Completion thyroidectomy: A safe option for high-volume surgeons.

BACKGROUND: The risk of complication in patients undergoing completion thyroidectomy (cT) is mixed. Several studies report increased risk in comparison to total thyroidectomy (TT) and still others reporting a comparatively decreased risk. We compared the rates of complication in patients at our institution undergoing thyroid lobectomy (TL), (TT), and cT by a single high-volume surgeon. METHODS: We performed a single-institution retrospective cohort study. Patients undergoing TL, TT, or cT by a high-volume surgeon were included. Rates of complication were collected and compared between the three cohorts. RESULTS: A total of 310 patients were included. The overall rate of complication was 4.2%. The complication rates in the TL, TT, and cT cohorts were 1%, 7.1%, and 4.5%, respectively (p = 0.10). Transient hypocalcemia was slightly more common in the TT cohort (6.1%) as opposed to the TL (0%) or cT (0.9%) cohort (p = 0.01). The cohorts also had similar rates of recurrent laryngeal nerve signal loss leading to transient dysphonia (TL: 0% vs. TT: 1% vs. cT: 3.6%, p = 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: While rates of complication tended to predictably decrease as approaches became less extensive, there were no significant differences in complication rates among the three surgical approaches when performed by a high-volume surgeon. Considering the low rates of complication overall, patient counseling and preference should be emphasized to provide appropriate and tailored treatment plans.

Reconstruction challenge--combined use of pectoralis major and gastric pull-up flaps for massive naso-oropharyngeal/oesophageal defects.

Massive defects of the upper aerodigestive tract present a reconstructive challenge. We report a case in which a large defect of the naso-oropharyngeal and oesophagus was reconstructed with a combination of a gastric pull-up and a pectoralis major muscle flap. Postoperative function was good and survival was in excess of 16 months. The history of such reconstructions and possible alternative techniques are also discussed.

Nasopharyngectomy for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a review of 31 patients and prognostic factors.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Nasopharyngectomy is a well-established treatment option for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Over a period of 4 years and 3 months, in a total of 43 patients, 45 nasopharyngectomies were performed. Thirty-one patients with follow-up ranging from 12 to 58 months were studied. Twenty-two patients (58%) survived; of these, 18 patients (82%) remained disease free. All patients who developed repeat recurrence or died (n = 12) had a high recurrent T-stage tumor, skull base involvement, multiple recurrences, positive surgical margins, or concurrent neck node metastasis. These factors are poor prognostic parameters and might mitigate the indications for aggressive salvage surgery. However, low recurrent T-stage tumor without neck metastasis carries a good prognosis. Modern minimally invasive surgery carries minimal morbidity. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study was made to determine prognostic indicators in patients treated with salvage surgery for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Medical records were analyzed for all patients who had received nasopharyngectomy for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma from March 1997 to June 2001. They were followed up from March 1997 to January 2002. Recurrent T stage, nodal metastasis, surgical approach, surgical margins, and pathological nodal status, together with surgical mortality, morbidity, and the delivery of postoperative irradiation, were compared with survival. RESULTS: In all, 43 patients underwent 45 nasopharyngectomies over a period of 4 years and 3 months. Patients with less than 1 year of follow-up were excluded. Four patients with residual disease, who represent a more favorable group, and five patients with planned debulking, nasopharyngectomy, and postoperative stereotactic irradiation were also excluded. The study group comprised 25 men and 6 women (ratio of 4:1) with age ranging from 26 to 69 years (mean age, 49.5 y). In 28 patients (90.3%), the recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was their first recurrence; in 3 patients (9.7%), the recurrences were second recurrences. Twenty-two patients (71%) survived, achieving a mean survival of 28.5 months. Nine patients died with a mean interval of 7.8 months (range, 1-14 mo). Of the nine patients who died, six (67%) had T3 or T4 tumor, four (44.4%) had concurrent recurrent neck disease, and five (55.5%) had positive surgical margins. Two patients died of perioperative meningitis. Fifteen (83.3%) of the 18 disease-free survivors had a low recurrent T-stage tumor. Mean intervals for development of repeat recurrence or distant metastasis were 16 and 7.9 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High recurrent T stage, skull base involvement, repeated recurrence before surgery, nodal metastasis, and positive surgical margins carry a poor prognosis. This is particularly evident with high T stage and concurrent nodal metastasis. However, patients with low T stage have a survival advantage and benefit most from surgical treatment.