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PURPOSE: Immunotherapy of malignant melanoma using Interferon-α2b increases the adaptive immune system activity remaining after surgical resection of the tumor to prevent recurrence, and enhance survival. We will compare the therapeutic effect upon disease-free survival, and overall survival of immunotherapy using high-dose interferon-α2b versus combination therapy using the same regimen with additional dacarbazine after surgical resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: At Kosin University Gospel Hospital, from March, 2003 to July, 2014, 17 patients underwent postoperative adjuvant therapy after being diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Of the 17 patients, eight underwent immunotherapy using interferon and nine underwent combination therapy using interferon with dacarbazine. Average of 29 months in the immunotherapy group and 44 months for the control group. RESULTS: Of patients receiving interferon-α2b immunotherapy, four patients showed no evidence of local recurrence and local/distant metastasis, two developed local recurrence and metastasis, and two developed distant metastasis. Of those who underwent combination therapy using interferon with dacarbazine, three patients showed no evidence of local recurrence or metastasis, four developed local recurrence and metastasis, and two developed distant metastasis. The average disease-free survival was 25.75 months with interferon therapy and 29.89 months with dacarbazine therapy. The survival difference between the anticancer therapies was not statically significant based on Kaplan-Meier survival. CONCLUSION: Postoperative treatment using interferon-α2b has several advantages as an anticancer drug but does not differ significantly from the first-line therapy, dacarbazine.
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Humanos , Dacarbazina , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Quimioterapia , Sistema Inmunológico , Inmunoterapia , Interferón-alfa , Interferones , Melanoma , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , RecurrenciaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyze the multiple factors as a cause of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) in specific industrial field which is a South Korea company manufacturing rolling stock, defense products and plant equipment. METHODS: We analyzed questionnaire survey of 30 patients diagnosed as TOS at outpatient department from January 2005 to October 2015 retrospectively. We reviewed clinical records and questionnaire about repetitive task related to microtrauma. Questionnaire was established to analyze the correlation between occupational history and TOS. Statistical test was done with multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Incidence rate was 9%, all of 30 patients engaged in heavy workload with symptoms of pain in neck and shoulder. A multiple regression was run to predict arm visual analogue scale (VAS) score from age, force of work, time of work and career. The model of analysis for arm VAS was statistically significant, p<0.001, adjusted r²=0.489. Only force of work variable added was statistically significantly to the prediction, p<0.001. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of TOS in highly loaded industrial field is higher than typically known, appropriate diagnosis is important for early comeback to work. Aggressive diagnosis and treatment is important since non-operative treatment can have satisfying result for patient and help early comeback to work.
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Humanos , Brazo , Diagnóstico , Incidencia , Corea (Geográfico) , Cuello , Enfermedades Profesionales , Pacientes Ambulatorios , Plantas , Prevalencia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Hombro , Síndrome del Desfiladero TorácicoRESUMEN
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid malignancy and has relatively favorable prognosis. Blood-borne metastases of PTC are very rare among the thyroid malignancies. Moreover a case of blood-borne central nervous system metastasized PTC with only unilateral Horner's syndrome, and without any abnormalities in laboratory or physical examinations has not been described before. A 53-year-old female patient had been managed in ophthalmologic clinic due to vague symptoms of right monocular blurred vision with eye dryness for 3 months, but showed no signs of improvement. So it was performed a magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography to evaluate the possibilities of cerebral lesion. And a left frontal mass was incidentally found, and the tumor turned out to be a PTC that had metastasized to brain, regional lymph node, cervical, thoracic spine, and lung. We describe a PTC with extraordinary initial symptoms that metastasized to an unusual site. We recommend that if a papillary thyroid tumor with unusual symptoms or at an advanced stage is found, further investigation should be performed for distant metastasis.
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Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Encéfalo , Sistema Nervioso Central , Síndrome de Horner , Pulmón , Ganglios Linfáticos , Angiografía por Resonancia Magnética , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Examen Físico , Pronóstico , Columna Vertebral , Glándula Tiroides , Neoplasias de la TiroidesRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an important cause of hypothyroidism caused by autoimmune chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. In order to attain a better understanding for use in treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) coexisting with HT, we conducted an analysis of the clinicopathologic features, as well as the importance of HT as a prognostic factor. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed 341 patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with PTC following surgery. RESULTS: PTC coexisting with HT was observed in 19.6% (67 patients) of all PTC patients. A statistically significant gender difference was observed in the group with HT (two male vs. 65 female), with a higher positive rate of anti-thyroglobulin antibody and smaller tumor size, compared to the PTC group without HT. When tumor size increased, a lower coexistence rate of HT was observed. No significant differences were observed in multifocality, cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis, coexistence of benign nodule, and extent of LN dissection. However, frequency of extrathyroidal extension was significantly lower and total thyroidectomy rate was higher in the group with HT. TNM stage and AMES stage were similar in both groups; frequency of high MACIS score showed a significant decrease in the group with HT. The recurrence rate and disease- free survival in patients with PTC were not significantly affected by coexistence of HT. CONCLUSION: We found a significant relationship with gender, extrathyroidal extension, and tumor size in PTC coexisting with HT. However, no significant differences in recurrence rate and disease-free survival were observed between groups. Therefore, coexistence in PTC could not be applicable as a prognostic factor of PTC.
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Humanos , Masculino , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Enfermedad de Hashimoto , Hipotiroidismo , Ganglios Linfáticos , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Pronóstico , Recurrencia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Glándula Tiroides , Neoplasias de la Tiroides , Tiroidectomía , TiroiditisRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Extrathyroidal extension (ETE) is a risk factor for the recurrence of a papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). In the TNM 6(th) classification system, an extrathyroidal invasion of a differentiated thyroid carcinoma has been classified as T3 (minimal invasion), T4a (extended invasion), and T4b (more extensive unresectable invasion) according to tumor invasion. We investigated the clinicopathologic characteristics, recurrence, and disease-free survival (DFS) of minimal ETE (mETE). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 332 patients who underwent a thyroidectomy for PTC from January 2005 to December 2006. RESULTS: Of the 332 patients, 103 (31.0%) were found to have a PTC with mETE and 229 (69.0%) patients had a PTC without mETE. In PTC, mETE was related to gender, tumor size, multifocality, Lymph node (LN) metastasis, underlying Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and surgery. But there is no significant difference in age, recurrence, and LN metastasis between the mETE and No mETE groups. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that LN metastasis (odds ratio=2.273; 95% confidence interval 1.280~4.037) was recognized as an independent factor for mETE (P=0.005). Disease-free survival was not significantly different between patients with and without mETE (P=0.153). We analyzed the effect of LN metastasis in groups with and without mETE. Based on the presence or absence of LN metastasis, disease-free survival (DFS) rates between each group showed no significant differences. CONCLUSION: Minimal ETE had no impact on DFS in patients with PTC. Therefore, an appropriate surgical approach and postoperative follow-up are required for tumors with mETE.
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Humanos , Clasificación , Supervivencia sin Enfermedad , Estudios de Seguimiento , Ganglios Linfáticos , Análisis Multivariante , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Recurrencia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Glándula Tiroides , Neoplasias de la Tiroides , Tiroidectomía , TiroiditisRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a new ultrasound (US) classification system for differentiating between benign and malignant solid thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we enrolled 191 consecutive patients who received real-time US and subsequent US diagnoses for solid thyroid nodules, and underwent US-guided fine-needle aspiration. Each thyroid nodule was prospectively classified into 1 of 5 diagnostic categories by real-time US: "malignant," "suspicious for malignancy," "borderline," "probably benign," and "benign". We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid US and the cut-off US criteria by comparing the US diagnoses of thyroid nodules with cytopathologic results. RESULTS: Of the 191 solid nodules, 103 were subjected to thyroid surgery. US categories for these 191 nodules were malignant (n = 52), suspicious for malignancy (n = 16), borderline (n = 23), probably benign (n = 18), and benign (n = 82). A receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the US diagnosis for solid thyroid nodules using the 5-category US classification system was very good. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy of US diagnosis were 86%, 95%, 91%, 92%, and 92%, respectively, when benign, probably benign, and borderline categories were collectively classified as benign (negative). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of thyroid US for solid thyroid nodules is high when the above-mentioned US classification system is applied.
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Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Biopsia con Aguja Fina , Citodiagnóstico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Neoplasias de la Tiroides/clasificación , Nódulo Tiroideo/clasificación , Ultrasonografía IntervencionalRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is known to have a favorable prognosis and long-term survival due to its biologic characteristics of slow growth and late distant metastasis. However, its characteristic of lymph node metastasis has resulted in a high incidence of neck recurrence and only rare lung metastasis. The objective of this study is to analyze the characteristics of recurrent or persistent thyroid cancer and to evaluate the risk factors for the development of recurrence. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 479 consecutive cases of PTC and these patients had undergone surgical operations from January 2004 to December 2006. We assessed age, gender, the tumor characteristics, the operative methods and the recurrence patterns, and the correlations between these factors and recurrence were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 479 patients with PTC and who were initially treated with surgery at our hospital, 42 patients (8.8%) had recurrent disease. Univariate analysis showed that an age less than 45 years, male gender, extra-thyroidal extension, lymph node metastasis, multifocality, bilaterality and neck node dissection were related to a higher rate of recurrence. Of these, lymph node metastasis and central or lateral neck node dissection were the independent risk factors for recurrent PTC on the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The significant factors influencing locoregional recurrence and distant metastasis were cervical lymph node metastasis and incomplete neck node dissection. In order to reduce the rate of recurrence of PTC, an exact preoperative evaluation of the nodal status and formal neck node dissection are recommended during the initial surgery in patients who have these factors of recurrence.
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Humanos , Masculino , Incidencia , Pulmón , Ganglios Linfáticos , Análisis Multivariante , Cuello , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Características de la Población , Pronóstico , Recurrencia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Glándula Tiroides , Neoplasias de la TiroidesRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignancy that develops from the thyroid gland and its prognosis is quite excellent. One of the characteristic behaviors of PTC is that it often occurs at multiple foci. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features and risk factors of multifocal papillary thyroid cancer. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out on 624 patients with PTC and who underwent surgery from January 2005 to December 2007. Two hundred twenty-nine of them were found to have multiple tumor foci (≥2 foci). The risk factors that included gender, age at diagnosis, tumor size, capsular invasion, extrathyroidal extension (ETE), cervical lymph node (LN) involvement, the TNM classification, local recurrence and distant metastasis were comparatively analyzed between the solitary PTC and multifocal PTC groups. RESULTS: The enrolled patients were 59 male and 565 females. The mean age was 46 years (range: 15~77 years). Age (P=0.025), tumor size (P=0.027), capsular invasion (P<0.001), ETE (P<0.001) and cervical LN metastasis (P=0.002) were the significantly related factors for multifocal papillary thyroid cancer. However, gender was not significantly related with multifocality. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that multifocal tumors were significantly associated with age, tumors size, capsular invasion, ETE and cervical LN metastasis in patients with PTC. LN metastasis was mostly influenced by multifocality in the PTC patients. It seems certain that total thyroidectomy and formal central node dissection with postoperative adjuvant therapy are essential treatment for these patients, and closely surveying the nodal status is needed on the follow up of patients with multifocal PTC.
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Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Clasificación , Diagnóstico , Estudios de Seguimiento , Ganglios Linfáticos , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Pronóstico , Recurrencia , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Glándula Tiroides , Neoplasias de la Tiroides , TiroidectomíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Cox-2 expression in breast carcinoma has been reported to be related to angiogenesis, lymph node metastasis and Her-2 expression. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathologic significance of Cox-2 expression in the invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and intraductal carcinomas (DCIS) of the breast. METHODS: The materials were 353 IDC cases and 82 DCIS cases. Immunohistochemical stain for Cox-2 was interpreted as 1+ (weak & focal) and 2+ (diffuse), and the relationships between Cox-2 and ER, PR, Her-2, p53, Ki-67 and bcl-2 expressions were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference of Cox-2 expression between IDC (148/353, 41.9%) and DCIS (38/82, 46.3%). Cox-2 (2+) expression was more frequent in low grade than intermediate and high grade IDC, but the difference was not significant statistically (P=0.0833), and there were no significant differences of Cox-2 expression according to age, tumor size, nuclear grade, lymph node metastasis in IDC and DCIS cases. In IDC cases, Cox-2 (1+ and 2+) expression showed positive relationships with p53 (+) and more than 10% of Ki-67 labeling index (P=0.0029, P=0.0015), and revealed tendencies of positive relationships with ER (+) and bcl-2 (+) (P=0.0750, P=0.0776). However, no significant relationship between Cox-2 and Her-2 expressions was recognized. In DCIS cases, Cox-2 (2+) expression rate was increased in cases showing negative for Her-2 (P=0.0092) and positive for bcl-2 (P=0.0486). CONCLUSION: Cox-2 expression seems to be involved in the development of breast carcinomas, but not related to the invasiveness. Cox-2 expression, especially 2+, in the DCIS cases suggest a possibility of less aggressive biological behavior.
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Mama , Neoplasias de la Mama , Carcinoma Ductal , Carcinoma Intraductal no Infiltrante , Ganglios Linfáticos , Metástasis de la NeoplasiaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the use of an ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) to diagnose thyroid nodules smaller than 5 mm in the maximum diameter and to evaluate pathological findings of small thyroid malignancies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2007 to April 2008, we evaluated the findings of US-FNABs of small thyroid nodules less than 5 mm in the maximum diameter. The cytopathological findings were retrospectively reviewed and the diagnostic performance of the use of an US-FNAB was examined in all patients. RESULTS: Of 201 small thyroid nodules in 180 patients, there were 162 adequate specimens (81%). Among 180 patients, 75 patients underwent thyroid surgery and 50 malignant and 33 benign nodules were identified based on a pathological examination. All small malignant thyroid nodules were identified as papillary thyroid microcarcinomas (PTMCs). There were 34 (55%) true positive, 0 (0%) false positive, 23 (37%) true negative and five (8%) false negative results for malignancy after performing a first US-FNAB in 62 surgically confirmed nodules. The sensitivity (87%), specificity (100%), positive predictive value (100%), negative predictive value (82%), accuracy (92%), false positive rate (0%) and false negative rate (8%) for an US-FNAB were determined. In 23 patients with a primary PTMC, capsular invasion (9%, 2 of 23), a perithyroidal lymph node metastasis (30%, 7 of 23), the rate of multifocality (9%, 2 of 23) and bilaterality (4%, 1 of 23) were also determined. CONCLUSION: An US-FNAB of thyroid nodules smaller than 5 mm in the maximum diameter is an effective diagnostic procedure.
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Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Biopsia con Aguja Fina , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Estudios Retrospectivos , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Neoplasias de la Tiroides/patología , Nódulo Tiroideo/patología , Ultrasonografía IntervencionalRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Extracranial-intracranial(EC-IC) bypass procedures have proved to be useful and safe in selected patients for revascularization. We have performed EC-IC bypass procedures in 170 patients with atherosclerotic cerebral ischemia and moyamoya disease. We analyzed the cases that had permanent complications after performing EC-IC bypass procedures in these 170 patients. METHODS: We performed ECIC bypass surgery during the recent 10 years for augmenting the cerebral blood flow in 170 patients with atherosclerotic cerebral ischemia and moyamoya disease. Of the 170 patients, the pathologic lesions were atherosclerotic cerebral ischemia in 125 and moyamoya in 45. All the patients were symptomatic and in a hemodynamic cerebral ischemic state, as diagnosed by the acetazolamide loading test. Superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) anastomosis was performed in 158 cases and graft bypass with using the saphenous vein or radial artery was done in 12 cases. RESULTS: Of 170 patients who underwent bypass surgery, twenty four patients had postoperative neurologic deficits. Of these 24 patients, the neurologic deficits of 17 patients resolved completely within 3 weeks, but the remaining 7 patients (moyamoya in 5 patients and 2 patients were atherosclerotic) had permanent deficits. The probable causes of the permanent neurologic deficits were that bypass was done too soon after an ischemic attack or hemorrhage (3 cases), intracerebral steal phenomenon during anesthesia (2 case), postbypass thrombotic occlusion of the prebypass stenotic artery (1 case) and postbypass thromboembolism (1 case) CONCLUSION: Permanent neurologic deficits could complicate some cases following bypass surgery. The suggested causes of neurologic deficit were hypoperfusion and inappropriate CO2 tension in the blood and fluctuation of the blood pressure during the perioperative period. To prevent complications, maintain an appropriate perfusion pressure and blood pressure control and follow this with antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy as soon as possible.
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Humanos , Acetazolamida , Anestesia , Arterias , Presión Sanguínea , Isquemia Encefálica , Arterias Cerebrales , Hemodinámica , Hemorragia , Isquemia , Enfermedad de Moyamoya , Manifestaciones Neurológicas , Perfusión , Periodo Perioperatorio , Arteria Radial , Vena Safena , Tromboembolia , TrasplantesRESUMEN
Type 1 neurofibromatosis (NF1), also known as von Reck-linghausen's disease, is a common autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder. Persons with NF1 have an increased risk of malignancy compared with the general population, but there are few reports of neurofibromatosis combined with breast cancer. We report on three cases of breast cancer combined with NF1.
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Femenino , Humanos , Mama , Neoplasias de la Mama , Síndromes Neurocutáneos , Neurofibromatosis , Neurofibromatosis 1RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The purpose of our report was to evaluate the result of operative treatment of hallux valgus in old age patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied about the clinical & radiologic results of the 31 patients over 55 years old, who had operative treatment of hallux valgus. Clinical evaluation, such as pain, activity limitation, footwear requirement, 1st metatarsophalangeal joint motion, and callosity, was done using AOFAS scale and preoperative and postoperative radiologic parameters, such as hallux valgus angle, intermetatarsal angle, tibial sesamoid position, 1st metatarsal shortening, were evaluated by conventional methods. RESULTS: Objectively, according to AOFAS, the score improved from average of 57.8 to 71.5 postoperatively. The range of motion of first metatarsophalangeal joint was decreased from average of 60.7 to 56.8 degrees. Radiologically, the hallux valgus angle improved from average of 35 to 6.5 degrees and the first intermetatarsal angle improved from average of 14.2 to 4.4 degrees. The position of sesamoid was collected from an average of grade 3.6 to grade 2.2. CONCLUSION: The combination of proximal metatarsal osteotomy, distal soft tissue procedure and Akin osteotomy may yield rather satisfactory clinacal result in severe elderly hallux valgus patients with massive degenerative change and poor soft tissue condition.
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Anciano , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Callosidades , Hallux Valgus , Hallux , Huesos Metatarsianos , Articulación Metatarsofalángica , Osteotomía , Rango del Movimiento ArticularRESUMEN
PURPOSE: The purpose of our report was to evaluate the result of operative treatment of hallux valgus in old age patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied about the clinical & radiologic results of the 31 patients over 55 years old, who had operative treatment of hallux valgus. Clinical evaluation, such as pain, activity limitation, footwear requirement, 1st metatarsophalangeal joint motion, and callosity, was done using AOFAS scale and preoperative and postoperative radiologic parameters, such as hallux valgus angle, intermetatarsal angle, tibial sesamoid position, 1st metatarsal shortening, were evaluated by conventional methods. RESULTS: Objectively, according to AOFAS, the score improved from average of 57.8 to 71.5 postoperatively. The range of motion of first metatarsophalangeal joint was decreased from average of 60.7 to 56.8 degrees. Radiologically, the hallux valgus angle improved from average of 35 to 6.5 degrees and the first intermetatarsal angle improved from average of 14.2 to 4.4 degrees. The position of sesamoid was collected from an average of grade 3.6 to grade 2.2. CONCLUSION: The combination of proximal metatarsal osteotomy, distal soft tissue procedure and Akin osteotomy may yield rather satisfactory clinacal result in severe elderly hallux valgus patients with massive degenerative change and poor soft tissue condition.
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Anciano , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Callosidades , Hallux Valgus , Hallux , Huesos Metatarsianos , Articulación Metatarsofalángica , Osteotomía , Rango del Movimiento ArticularRESUMEN
Though the first well-documented thyroidectomy was performed in 1595, Kocher at Bern, Switzerland can be called “Father of thyroid surgery” with his outstanding contributions to the understanding of thyroid disease through both clinical surgery and research. Leadership in the surgery and research of thyroid disease shifted largely to the United States in the 20th century beginning with the elegant studies and careful operative techniques of Halsted and his colleagues. Through this century, there were a lot of progress in surgical treatment of benign and malignant thyroid disease, based on hormonal radioimmunoassay, antithyroid agents, propranolol, FNA, ultrasonography, total thyroidectomy, neck dissection, radioiodine ablation, and molecular thyroidology. Modern technology for genetic analysis has induced detection of genetic alterations underlying hereditary forms of MEN and medullary carcinoma. Prospects toward 21th century also will be progress in the endoscopic thyroid surgery, molecular thyroidology and recontruction or transplantation of larynx, trachea and esophagus.
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Humanos , Masculino , Antitiroideos , Carcinoma Medular , Esófago , Laringe , Liderazgo , Disección del Cuello , Propranolol , Radioinmunoensayo , Suiza , Enfermedades de la Tiroides , Glándula Tiroides , Tiroidectomía , Tráquea , Ultrasonografía , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) is widely accepted as the most accurate procedure to differentiate malignant from benign thyroid nodules. It is a simple, safe, and inexpensive procedure, and the accuracy of FNAC is relatively high; however, its success usually depends upon the skill in using the aspiration technique and the experience and skill of the cytologist. The authors confirmed the diagnostic value of preoperative FNAC in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules treated by the surgical resection. METHODS: Three hundred fifty specimens were taken in the Department of Surgery, Inje University College of Medicine, from July 1990 to June 1996. Fifty-one males and 299 females with ages ranging from 11 to 73 years were enrolled. The cytology of FNAC was compared to the final histologic diagnosis. RESULTS: The number of inadequate smears (or sampling error) was 15.7%. Preoperative cytologic diagnoses was consisted of 198 cases of benign disease (92 cases of nodular goiters, 96 cases of follicular lesion types III, and 10 cases of thyroiditis), 12 cases of highly suspicious malignant lesions (follicular lesions type II), and 85 cases of malignant disease (71 cases of papillary carcinomas and 14 cases of follicular lesions type I). Histologic diagnoses consisted of nodular goiters in 116 cases, adenomas in 66 cases, thyroiditis in 9 cases, papillary carcinomas in 84 cases, and follicular carcinomas in 20 cases. These results has an 84.6% sensitivity, a 95.2% specificity, a 15.3% false negative rate, and a 4.7% false positive rate. In the fifty-five cases of inadequate sampling, 13 cases (23.6%) were malignant lesions histologically. In the 16 cases proven as false negative, nine cases were papillary carcinomas, and 7 cases were follicular carcinomas histologically. Thirteen cases (16.1% of 27 cases of cystic lesions) of cystic nodules revealed malignant neoplasms histologically. CONCLUSION: FNAC is a single, useful diagnostic procedure for the initial screening for malignancy in thyroid nodules. Performing repeated aspiration in cystic nodules and clinically suspicious cases could reduce inadeguate sampling and the false negative rate.