Additional Surgery for Occult Risk Factors After Lobectomy in Solitary Thyroid Nodules is Predicted by Cytopathology Classification and Tumor Size.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical practice for differentiated thyroid cancer is moving towards lobectomy rather than total thyroidectomy in patients at low risk of recurrence. However, recurrence risk assessment depends on post-operative findings, while the surgical decision is based on preoperative factors. We determined the preoperative predictors of occult higher-risk pathology and rates of completion thyroidectomy among surgical candidates with nonbenign thyroid nodules 10 to 40 mm and no evidence of extrathyroidal extension or metastasis on preoperative evaluation. METHODS: Thyroid surgery cases at a single institution from 2005-2015 were reviewed to identify those meeting American Thyroid Association (ATA) criteria for lobectomy. ATA-based risk stratification from postoperative surgical pathology was compared to preoperative cytopathology, ultrasound, and clinical findings. RESULTS: Of 1,995 thyroid surgeries performed for nonbenign thyroid nodules 10 to 40 mm, 349 met ATA criteria for lobectomy. Occult high-risk features such as tall cell variant, gross extrathyroidal invasion, or vascular invasion were found in 36 cases (10.7%), while intraoperative lymphadenopathy led to surgical upstaging in 13 (3.7%). Intermediate risk features such as moderate lymphadenopathy or minimal extrathyroidal extension were present in an additional 44 cases. Occult risk features were present twice as often in Bethesda class 6 cases (35%) as in lower categories (12 to 17%). In multivariable analysis, Bethesda class and nodule size, but not age, race, sex, or ultrasound features, were significant predictors of occult higher-risk pathology. CONCLUSION: Most solitary thyroid nodules less than 4 cm and with cytology findings including atypia of undetermined significance through suspicious for papillary thyroid cancer would be sufficiently treated by lobectomy. ABBREVIATIONS: ATA = American Thyroid Association; CND = central neck dissection; DTC = differentiated thyroid cancer; ETE = extrathyroidal extension; FNA = fine needle aspiration; FTC/HCC = follicular thyroid carcinoma/Hurthle cell carcinoma; NIFTP = noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features; OR = odds ratio; PTC = papillary thyroid cancer; US = ultrasound.

Range of motion, postural alignment, and LESS score differences of those with and without excessive medial knee displacement.

OBJECTIVE: To determine range of motion (ROM), postural alignment, and dynamic motion differences between those with and without medial knee displacement (MKD) during the overhead squat (OHS). We hypothesized those with MKD would have restricted ROM, differing postural alignment, and poorer quality dynamic motion than those without MKD. DESIGN: Observational. SETTING: University Research Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-seven healthy recreationally active college-aged individuals. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Groups were determined by the presence (MKD group) or absence (control group) of MKD during an OHS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Range of motion measures were active and passive ankle dorsiflexion with the knee straight and bent, hip internal and external rotation, and hip abduction. Postural alignment measures were Q angle, navicular drop, and genu recurvatum. Quality of dynamic motion was measured using total Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) score. RESULTS: The MKD group had significantly less active (P = 0.017) and passive (P = 0.045) ankle dorsiflexion with the knee straight, as well as significantly increased Q angle (P = 0.004) and decreased navicular drop (P = 0.009). There were no significant differences in total LESS score or the other outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: There is select ROM, such as ankle dorsiflexion, and postural measures clinicians can screen for that may be related to increased MKD and theoretically elevated risk of injury.