroidectomy, and 77.5 minutes for completion thyroidectomy. Conversion rate was 7.5%. Postoperative complications included one transient recurrent nerve palsy, three transient symptomatic postoperative hypocalcemias, and one wound infection. The cosmetic result was considered excellent by most of the patients who successfully underwent VAT. CONCLUSIONS: VAT is feasible and safe and allows for an excellent cosmetic result. Not all patients are eligible for this procedure, but in selected cases it can be a valid option for the surgical treatment of thyroid diseases.

Video-assisted thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: In 1998, we developed a technique for video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT). In this paper, we report on the entire series of patients who underwent VAT and discuss the results obtained. METHODS: Seventy-three patients were selected for VAT. Eligibility criteria were: thyroid nodules

Diagnostic and prognostic role of HBME-1, galectin-3, and ß-catenin in poorly differentiated and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas.

AIM: Thyroid cancer represents the first endocrine malignant neoplasm, accounting for 1% of human malignancy. The majority of which are well-differentiated cancer representing up to 90% of thyroid cancer and pursuing a favorable clinical course. The groups of poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDC) and anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) have a poor outcome and need a strict clinical surveillance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four cases including 23 PDC/insular cancer and 9 ATC were examined for the expression of an immunohistochemical panel made up by HBME-1, galectin-3, and ß-catenin and correlated either with histologic prognostic parameters or the overall surveillance. RESULTS: HBME-1 and galectin-3 were expressed in 100% of the PDC/insular cases and in none of the ATC cases. The data for ß-catenin pointed out an 80% expression (12/15) in the PDCs and only a focal and nonspecific positivity in the ATCs. A ß-catenin-positive expression was found in all patients with a worse outcome/death and in the presence of vascular invasion and metastatic disease. All 3 PDC patients with ß-catenin negativity are alive, whereas only 41% (5/12) are alive in the ß-catenin-positive group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data set up the idea that PDC represents an intermediate step in the biological process of dedifferentiation of thyroid tumors toward ATC. This shift is underlined by the ß-catenin expression, which seems to be related to a worse prognostic behavior. HBME-1 and galectin-3 show a similar pattern in PDC compared with well-differentiated carcinoma, whereas they are not expressed, as well as ß-catenin, in anaplastic carcinomas.

Substernal goiters: incidence, surgical approach, and complications in a tertiary care referral center.

BACKGROUND: Surgery is the treatment of choice for substernal goiters, but there are still some controversies on their definition, the surgical approach, and the complications rate. We analyzed our experience in a tertiary care referral center. METHODS: Among a series of 2263 patients who underwent thyroidectomy between 2004 and 2008, 355 patients with substernal goiter were identified. A control group of 355 patients with cervical goiters operated on during the same period was selected. The operative and pathological characteristics and the complications rate of the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS: Only 2 patients (0.6%) required an extracervical approach (1 primary intrathoracic goiter and 1 recurrent carcinoma). No significant difference was found in terms of complications between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: The cervical approach can be safely performed in almost all the patients with substernal goiters. An extracervical procedure has very limited indications. Substernal goiter is not associated with increased complications rate.

Surgical treatment of thyroid diseases in elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the safety of thyroid surgery in elderly patients, in whom surgical procedures usually are considered more hazardous than in younger patients. METHODS: The medical records of all the patients who were aged 70 years or older who had undergone thyroid surgery between January 1998 and June 2008 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 320 patients were included. The preoperative diagnosis was multinodular goiter in 171 cases, toxic goiter in 59 cases, suspicious or indeterminate thyroid nodule in 60 cases, and thyroid carcinoma in 30 patients. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 283 patients, thyroid lobectomy in 15 patients, and a completion thyroidectomy was performed in 22 patients. The final histology showed thyroid cancer in 86 patients and benign disease in 234. CONCLUSIONS: Thyroid surgery in patients aged 70 years or older is safe and the relatively high rate of thyroid carcinoma and toxic goiter may justify an aggressive approach.

Prediction of hypocalcemia after using 1- to 6-hour postoperative parathyroid hormone and calcium levels: an analysis of pooled individual patient data from 3 observational studies.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels up to 6 hours postthyroidectomy have been shown to have excellent predictive power in determining hypocalcemia. In this study, we investigate the usefulness of combining calcium and PTH to increase the predictive power. METHODS: Individual patient data were obtained from 3 studies (152 patients) that fulfilled our criteria (using PTH assay within hours postthyroidectomy to predict symptomatic hypocalcemia). RESULTS: Changes in combined PTH and calcium threshold levels checked 1 to 6 hours after thyroidectomy were excellent in predicting postoperative hypocalcemia. A decrease in PTH of 60%, coupled with a simultaneous decrease in calcium of 10%, 5 to 6 hours postoperatively resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 100%. However, combined PTH and calcium threshold changes were not significantly better than using PTH threshold changes alone. CONCLUSIONS: Threshold changes in serum calcium and PTH, checked hours after surgery, can be used together to accurately predict whether a patient will become hypocalcemic after thyroidectomy.