Factors affecting thyroid nodule fine needle aspiration non-diagnostic rates: a retrospective association study of 1975 thyroid biopsies.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid nodules are common in clinical practice, and it is important to distinguish benign nodules, the vast majority, from malignant ones. Non-diagnostic (ND) samples have the potential to delay or mis-diagnose or lead to unnecessary surgeries, and it is important to examine what factors influence the ND rate. Prior literature has suggested that the impact of bedside cytology on ND rate is dependent on the initial adequacy rate, whereby higher ND rates benefit most from bedside cytology. We aim to compare the impact of bedside adequacy review between specialist groups who perform high volume thyroid biopsies with low initial ND rates. METHODS: We reviewed the cytopathology results of 1975 thyroid nodule FNAs performed between January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 in a multi-centre Canadian city, and the corresponding histopathology reports of 340 resected nodules. Descriptive variables were used to describe the data along with chi-squared testing and univariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The FNA biopsies were performed by three different speciality groups, which differed by procedural volume: radiology performed the most at 1171, pathology performed 655 and surgery performed 103. We could not define the operator for 45 of the nodules. The ND rate was lowest in the speciality groups with highest procedural volume, 3.4 % in pathology and 8.3 % in radiology, compared to 37.9 % in surgery (p < 0.001). Completion of bedside cytology rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) significantly reduced the ND rate from 16.7 to 4.2 % for all samples (p < 0.001). When ROSE was compared with non-ROSE within a high procedural group (radiology), it further reduced the ND rate from 12.5 to 5.1 % (p < 0.001). Of the 340 resected nodules, 10.7 % (18) were in the ND category, of which 28 % (5/18) of these were found to be malignant (4 papillary carcinoma and 1 lymphoma). CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study demonstrate that thyroid FNAs performed with bedside ROSE can significantly reduce the ND rate compared with non-ROSE, even in experienced groups with low initial ND rates. It is therefore imperative that care providers managing patients with thyroid nodules ensure that thyroid FNAs are referred to specialized individuals/groups who do high volume, and ideally with the use of bedside ROSE, whether provided by a cytotechnologist or a pathologist.

Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: Correlation between Preoperative Radiographic Severity of Arthritis and Postoperative Patient Satisfaction.

Predicting postoperative outcomes following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is important for patient selection. This study focuses on patient-reported outcomes and satisfaction in relation to preoperative radiographic arthritis severity. A retrospective chart review of 420 TKAs was performed. Patient satisfaction was determined using a structured telephone survey with questions focused on degree of satisfaction whether they would have surgery again and their ability to kneel. The radiographic severity of the arthritis of the tibiofemoral joint was graded by a musculoskeletal radiologist using the Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale. The patellofemoral compartment was graded using the scale described by Jones et al. Those grouped as severe arthritis had an overall satisfaction rate of 96% (76% fully satisfied and 20% partially satisfied) compared with 82% of the time (64% fully satisfied and 18% partially satisfied) if their arthritis was mild. Postoperatively 51% of TKA patients were able to kneel. Univariate logistic regression showed an association between higher rates of satisfaction and male gender (p = 0.053), severity of preoperative radiographic arthritis (p = 0.034) those who would have surgery again (p ≤ 0.0001) and those able to kneel (p = 0.005). Patients should be informed preoperatively that if their arthritis is only mild radiographically, their outcomes are less predictable. There should also be a discussion surrounding kneeling and activities patients do, which may require kneeling, as many are unable to kneel postoperatively. The Level of Evidence for the study is III.

Male Hypogonadism and Osteoporosis: The Effects, Clinical Consequences, and Treatment of Testosterone Deficiency in Bone Health.

It is well recognized that bone loss accelerates in hypogonadal states, with female menopause being the classic example of sex hormones affecting the regulation of bone metabolism. Underrepresented is our knowledge of the clinical and metabolic consequences of overt male hypogonadism, as well as the more subtle age-related decline in testosterone on bone quality. While menopause and estrogen deficiency are well-known risk factors for osteoporosis in women, the effects of age-related testosterone decline in men on bone health are less well known. Much of our knowledge comes from observational studies and retrospective analysis on small groups of men with variable causes of primary or secondary hypogonadism and mild to overt testosterone deficiencies. This review aims to present the current knowledge of the consequences of adult male hypogonadism on bone metabolism. The direct and indirect effects of testosterone on bone cells will be explored as well as the important differences in male osteoporosis and assessment as compared to that in females. The clinical consequence of both primary and secondary hypogonadism, as well as testosterone decline in older males, on bone density and fracture risk in men will be summarized. Finally, the therapeutic options and their efficacy in male osteoporosis and hypogonadism will be discussed.