Tyrosine kinase inhibitors for advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Radioiodine-refractory advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer has poor prognosis. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer treatment. METHODS: Studies published up to April 2017 were selected. The pooled effect size was calculated through meta-analysis by using random effects models. Outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (RR), and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: Six studies examining 1615 patients were included. TKI treatment significantly improved PFS in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.82) and those with medullary thyroid cancer (MTC; HR = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.22-0.58). TKI treatment significantly prolonged OS in patients with DTC (HR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58-0.95). The TKI treatment group exhibited a significantly improved partial response rate (risk ratio = 15.8; 95% CI, 1.77-140.69) but a significantly higher number of AEs compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: TKIs significantly improved PFS and RR in patients with advanced or metastatic DTC or MTC. We recommend thoroughly evaluating patients' health status and cautiously using TKIs to maximize their benefits and minimize their toxicity.

Vaginal cuff endometriosis resulting in a fistula between the vagina and abdominal cavity and presenting as peritonitis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The specimen from a vaginal cuff fistula between the vagina and abdominal cavity revealed endometriosis. Culture of the fluid revealed Streptococcus viridans. CASE: A 44-year-old woman presented with lower abdominal pain for 1 week. She also had cyclic vaginal spotting that had started 1 month after she underwent laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy for a myoma 2 years earlier. One year prior to this admission, she was noted to have a right endometrioma on a sonographic examination; monthly follow-up revealed that the cyst was enlarging. The patient was admitted for surgery. On laparotomy, severe adhesions were noted. After adhesiolysis, a right adnexal cyst with chocolatelike contents mixed with malodorous, yellowish, mucoid fluid was noted. A vaginal cuff fistula between the vagina and abdominal cavity was also noted. The specimen from this area revealed endometriosis. Culture of the fluid showed Streptococcus viridans. CONCLUSION: Various laparoscopic complications are cited in the literature. Although rare, the risk of infection after laparoscopy can occur. In our case the infection may have been caused by the presence of vaginal cuff fistula in the presence of endometriosis.