Comparison of different systems of ultrasound (US) risk stratification for malignancy in elderly patients with thyroid nodules. Real world experience.

PURPOSE: To comparatively assess the performance of three sonographic classification systems, American Thyroid Association (ATA), the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR TI-RADS), and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)/American College of Endocrinology (ACE)/Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (AME) in identifying malignant nodules in an elderly population. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of patients referred for fine needle aspiration biopsy in an academic center for the elderly. One nodule/patient was considered. Nodules classified Bethesda V/VI were considered malignant. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were established and compared to evaluate diagnostic performance. Malignancy among biopsies below the size cutoff for each ultrasound classification was also compared. RESULTS: One thousand, eight hundred sixty-seven patients (92% females); median (Q1-Q3), age 71 (67-76) years, were studied showing 82.8% benign (Bethesda II) and 2.6% malignant cytology. The three classifications correctly identified malignancy (P < 0.01). Nonetheless, in the ATA and AACE/ACE/AME 16 and 2 malignant nodules, respectively, were unclassifiable. Including unclassified malignant nodules (n = 1234, malignant = 50), comparison of the ROC curves showed lower performance of ATA [area under the curve (AUC) = ATA (0.49) vs. ACR TI-RADS (0.62), p = 0.008 and ATA vs. AACE/ACE/AME (0.59), p = 0.022]. Proportion of below size cutoff biopsies for ATA, ACR TI-RADS, and AACE/ACE/AME was different [16, 42, and 29% (all p < 0.001)], but no differences in malignancy rate were observed in these nodules. CONCLUSION: The present study is the first to validate in elderly patients these classifications showing that AACE/ACE/AME and ACR TI-RADS can predict thyroid malignancy more accurately than the ATA when unclassifiable malignant nodules are considered. Moreover, in this aged segment of the population, the use of ACR TI-RADS avoided more invasive procedures.

Differential profile of ultrasound findings associated with malignancy in mixed and solid thyroid nodules in an elderly female population.

Objective. Ultrasonographic characteristics are associated with thyroid malignancy. Our aim was to compare the diagnostic value of ultrasound features in the detection of thyroid malignancy in both solid and mixed nodules. Methods. We prospectively studied female patients (≥50 years) referred to ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy. Ultrasound features considered suspicious were hypoechogenicity, microcalcifications, irregular margins, high anteroposterior (AP)/axial-ratio, and absent halo. Associations were separately assessed in mixed and solid nodules. Results. In a group of 504 elderly female patients (age = 69 ± 8 years), the frequency of malignant cytology was 6%. Thirty-one percent of nodules were mixed and 60% were solid. The rate of malignant cytology was similar for mixed and solid nodules (7.4 versus 5.8%, P: 0.56). While in mixed nodules none of the ultrasound characteristics were associated with malignant cytology, in solid nodules irregular margins and microcalcifications were significant (all P < 0.05). The combination of irregular margins and/or microcalcifications significantly increased the association with malignant cytology only in solid nodules (OR: 2.76 (95% CI: 1.25-6.10), P: 0.012). Conclusions. Ultrasound features were of poor diagnostic value in mixed nodules, which harbored malignant lesions as often as solid nodules. Our findings challenge the recommended minimal size for ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in mixed nodules.

Internal jugular vein valve incompetence is highly prevalent in transient global amnesia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transient global amnesia (TGA) is the inability to retain new information and to recall past events during a period of minutes or hours. Its etiology is unclear, and flow disturbances in the mesial temporal lobes secondary to venous congestion have been proposed as a potential cause. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the internal jugular vein (IJV) has demonstrated valvular insufficiency in TGA. The prevalence of valvular insufficiency in the IJV in patients with TGA was assessed. Subjects without TGA of similar sex, age, and vascular risk factor profiles served as controls. METHODS: A group of 142 patients with a clinical diagnosis of TGA within 7 days of the clinical event and 40 controls were prospectively evaluated. Venous Doppler examination of both IJVs was performed at baseline and after a manometer-controlled Valsalva maneuver. Valvular insufficiency was diagnosed when there was reflux for >0.8 seconds during the Valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: Valve insufficiency was found in at least one jugular vein in 113 of 142 patients with TGA (79.5%) and in 10 of 40 controls (25.0%), P<0.01. The right side was affected more often than the left side, P<0.01, and 26.8% of the patients had bilateral incompetence. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with TGA have a high prevalence of IJV valve insufficiency. This finding may have pathophysiologic implications. Doppler evaluation of the IJVs with dynamic maneuvers may help in the evaluation of this usually benign condition.

Evaluation of innovative skin-marking technique performed before thyroid ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies.

OBJECTIVE: To introduce an innovative skin-marking technique performed before ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) of the thyroid. METHODS: We studied 248 patients with thyroid nodules, who were classified on the basis of physical examination into two groups-those with palpable nodules (N = 127) and those with nonpalpable or difficult-to-palpate nodules (N = 121). Each group was further subdivided according to the size of the thyroid nodule (< or = 15 mm versus >15 mm). Before US-FNAB, we performed the skin-marking technique with the aid of a catheter, a permanent marker, and ultrasound guidance. An established point for needle entry was indicated on the skin. The chi-square test was used to compare results between the groups of patients. RESULTS: The proportions of adequate and insufficient biopsy material in the overall group of patients were 88.7% and 11.3%, respectively. When the patients were stratified by palpable and nonpalpable thyroid nodules, biopsy specimens were adequate in 89.8% and insufficient in 10.2% of those with palpable nodules, whereas the corresponding proportions for those with nonpalpable nodules were 87.6% and 12.4%, respectively. No statistically significant differences were noted between the two groups. Comparisons between patients with thyroid nodules >15 mm in their largest diameter versus those with nodules < or =15 mm also showed no statistically significant differences in terms of insufficient biopsy material. CONCLUSION: Our technique creates a marking on the skin that leads directly to the thyroid nodule and facilitates the acquisition of adequate cytologic material. This is particularly relevant when small transducers are not available or when the physician needs reassurance about the accuracy of the thyroid biopsy site.

Doppler color orbitario en la enfermedad obstructiva carotídea / Color Doppler imaging of the orbit in carotid occlusive disease

Objetivo: evaluar las características hemodinámicas de las arterias oftálmica (AO), central de la retina (ACR), y ciliares posteriores (ACP) nasal y temporal, en 20 ojos de 17 pacientes con síndrome isquémico ocular (SIO) por compromiso hemodinámico significativo de la arteria carótida interna extracraneana (estenosis mayor del 70 por ciento). Material y métodos: estudio prospectivo realizado desde enero de 1996 a marzo de 2000. Se realizaron 2741 Doppler de vasos de cuello. En 153 pacientes se registró estenosis carotídea mayor del 70 por ciento. En éste grupo de pacientes se estudiaron, con Doppler Duplex Color (DDC), las velocidades sistólica e índice de resistencia (IR) de las AO, ACR y ACP. Se encontraron 17 pacientes (20 ojos) con signos Doppler de SIO. Once pacientes fueron evaluados clínicamente y por funduscopía en Oftalmología. Resultados: se demostró disminución de las velocidades de flujo sistólico y diastólico, con aumento del IR en ACR y ACP homolateral a la lesión en todos los pacientes; en 3 pacientes el hallazgo fue bilateral. La AO mostró patrón de flujo colateral, en general con flujo invertido; sólo en un paciente fue de dirección anterógrada con hipoflujo, y en dos pacientes no fue hallada (se confirmó trombosis por angiografía digital). Sólo 3 pacientes mostraron signos por funduscopía. Dos de 3 pacientes con disección carotídea tuvieron repermeabilización completa al mes y revirtieron los síntomas y signos de SIO. Conclusión: el DDC cuantifica la hemodinamia en los ojos con SIO. La desaparición de los hallazgos de SIO en pacientes con repermeabilización de disección carotídea sugiere que el tratamiento de la enfermedad obstructiva carotídea podría mejorar el estado de la circulación orbitaria. El DDC precede los hallazgos clínicos. Sugerimos realizar DDC oftálmico como complemento del DVC en pacientes con enfermedad carotídea obstructiva

Doppler color orbitario en la enfermedad obstructiva carotídea / Color Doppler imaging of the orbit in carotid occlusive disease

Objetivo: evaluar las características hemodinámicas de las arterias oftálmica (AO), central de la retina (ACR), y ciliares posteriores (ACP) nasal y temporal, en 20 ojos de 17 pacientes con síndrome isquémico ocular (SIO) por compromiso hemodinámico significativo de la arteria carótida interna extracraneana (estenosis mayor del 70 por ciento). Material y métodos: estudio prospectivo realizado desde enero de 1996 a marzo de 2000. Se realizaron 2741 Doppler de vasos de cuello. En 153 pacientes se registró estenosis carotídea mayor del 70 por ciento. En éste grupo de pacientes se estudiaron, con Doppler Duplex Color (DDC), las velocidades sistólica e índice de resistencia (IR) de las AO, ACR y ACP. Se encontraron 17 pacientes (20 ojos) con signos Doppler de SIO. Once pacientes fueron evaluados clínicamente y por funduscopía en Oftalmología. Resultados: se demostró disminución de las velocidades de flujo sistólico y diastólico, con aumento del IR en ACR y ACP homolateral a la lesión en todos los pacientes; en 3 pacientes el hallazgo fue bilateral. La AO mostró patrón de flujo colateral, en general con flujo invertido; sólo en un paciente fue de dirección anterógrada con hipoflujo, y en dos pacientes no fue hallada (se confirmó trombosis por angiografía digital). Sólo 3 pacientes mostraron signos por funduscopía. Dos de 3 pacientes con disección carotídea tuvieron repermeabilización completa al mes y revirtieron los síntomas y signos de SIO. Conclusión: el DDC cuantifica la hemodinamia en los ojos con SIO. La desaparición de los hallazgos de SIO en pacientes con repermeabilización de disección carotídea sugiere que el tratamiento de la enfermedad obstructiva carotídea podría mejorar el estado de la circulación orbitaria. El DDC precede los hallazgos clínicos. Sugerimos realizar DDC oftálmico como complemento del DVC en pacientes con enfermedad carotídea obstructiva (AU)