Aumento de la capacidad diagnóstica de la ecografía (informada con clasificación t-rads) cuando se agrega una punción aspirativa con aguja fina (informada con sistema bethesda) / Increase of the diagnostic yield of thyroid sonogram (reported with t-rads clasification) when a fine needle aspiration cytology (reported with bethesda system) is added

Cuando un nódulo tiroideo muestra características ecográficas sospechosas de malignidad (informada con clasificación T-RADS) casi no se discute que debe completarse el diagnóstico con una punción aspirativa con aguja fina (PAAF) (informada con sistema Bethesda). Pero cuando la ecografía sólo muestra características consideradas de benignidad, la indicación de PAAF es cuestionable y debe ser justificada. ¿Podrá la clasificación T-RADS determinar eficientemente cuáles nódulos tiroideos requieren una PAAF y cuáles no? Esta decisión está vinculada a determinar si un paciente deberá ser sometido o no a una cirugía tiroidea. Objetivo: Analizar la capacidad de la clasificación T-RADS, con y sin el agregado de sistema Bethesda para optimizar el diagnóstico de patología tiroidea. Material y métodos: se incluyeron 139 nódulos que requirieron cirugía, previamente evaluados con ecografía y con PAAF. Fueron realizadas por un mismo operador las ecografías (SMB), las punciones (OBM) y las cirugías (JLN). Se homogeneizaron las definiciones: T-RADS II-III-IVa y Bethesda II-III: Baja sospecha de malignidad; T-RADS IVb-V-VI y Bethesda IV-V-VI: Alta sospecha de malignidad. Conslusiones: se comprobó que cuando las características ecográficas de un nódulo tienen baja sospecha de malignidad (T-RADS II-III-IVa), indicar una PAAF no aporta al diagnóstico en forma estadísticamente significativa. Cuando la ecografía indica alta sospecha de malignidad (T-RADS IVb-V-VI), la realización de una PAAF incrementa significativamente la certidumbre del diagnóstico (AU)

When a thyroid nodule shows ultrasonographic characteristics of malignancy suspicion (informed with T-RADS classification), almost nobody discusses to complete diagnosis with a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) (informed with Bethesda system). But when ultrasonography only shows characteristics compatible with benignity, a FNAB indication is questionable and that must be justified. Could T-RADS classification efficiently identify which nodule requires a FNAB and which does not? That decision will linked to which patients should be undergo a thyroid surgery. Objective: to analyze T-RADS capability with and without Bethesda system to optimize the diagnosis of thyroid pathology. Material and methods: a total of 139 nodules which required surgery were included. They were previously evaluated with ultrasonography and FNAB. A same operator classified the T-RADS (SMB), the Bethesda system (OMB) and performed the surgeries (JLN). For this work, definitions were homogenized as follows: T-RADS II-III-IVa and Bethesda II-III: Low suspicion of malignancy; T-RADS IVb-V-VI and Bethesda IV-V-VI: High suspicion of malignancy. Conclusions: the evidence suggested that when a thyroid nodule shows low suspicion of malignancy by ultrasonography (T-RADS II-III-IVa), the indication of a FNAB did not add statistically significant diagnostic benefit. When a thyroid nodule shows high suspicion of malignancy (T-RADS IVb-V-VI), a FNAB added significant diagnostic accuracy (AU)

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients With Thick Primary Cutaneous Melanoma.

BACKGROUND: The clinical value of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with thick melanoma is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between survival and lymph node status in thick melanomas. METHODS: Of a total of 736 melanoma patients registered between 2000 and 2016, 50 presented with thick melanomas (≥ 4.0 mm) without distant metastatic disease. All patients were examined with a whole-body magnetic resonance imaging, or computed tomography, and positron emission tomography-computed tomography depending on the incorporation of the new technology in our medical institutions. They were studied according to the following procedure: 1) preoperative determination of regional lymph node along with the estimation and localization of sentinel lymph node (SLN) (dynamic isotope lymphography); 2) intraoperative localization and SLNB (lymphatic mapping); and 3) histopathology. Patient and tumor features were collected. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 40 months, and 37% had a follow-up ≥ 5 years. A positive SLN was identified in 28 patients (56%). No significant difference in melanoma-specific overall survival was observed in terms of the primary tumor site. Hazard ratios (HRs) were statistically significant for SLNB-positive group and mitotic rate (MR) > 3 mm2, but not for presence of ulceration. Mortality risk in the SLN-positive group was almost fourfold greater than that in the SLN-negative group at any time of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: SLN status, along with MR, can provide valuable prognostic information in patients with thick primary cutaneous melanoma.

Cirugía de tiroides. Revisión histórica y nuevas tecnologías / Thyroid surgery. Historical review, new technologies

El trabajo repasa la evolución histórica en el entendimiento y en el manejo de la cirugía tiroidea. Describe los orígenes de esta cirugía y su ejecución, mucho antes de que se entendiera el funcionamiento de la glándula. Enumera los personajes más trascendentes de esta historia y cómo otras técnicas aplicadas en la cirugía oncológica general se adaptaron a la cirugía de cabeza y cuello. Se mencionan las innovaciones tecnológicas en cirugía tiroidea.

This work reviews the historical evolution of thyroid surgery, its understanding and management. It mentions the origins of this surgical procedure and its execution well before the understanding of the glandular function. The leading persons in this historical field are enumerated; and a review is made of how other techniques applied in surgical oncology were adapted in head and neck surgery. Technological innovations in thyroid surgery are enumerated.

Medición del espesor miointimal carotídeo como predictor de riesgo de accidente isquémico transitorio / Carotid Intima - Media Thickness measurement as a risk predictor of transient ischemic attack Objectives

Objetivos. Determinar si el riesgo de accidente isquémico transitorio (AIT) es mayor en pacientes con valores anormales de espesor miointimal carotídeo (EMIC). Materiales y Métodos. Evaluación de 168 pacientes con y sin AIT estudiados con ecografías de vasos de cuello, midiendo EMIC. Diseño de casos y controles apareados por distintas variables. Análisis estadístico: variables continuas (media ± DS), comparadas mediante prueba "t de Student" para muestras relacionadas. Variables categóricas (porcentajes) comparadas mediante pruebas de McNemar. Para evaluar EMIC como predictor de AIT, se ajustaron dos modelos de regresión logística condicional, considerando EMIC como variable continua y como variable binaria EMIC normal (<1 mm) vs. patológico (>1 mm). Se construyó una curva ROC para evaluar la capacidad discriminativa de EMIC, calculando la sensibilidad y especificidad para diferentes puntos de corte. Resultados. Valor de EMIC: casos 1,03 ± 0,31 mm (IC 95%: 0,97-1,10); controles 0,77 ± 0,27mm (IC 95%: 0,710,83); p<0,001. El riesgo de AIT fue casi 9 veces mayor en pacientes con EMIC patológico (OR=8,8; p<0,001). Con un 95% de confianza pudo afirmarse que por cada 0,05 mm de incremento en el EMIC, el riesgo de AIT aumentó entre 16 y 44%. Área bajo la curva ROC: 0,75 (IC 95%: 0,67-0,82). Conclusiones. Los valores anormales de EMIC están significativamente asociados a una mayor probabilidad de presentar AIT. En nuestra experiencia, el estudio de las paredes carotídeas con ecografía permitiría predecir enfermedad preclínica cerebrovascular.

To determine if the risk of transient ischemic attack (TIA) is higher in patients with abnormal values of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Materials and Methods. We evaluated 168 patients with and without TIA by ultrasound of the neck vessels, measuring CIMT. Case and controls were matched according to different variables. Statistical analysis: continuous variables (mean ± SD) were compared using the Student's t test for related samples. Categorical variables (percentages) were compared using the McNemar tests. In order to assess CIMT as a predictor of TIA, two models of conditional logistic regression were adjusted, considering CIMT both as a continuous variable and as a binary variable: normal CIMT (<1 mm) vs. pathologic (>1 mm). A ROC curve was performed to determine the discriminative capacity of CIMT, estimating the sensitivity and specificity for different cutoff values. Results. CIMT value: cases 1.03±0.31 mm (95% CI: 0.971.10); controls 0.77±0.27 mm (95% CI: 0.71-0.83); p<0.001. The risk of TIA was about 9 fold higher in patients with abnormal CIMT (OR=8.8; p<0.001). With 95 % confidence interval we were able to affirm that for each 0.05 mm increase in CIMT, the risk of TIA increased between 16 and 44%. Area under ROC curve: 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67-0.82). Conclusions. Abnormal values of CIMT are significantly associated with a higher probability of suffering a TIA. According to our experience, the carotid wall US examination would allow to predict cerebrovascular preclinical disease.

[Cost-effectiveness analysis of different imaging for the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism]. / Análisis coste-efectividad de distintos métodos de diagnóstico por imagen del tromboembolismo pulmonar agudo.

BACKGROUND: The optimal diagnostic test for detecting acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is still under discussion. The ventilation /perfusion scanning has been the preferred examination for several decades, but with the development of new tests the diagnostic possibilities have increased. It is necessary to evaluate them from the cost-effectiveness perspective. The goal of this study was to evaluate several methods of imaging diagnosis so as to determine the most cost-effective for detecting APE. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness (CE) analysis using a decision tree to model various diagnostic test (V/Q lung scan, spiral CT, angiography by MDCT, MRI and conventional arteriography). Sensitivity and specificity values, and positive and negative predictive values of diagnostic tests were calculated. Expected outcome: "new APE case detected." The direct costs were evaluated in eurosos (euros), including the secondary complications of diagnostic methods. To assess the robustness of the findings, a one way sensitivity analysis was performed. RESULTS: The most cost-effective diagnostic test was angiography by MDCT. No diagnostic test were eliminated by extended dominance. The crude rate of CE for MDCT was 486 euros per case of APE detected. The marginal cost between spiral CT and V / Q lung scan was euros 103 for 8 cases of APE detected additionally, while the marginal cost between MDCT and spiral CT was 229 euros to detect an additional case of APE. CONCLUSIONS: The most cost-effective diagnostic test was the MDCT; this finding showed to be robust in relationship to sensitivity, specificity and costs changes. However, the incremental C-E analysis showed that MDCT was capable to detect only one additional case of APE than spiral CT, with an incremental cost of 229 euros. When peripheral branches are affected, high negative predictive value of the MDCT justify its conduct.

¿Es posible descubrir microcarcinomas tiroideos con la ecografía bidimensional y Doppler? / Is possible to detect thyroid microcarcinomas with 2D ultrasound and Doppler study?

Introducción: El bocio nodular es la patología más frecuente de la glándula tiroides. Ecógrafos de mayor resolución han permitido pesquisar nódulos de hasta 2 mm de diámetro. ¿Existen características distintivas de los nódulos tiroideos que los convierten en sospechosos de malignidad, tanto en la ecografía bidimensional como en el Doppler color y angio power? Objetivo: Estimar si las características ecográficas halladas en los nódulos ≤10 mm fueron de utilidad para individualizar microcarcinomas tiroideos (MCT). Material y métodos: Se incluyeron 201 pacientes sometidos a tiroidectomía entre enero de 2005 y enero de 2007, en los cuales se registró la presentación clínica y los caracteres ecográficos sospechosos de malignidad de los nódulos: naturaleza sólida, microcalcificaciones y vascularización intranodular en la secuencia Doppler. Estudio cuali-cuantitativo observacional, con un diseño descriptivo (reporte de serie de casos). Resultados: Se identificaron 20 MCT en 18 mujeres y 2 hombres de edades similares: 48.2 ± 3.4 años (±ESM); mediana: 53 años; rango: 19-69 años. Clínicamente los MCT se presentaron: 5 como bocios uninodulares y 15 como bocios multinodulares. Los 5 bocios uninodulares y 7/15 bocios multinodulares presentaron uno o más factores de sospecha de malignidad que fueron ratificados en el preoperatorio por una punción citológica sospechosa o positiva para carcinoma y luego confirmado por el estudio anatomopatológico de la pieza quirúrgica. Los otros 8/15 bocios multinodulares fueron hallazgos histológicos. Conclusión: La capacidad diagnóstica de la ecografía bidimensional y del Doppler en la determinación prequirúrgica del riesgo de malignidad de los nódulos tiroideos ≤ 10 mm de diámetro estuvo limitada a los bocios uninodulares y al 50% de los multinodulares. La indicación del tratamiento quirúrgico de los nódulos con factores ecográficos sospechosos de malignidad siempre fue ratificada con el diagnóstico citológico.

Introduction: High resolution ultrasound has allowed the detection of increasingly smaller thyroid nodules. Are there any distinctive features in thyroid nodules that become them suspicious of malignity at 2D ultrasound and color Doppler studies? Objective: To evaluate if the ultrasound characteristics found in the 10 mm nodules were useful to detect thyroid microcarcinomas (TMC). Materials and Methods: 201 patients subjected to thyroidectomy between January 2005 and January 2007. Information was gathered about the clinical characteristics and the ultrasound factors suspicious of malignancy: solid nodules, micro calcifications and intranodular vascularization. A qualitative and quantitative observational study was performed using a descriptive design (report of a series of cases). Results: 20 TMCs were found in 18 women and 2 men of similar ages: 48.2 ± 3.4 years (±SEM), median: 53 years, range: 19-69 years. TMC's clinical presentation was 5 solitary nodule goiters and 15 multinodular goiters. All solitary nodule goiters and 7/15 multinodular goiters presented one or more clinical factors suspicious of malignancy that were verified at the preoperatory stage through a cytological fine needle aspiration suspicious or positive for carcinoma and then confirmed by the histo-pathological exam of the surgical specimen. The other 8/15 TMCs were findings of the frozen section biopsy or the histology study done later. Conclusion: The diagnostic capability of the 2D ultrasound and color Doppler studies in the pre-surgical determination of the malignancy risk of thyroid nodules ≤ 10 mm in diameter was limited, in our experience, to the solitary nodule goiters and to 50% of the multinodular goiters. The indication of surgical treatment of the nodules with suspicious ultrasound factors of malignancy was always confirmed by cytology.

Prevalencia de aneurisma de aorta abdominal evaluada con ecografía aórtica y factores de riesgo cardiovascular / Prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm and aortic ultrasound assessed cardiovascular risk factors

Propósito: Detectar la prevalencia de AAA con ecografía aórtica (EA), asociación HTA y DBT y con sospecha previa de enfermedad. Material y métodos: se evaluaron 184 pacientes (95 M y 89 F), con edades comprendidas entre 45 y 87 años, que fueron estudiados con ecografía aórtica y no aórtica entre agosto 2005 y junio 2006. Se investigaron antecedentes de HTA, DBT y diagnóstico presuntivo de AAA. Se consideró aneurismática una aorta abdominal infrarrenal mayor de 3 cm de diámetro axial. Análisis estadístico: prueba t de student para comparar promedios de edad; prueba chi- cuadrado para comparar proporciones. La concordancia entre sospecha y diagnóstico se midió con el coeficiente Kappa y la significación, con la prueba de McNemar. Se aplicó un modelo de regresión logística. Resustados: Edad Promedio: 64±9 años. Prevalencia de AAA: 5.4%, 6.3% en varones y 4.5% en mujeres (p=0.586). Edad promedio en AAA: significativamente mayor que la de aquellos sin AAA. Prevalencia significativamente mayor (p=0.008) que en edades ‗65 años (10%). Se diagnosticaron 2 AAA en pacientes con HTA y DBT (14.3%), 4 en pacientes con HTA (10%) y en 4 pacientes sin HTA ni DBT (3.4%); p=0.119. El coeficiente Kappa fue 0.31 (p=0.096). En 5 pacientes con sospecha, la misma se confirmó. En otros 13 con sospecha no se diagnosticó AAA. Conclusión: la prevalencia de AAA fue del 5.4%. Las variables predictoras de AAA son: edad y diagnóstico presuntivo. No hubo asociación significativa entre AAA e HTA y DBT.