Impact of immunohistochemistry on the diagnosis and management of primary aldosteronism: An important tool for improved patient follow-up.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Primary aldosteronism is a common cause of secondary hypertension. Primary aldosteronism is caused by an aldosterone-producing adenoma or bilateral hyperplasia that in some cases is asymmetrical with one adrenal dominating aldosterone secretion. Most patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma are biochemically cured by unilateral adrenalectomy, but patients with bilateral hyperplasia have a significant risk of residual or recurrent disease. Here, immunohistochemistry of CYP11B1 and B2 was used to investigate whether these markers could aid in the diagnostic workup of primary aldosteronism patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 39 patients with primary aldosteronism who underwent unilateral adrenalectomy for a presumed adenoma during 2013-2016 were included. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies identifying the enzymes CYP11B1 and B2 was part of routine histopathological workup in 6 cases; in 33 cases, it was applied retrospectively. The hyperplasia diagnosis was suggested when there was no dominating nodule but immunoreactivity for CYP11B2 was seen in several nodules, which were also seen on routine sections. To distinguish between adenoma and hyperplasia, a ratio between the largest and second largest CYP11B2-positive nodules was calculated. RESULTS: In all, 22 patients had an aldosterone-producing adenoma, while 13 patients were judged to have hyperplasia. In four cases, a final diagnosis could not be established, thus these were judged equivocal. Among the 33 cases investigated retrospectively, the primary histopathological diagnosis was altered from hyperplasia to aldosterone-producing adenoma in 9 cases (27%) after immunohistochemistry, and the immunohistochemically rectified adenoma group displayed improved clinical cure rates compared to the routine H&E-diagnosed cohort. Moreover, the B2 ratio was significantly higher in adenoma than in hyperplasia and equivocal cases. CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemistry detecting CYP11B1 and B2 expression is of great help in establishing a final histopathological diagnosis in patients with primary aldosteronism. This procedure should be part of the histopathological routine in all operated primary aldosteronism patients.

Recovery of Voice After Reconstruction of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Adjuvant Nimodipine.

BACKGROUND: Transection injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has been associated with permanent vocal fold palsy, and treatment has been limited to voice therapy or local treatment of vocal folds. Microsurgical repair has been reported to induce a better function. The calcium channel antagonist nimodipine improves functional recovery after experimental nerve injury and also after cranial nerve injury in patients. This study aims to present voice outcome in patients who underwent repair of the RLN and received nimodipine during regeneration. METHODS: From 2002-2016, 19 patients were admitted to our center with complete unilateral injury to the RLN and underwent microsurgical repair of the RLN. After nerve repair, patients received nimodipine for 2-3 months. Laryngoscopy was performed repeatedly up to 14 months postoperatively. The Voice Handicap Index (VHI) was administered, and patients' maximum phonation time (MPT) was recorded during the follow-up. RESULTS: All patients recovered well after surgery, and nimodipine was well tolerated with no dropouts. None of the patients suffered from atrophy of the vocal fold, and some patients even showed a small ab/adduction of the vocal fold on the repaired side with laryngoscopy. During long-term follow-up (>3 years), VHI and MPT normalized, indicating a nearly complete recovery from unilateral RLN injury. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort study, we report the results of the first 19 consecutive cases at our center subjected to reconstruction of the RLN and adjuvant nimodipine treatment. The outcome of the current strategy is encouraging and should be considered after iatrogenic RLN transection injuries.

The age- and shorter telomere-dependent TERT promoter mutation in follicular thyroid cell-derived carcinomas.

Telomerase activation through induction of its catalytic component telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression is essential for malignant transformation. TERT promoter mutations namely C228T and C250T that stimulate TERT transcription and telomerase activation have recently been identified in many human malignancies. We thus determined these mutations and their biological and clinical implications in thyroid carcinomas in the present study. The TERT promoter was sequenced in 10 thyroid cancer cell lines and 144 tumors from 20 patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), 51 with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), 36 with follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), and 37 with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). We identified C228T or C250T mutation in 6/8 of ATC cell lines, as well as in tumor tissue from 10/20, 13/51, 8/36 and 0/37 patients with ATC, PTC, FTC and MTC, respectively. In PTC patients, these mutations were exclusively present in the group with age >45 years (P<0.0001), and highly correlated shorter telomeres (P<0.0001) and distant metastasis (P=0.028). The previous radioactivity exposure did not induce the mutation. The presence of C228T or C250T was an independent predictor associated with shorter disease-related survival (DRS) in the entire cohort (P<0.0001), as well as among patients >45 years (P=0.021). ATC patients carrying the mutation survived shorter than those without mutations, although not statistically significant (P=0.129). The TERT promoter mutation was associated with overall survival (P=0.038) and DRS (P=0.058) of FTC patients. Taken together, age- and shorter telomere-dependent TERT promoter mutations occur frequently in follicular cell-derived thyroid carcinoma (ATC, PTC and FTC) but not in parafollicular cell-originated MTC, and may serve as a marker for aggressive disease and poor outcome.

Outcome after resection and radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases from small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours.

BACKGROUND: In patients with small intestinal neuroendocrine tumour (SI-NET), liver resection or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of liver metastases is performed for palliation of carcinoid syndrome, and in an effort to improve survival. Data are generally reported from case series, and no randomized trials have studied these treatments. The aim was to compare outcome after liver resection and/or RFA with that of non-surgical treatment in patients with liver metastases from SI-NET. METHODS: The study included patients with liver metastases from SI-NET who underwent liver RFA/resection or were treated non-surgically. A propensity score match was performed to reduce bias between groups, using baseline variables such as the Charlson co-morbidity index, age, symptoms, carcinoid heart disease, extent of metastases and proliferation index. RESULTS: Some 103 patients who had RFA and/or liver resection were compared with 273 controls. Propensity score matching resulted in two matched groups, each of 72 patients, with no significant differences in baseline variables. The matched resection/RFA and control groups showed no difference in overall survival (both 74 per cent at 5 years; P = 0·869) or disease-specific survival (74 versus 78 per cent respectively at 5 years; P = 1·000). However, urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels were lower (median 77 versus 120 µmol per 24 h; P = 0·005) and the proportion of patients with progressive disease within the liver was smaller (2 of 18 versus 8 of 18; P < 0·001) in the resection/RFA group after 5 years. CONCLUSION: These data do not support the use of liver resection and/or RFA in an effort to prolong survival in patients with liver metastases from SI-NET.

Postoperative mortality in parathyroid surgery in Sweden during five decades: improved outcome despite older patients.

OBJECTIVE: Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is a common endocrine disorder. In Europe, pHPT has been associated with premature death in cardiovascular disorders. Our question was whether the risk of postoperative death has been affected by the increased proportion of elderly patients referred for parathyroid surgery. METHODS: The nationwide Cancer Registry and Causes-of-Death Registry were used to analyze mortality among 14 635 Swedish patients subjected to parathyroid adenomectomy (PTx) during 1961-2004. Standard mortality ratios (SMR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated with the entire Swedish population as control, standardized for age, gender and calendar year. RESULTS: The observation period was more than 166 000 person-years. The overall perioperative (30-day) mortality rate was 1.3% (185/14 635; SMR 7.9; CI 6.82-9.15); 1.1% for women (132/11 500; SMR 7.56; CI 6.32-8.96), and 1.7% for men (53/3135; SMR 9.01; CI 6.75-11.78). Cardiovascular disorder was the dominant cause of death in both sexes and in all the investigated age groups (age 15-54 years; SMR 29.0; CI 9.42-67.71, age 55-74 years; SMR 6.12; CI 3.96-9.03, age 75 years: SMR 5.26; CI 3.74-7.19). The SMR decreased over the calendar year period notwithstanding a rising proportion of elderly individuals. In the most recent period, 1997-2004, the perioperative mortality rate was only 0.5%, which represents a normalization of the excess mortality risk during the first post-PTx year (SMR 1.17; CI 0.92-1.46). CONCLUSION: PTx is a safe procedure, regardless of patient age. Today, the perioperative mortality risk is not a reason for excluding elderly patients from parathyroid surgery.

Operation for primary hyperparathyroidism: the new versus the old order. A randomised controlled trial of preoperative localisation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), parathyroid imaging is nowadays routinely used for the purpose to perform a focused unilateral minimally invasive operation. The outcome of this new strategy has, however, not been established in randomised trials. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were randomised to either preoperative localisation with sestamibi scintigraphy and ultrasonography (group I) or no preoperative localisation (group II). In group I, a minimally invasive parathyroidectomy was performed in patients in whom both localisation studies were consistent with a single pathological gland, whereas a conventional bilateral neck exploration was performed in cases with negative localisation findings. In group II all patients underwent conventional bilateral neck exploration. Primary outcome measure was normocalcaemia at 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: In the preoperative localisation group (group I) 23/50 (46%) of the patients could be operated on with the focused operation whereas 26/50 (52%) were operated on by bilateral neck exploration. All patients in the no localisation group (group II; n = 50) were operated on with the intended bilateral neck operation. Normocalcaemia was obtained in 96% and 94% in group I and II, respectively. Total (localisation and operative) costs were 21% higher in group I. CONCLUSIONS: Routine preoperative localisation, with the intention to perform minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, is not cost effective if concordant results of scintigraphy and ultrasonography are a prerequisite for the focused operation. Less than half of the patients were successfully managed with this strategy, at a higher cost and without obtaining a more favourable clinical outcome.

Influence of surgical and postoperative treatment on survival in differentiated thyroid cancer.

BACKGROUND: The extent of thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to identify how surgical technique and postoperative treatments influence survival and locoregional recurrence in DTC. METHODS: A nested case-control study was conducted in a cohort of 5123 patients diagnosed with DTC in Sweden between 1958 and 1987. One matched control subject was selected randomly for each patient who died from DTC. Details regarding surgery and postoperative treatments were obtained from medical records. The effect of treatment on survival was estimated by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Patients not treated surgically had a poorer prognosis, but the risk of death from DTC was not affected by the choice of surgical technique. The extent of surgery influenced survival only in patients with TNM stage III disease. Locoregional recurrence resulted in a fivefold increased risk of death. Postoperative treatment was not associated with improved survival. CONCLUSION: In operated patients, the most important prognostic factor was complete removal of the tumour. The extent of removal of remaining thyroid tissue was of prognostic importance in stage III disease only. Adjuvant postoperative treatment did not influence the prognosis favourably.

Predictors of outcome in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate prognostic factors with respect to the outcome in a consecutive series of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) treated at the same institution during a 20-year-period, and to evaluate further the predictive ability of outcome of the pTNM, AMES and MACIS prognostic systems in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and twenty consecutive patients operated on for primary PTC at the Karolinska Hospital between 1980 and 1999 were examined retrospectively. Patient and tumour characteristics at the time of surgery were compared to the patients' outcomes. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify independently significant prognostic factors with respect to the outcome. In addition, the classification of the patients according to the pTNM, AMES and MACIS prognostic systems were compared to the outcomes. RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up period 201 patients were still alive without disease, 6.5% had died from PTC and 2.5% were alive with persisting disease. In 16 patients, radical surgery could not be performed due to extensive tumour growth and/or distant metastases. Recurrences were detected in 14% of the patients considered as radically operated. The strongest independent predictors for local or distant recurrences and poor clinical outcome were the lack of radical surgery and increasing tumour size. In this investigation MACIS appeared to be the better system, regarding efficacy in predicting the outcome of PTC. CONCLUSION: Removal of all tumour tissue appears most important to a favorable outcome and in our patients MACIS appears the most useful prognostic system taking completeness of resection into account.

Lack of mutations in the TSHr and Gsalpha genes in TSHr antibody negative Graves' disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether TSHr antibody negative Graves' disease is associated with somatic mutations in the TSHr or Gsalpha genes and whether histopathologically defined thyroid lesions, i.e., hyperfunctioning adenoma, non-functioning follicular adenomas, or nodules in toxic and non-toxic multinodular goiters are associated with such mutations. No mutations but three germ-line polymorphisms were found in patients with TSHr antibody negative Graves' disease. The three polymorphisms are expected to have no or only minor effects on the signaling properties, and is not associated with altered antigenecity imposed by such mutations. Two heterozygous somatic TSHr mutations were found in two hyperfunctioning adenomas and in two toxic multinodular goiters. The lack of TSHr and Gsalpha mutations in TSHr antibody negative Graves' disease patients indicates that such mutations are neither primary nor secondary events in this disease. The results also confirm that somatic gain-of-function TSHr mutations are present in hyperfunctioning follicular adenomas and goiters, but not in non-functioning thyroid lesions.

Gain of 1q and loss of 9q21.3-q32 are associated with a less favorable prognosis in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

In order to approach the genetic mechanisms behind initiation and progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) tumorigenesis, we characterized numerical chromosomal imbalances in a panel of 25 PTCs with varying histopathological and clinical features using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). The most frequently detected imbalance was gain of 9q33-qter, which was seen in close to 30% of the cases. The commonly occurring regions of loss were assigned to 22q (12%) and 9q21.3-q32 (12%), while gains preferentially involved the entire X chromosome (20%), 1q (16%), 17q (16%), and 22q (12%). The distribution of CGH alterations supports the idea of a progression of genetic events in the development of PTC, where gain of 9q33-qter would represent a relatively early event that is followed by loss of 22q and gain of X, 1q, 17q, and 22q. When the detected CGH alterations were compared with the clinical outcome and the histopathological features of the 25 PTC cases, several statistically significant correlations were revealed. The total number of genetic alterations was higher in tumors from patients with aggressive disease as compared to those without signs of aggressiveness. Gain of 1q and loss of 9q21.3-q32 were exclusively seen in tumors from patients with aggressive disease, and the presence of distant metastases was associated with gain of 1q. A sex-dependent distribution was also evident for one of the common alterations, with gain of X exclusively seen in male cases. Taken together, the findings identify several candidate locations for tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes that are potentially involved in the establishment and progression of papillary thyroid carcinogenesis.

[Hereditary thyroid cancer can be cured by prophylactic surgery]. / Arftlig tyreoideacancer kan botas med profylaktisk kirurgi.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) is a rare syndrome in which the consequences for the patient and family members are considerable. Mutation analysis of the RET proto-oncogene is crucial for decision-making regarding each patient. Today, carriers of MEN 2 mutations should be offered prophylactic thyroidectomy with the potential to eliminate the risk for potentially lethal medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Here, we present the first Swedish experience of such operations performed mainly on the basis of genetic analysis. Twenty patients underwent total thyroidectomy at a mean age of 13.5 (6-43) years. In all cases, either manifest MTC (n = 11) or C-cell hyperplasia was found. So far, no patient has any sign of recurrence or developmental insufficiency at 1-5 years follow-up. As the medical and ethical problems in this group of patients are substantial, and as the operations are performed in otherwise healthy children, they should be treated at centers with adequate multidisciplinary expertise and competence.

CGH alterations in medullary thyroid carcinomas in relation to the RET M918T mutation and clinical outcome.

Apart from the RET proto-oncogene (RET) no other genes have been found to be involved in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) tumorigenesis. Germline RET mutations are seen virtually in all familial forms of MTC and somatic RET mutations are often detected in sporadic MTC. In sporadic MTCs the RET gene is mutated in codon 918, where a methionine is substituted to a threonine (M918T). In this study 24 MTCs were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) for chromosomal imbalances. Overall, alterations were detected in approximately 60% of the samples. The most common aberrations were gains on chromosome 19q (29%), 19p (21%), 11c-q12 (12.5%), and 22q (12.5%) and losses on 13q21 (21%) and 3q23-qter (12.5%). Gain of chromosome 11c-q12 was only detected in samples from patients whom died of MTC (p=0.001). These MTCs also harbored the somatic RET M918T mutation and also showed the highest numbers of CGH alterations in the series (p<0.003). Although there was a tendency towards a higher number of CGH imbalances in the tumors with RET M918T mutation, this difference was not significant. The results indicate that MTC is a comparatively genetically stable tumor, and that chromosomal regions 19q, 19p, 13q and 11q may be involved in MTC carcinogenesis.

Surgical treatment of hyperthyroidism: a ten-year experience.

Hyperthyroidism is treated either by antithyroid drugs, radioiodine (I131) or surgery. In Sweden, surgery is often performed in patients with large goiter or severe hyperthyroidism with infiltrative endocrine ophthalmopathy. To evaluate indications and results of surgical treatment, data from 380 patients operated on for hyperthyroidism at our department during 1986-1995 were analyzed. Twenty-six percent were referred for surgery because of failure of treatment with antithyroid drugs or I131. Ninety-one percent were subjected to subtotal thyroidectomy with a median remnant weight of less than 2 g. In the remaining patients, total thyroidectomy was performed. Transient vocal cord affection occurred in 2.6%, none of which was permanent. Prolonged postoperative hypocalcemia occurred in 3.1%, and permanent hypoparathyroidism in 1%. There was no difference in complication rate between subtotal or total thyroidectomy. In patients with Graves' disease, 5% worsened with regard to ophthalmopathy initially after surgery but later improved. Recurrent disease occurred in 2% of the patients, all of whom had undergone subtotal thyroidectomy. Surgery is not first-line therapy in all patients with hyperthyroidism. However, in experienced hands, surgery is a good therapeutic alternative that can be carried out with no mortality, few complications, and, provided that a minimal remnant is left, very few recurrences.

Expression of the RET proto-oncogene in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its correlation with clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND: In papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), presence of the oncogenes RET/PTC has been described, but their correlation with prognosis is debated. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the RET proto-oncogene (RET) and correlate it with clinical outcome. METHODS: Sixty-one PTCs were analysed for expression of RET and the oncogenes RET/PTC1-4 by polymerase chain reaction of complementary DNA. RESULTS: Twenty-nine PTCs (48 per cent) expressed the RET tyrosine kinase domain (RET-TK). Twelve expressed wild-type RET (WT-RET). One tumour expressed RET/PTC3, one a variant of RET/PTC3, and one RET/PTC1 and WT-RET simultaneously. The remaining 14 expressed RET-TK only. WT-RET expression was detected more frequently in poorly differentiated PTCs (P < 0.05) and in PTCs from patients with aggressive disease (P < 0.01). WT-RET expression remained an independently significant risk factor for aggressive disease when analysed together with other recognized risk factors using a stepwise multiple logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: Almost half of the PTCs showed RET-TK expression; in only three was this explained by expression of a RET/PTC rearrangement. Instead, expression of WT-RET was detected in 45 per cent of the RET-TK-positive tumours and this expression was an independently significant risk factor for aggressive PTC. Presented in abstract form to the Millennium Meeting of Endocrine Surgeons held by the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, British Association of Endocrine Surgeons and Swedish Association of Endocrine Surgeons, London, UK, May 2000

Loss of heterozygosity in sporadic parathyroid tumours: involvement of chromosome 1 and the MEN1 gene locus in 11q13.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a common endocrine disorder. Several loci of genetic interest have been identified in parathyroid tumours, including the MEN1 gene locus at 11q13; the HPT-JT region at 1q21-q32; and a putative tumour suppressor gene on 1p. We analysed these intervals, which harbour known genes or putative loci associated with familial hyperparathyroidism, in order to clarify the involvement of the respective regions in parathyroid tumourigenesis. DESIGN: We performed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies on 33 sporadic parathyroid tumours using a PCR based technique. A total of 22 microsatellite markers were used to analyse loci at 11q13, 1q21-q32 and 1p. Ten markers located distal on 1p, eight markers encompassed the HPT-JT region at 1q21-q32 and four markers surrounded the MEN1 gene locus at 11q13. MEN1 mutations were screened for using Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism analysis (SSCP) and automated sequencing of SSCP variants. PATIENTS: Thirty-three parathyroid glands and the corresponding blood samples were obtained from 33 patients (26 females and seven males) who underwent parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism. RESULTS: Loss of heterozygosity was detected in 13 of 33 (39%) cases at 11q13, 6 of 33 (18%) cases at 1p, and in three of 33 (9%) cases at 1q (in conjunction with 1p loss). Only one of the 18 tumours in which LOH was detected, showed LOH at both chromosome 1 and chromosome 11. Additionally, those tumours found to exhibit LOH at 11q13 were screened for MEN1 mutations using single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) and automated sequencing. Nine novel somatic mutations were found on the remaining allele in 13 (69%) tumours. CONCLUSIONS: This study consolidates the role of multiple loci in the pathogenesis of sporadic parathyroid tumours. The results indicate that there are at least two genetic loci involved in sporadic parathyroid tumourigenesis on chromosome 1, one of which has been linked to the distinct familial parathyroid condition, hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumour (HPT-JT) syndrome. The high frequency of loss of heterozygosity at 1p suggests the presence of a tumour suppressor at this locus.

Molecular genetics of thyroid tumors and surgical decision-making.

The study of thyroid tumor genetics has great relevance to surgeons and facilitates understanding tumor pathogenesis, prediction of tumor behavior, and management decisions. The genes implicated can be broadly categorized as oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes. The RET oncogene has well established roles in the development of both papillary (PTC) and medullary (MTC) thyroid carcinoma. Genetic screening for germline RET mutations in members of multiple endocrine neoplasia type II (MEN-II) families is now widely performed, and prophylactic thyroidectomy in gene carriers is advisable at an early age. Patients with apparently sporadic MTC can also be screened to rule out familial disease. The demonstration of a RET rearrangement in a patient's PTC may have prognostic significance, but as yet there are no management implications. The thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R) and Gsalpha become oncogenic through point mutation and are associated with the development of toxic thyroid adenomas. The ras oncogene is implicated in the early stages of development of several thyroid tumor types. Tumor-suppressor genes also have a role in thyroid tumor formation. The p53 gene appears to be involved in the process of transformation to the anaplastic phenotype and the PTEN gene in the development of follicular adenomas but not carcinomas. There is still limited evidence for the so called adenoma-carcinoma sequence of the thyroid follicular cell. Loss of heterozygosity studies have enabled identification of tumor-suppressor genes, and their findings suggests differences in the pathogenesis of PTCs compared with follicular cancers. Surgical decision-making will benefit from these basic molecular advances, which rapidly translates into improved patient management.

Expression of RET and its ligand complexes, GDNF/GFRalpha-1 and NTN/GFRalpha-2, in medullary thyroid carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Mutations in the RET proto-oncogene are found in about one third of sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs), mostly affecting codon 918. Glial cell line derived neurotropic factor (GDNF) and its membrane-bound GDNF family receptor alpha (GFRalpha-1), as well as neurturin (NTN) and its membrane-bound receptor GFRalpha-2 form a complex with the RET product, a receptor tyrosine kinase, resulting in downstream signaling to the nucleus. DESIGN: To elucidate the role of these RET ligands in MTC tumorigenesis, their expression was determined in 15 MTC samples, one papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and three normal thyroid tissue specimens. METHODS: The mRNA expression of RET, GDNF, GFRalpha-1, NTN and GFRalpha-2 was investigated by mRNA in situ hybridization, and confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR analysis. RESULTS: None of the five genes was expressed in the normal thyroids or in the PTC. All MTCs showed expression of RET, 13 expressed GDNF, 12 expressed GFRalpha-1 and 9 expressed NTN and GFRalpha-2. In 7 of the tumors RET, GDNF and GFRalpha-1 were expressed at high levels, and in five of these seven tumors NTN and GFRalpha-2 genes were also expressed at high levels. The high level of expression was preferentially seen in tumor cells adjacent to stroma and connective tissue. All MTCs without expression of the RET ligands harbored the RET codon 918 mutation. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that this signaling pathway is important for MTC development, and that it may be activated by expression of the RET ligand complexes by the tumor cells themselves.

Routine autotransplantation of at least one parathyroid gland during total thyroidectomy may reduce permanent hypoparathyroidism to zero.

BACKGROUND: Permanent hypoparathyroidism, although a recognized complication of total thyroidectomy, is an outcome that all endocrine surgeons try to avoid. METHODS: To minimize the risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism a strategy was developed of routine autotransplantation of at least one parathyroid gland into the ipsilateral sternomastoid muscle during every total thyroidectomy. One hundred consecutive patients undergoing total thyroidectomy were included in the study. Serum calcium and albumin levels were measured pre-operatively, on the first 2 postoperative days, and after 2 weeks, or until return to normal serum calcium levels without calcium supplementation. If patients developed biochemical evidence or symptoms of hypocalcaemia postoperatively, a calcium replacement was administered according to defined protocol. RESULTS: In 74 cases one parathyroid gland was autotransplanted: 44 for inadvertent removal or anatomical reasons, 19 because of devascularization (assessed by a cut through the gland's capsule and evaluation of the capillary bleeding pattern), and 11 by protocol. In 25 cases, two or more glands were autotransplanted. Fourteen patients developed symptoms of hypocalcaemia and received calcium supplementation, as did another 13 asymptomatic patients with only biochemical evidence of hypocalcaemia. At follow-up 3 months postoperatively the incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism was zero, with all patients being normocalcaemic without calcium supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: This strategy, easily adopted by any experienced surgeon, has the potential to eliminate permanent hypoparathyroidism following total thyroidectomy.