Appropriate selection of candidates for outpatient thyroidectomy.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Although traditionally an inpatient procedure, outpatient thyroidectomy has gained traction as a viable and well tolerated alternative for selected patients, with an added benefit of cost savings. RECENT FINDINGS: Research on outpatient thyroidectomy has focused on establishing its noninferiority in outcomes compared to the standard inpatient or overnight observation. Numerous studies have found comparable low rates of postoperative complications and no increase in readmission. Selection criteria have been well established by professional societies and research studies support the selection bias benefitting appropriately selected patients. The primary benefit of outpatient thyroidectomy reported is a decrease in cost, though additional theoretical benefits such as decreased exposure to nosocomial infections. SUMMARY: Outpatient thyroidectomy is a well tolerated approach in appropriately selected candidates, with cost reduction benefits. Adherence to societal guidelines for patient selection is paramount.

Differences in outcomes after emergency general surgery between Hispanic subgroups in the New Jersey State Inpatient Database (2009-2014): The Hispanic population is not monolithic.

BACKGROUND: Our aim was to examine differences in clinical outcomes between Hispanic subgroups who underwent emergency general surgery (EGS). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of the HCUP State Inpatient Database from New Jersey (2009-2014), including Hispanic and non-Hispanic White (NHW) adult patients who underwent EGS. Multivariable analyses were performed on outcomes including 7-day readmission and length of stay (LOS). RESULTS: 125,874 patients underwent EGS operations. 22,971 were Hispanic (15,488 with subgroup defined: 7,331 - Central/South American; 4,254 - Puerto Rican; 3,170 - Mexican; 733 - Cuban). On multivariable analysis, patients in the Central/South American subgroup were more likely to be readmitted compared to the Mexican subgroup (OR 2.02; p < 0.001, respectively). Puerto Rican and Central/South American subgroups had significantly shorter LOS than Mexican patients (Puerto Rico -0.58 days; p < 0.001; Central/South American -0.30 days; p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: There are significant differences in EGS outcomes between Hispanic subgroups. These differences could be missed when data are aggregated at Hispanic ethnicity.

Systematic Review of Blood-Borne Pathogen Exposure Rates Among Medical Students.

BACKGROUND: Blood-borne pathogen exposures (BBPEs) pose a risk to health care workers (HCWs). Needlestick injuries (NSIs) have declined overall, but not for surgical HCWs. There are limited data regarding BBPEs among medical students (MSs) in their clinical years. We aimed to quantify this risk for third- and fourth-year MSs. METHODS: A literature review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The PUBMED database was searched to identify studies of third- and fourth-year MSs using the terms BBPE, NSI, and MS. Studies of other HCWs were excluded if MS data were not extractable. Additional studies were identified from references. Descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: Seven of 171 articles published from 2002 to 2018 met study criteria. All used self-reported data from surveys/questionnaires. One-third of MSs reported BBPEs (n = 194/600, 32.3%) with a mean of 1 in 3.09 and a median of 1 in 3.53 (range: 1 in 1.9-8.3 students). Most events were NSIs (144/194, 74%) with a mean of 1 NSI per 4.05 MSs and median of 1 in 4.625 (range: 1 in 2.47-10.71). The remaining BBPEs reported included blood and bodily fluid splashes (n = 37, 19%), other mucocutaneous exposures (n = 7, 3.6%), and uncategorized injuries (n = 2, 1%). CONCLUSIONS: One-third of senior MSs reported BBPEs during clinical rotations. Most BBPEs were NSIs. Quantifying this risk allows for anticipatory education and protocol development to protect students and other new HCWs. Educational efforts focused on NSI prevention before and during clinical rotations may help reduce BBPEs.

Protein Expression of PTTG1 as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Adrenocortical Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) has a poor prognosis and there is an unmet clinical need for biomarkers to improve both diagnostic and prognostic assessment. Pituitary-tumor transforming gene (PTTG1) has been shown to modulate cancer invasiveness and response to therapy. The potential role of PTTG1 protein levels in ACC has not been previously addressed. We assessed whether increased nuclear protein expression of PTTG1 distinguished ACCs from adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs). METHODS: Patients with ACC or ACA were identified from prospective tissue banks at two independent institutions. Two tissue microarrays (TMAs) consisting of adrenal specimens from 131 patients were constructed and clinically annotated. Immunohistochemical analysis for PTTG1 and Ki-67 was performed on each TMA. RESULTS: TMA-1 (n = 80) contained 20 normal adrenals, 20 ACAs, and 40 ACCs, and the validation, TMA-2 (n = 51), consisted of 10 normal adrenals, 14 ACAs, and 27 ACCs. On TMA-1, nuclear staining of PTTG1 was detected in 12 (31%) ACC specimens, while all ACAs and normal adrenal glands were negative for PTTG1. On TMA-2, 20 (74%) of the ACC tumors demonstrated PTTG1 nuclear staining of PTTG1, and 13 (93%) ACA and 4 (44%) normal adrenal glands were negative for PTTG1. ACC tumors with increased PTTG1 protein staining had a significantly higher Ki-67 index (p < 0.001) than those with lower levels of PTTG1. CONCLUSIONS: Increased nuclear protein expression of PTTG1 was observed in malignant adrenal tumors. PTTG1 correlated with Ki-67 in two independent TMAs. PTTG1 is a promising biologic marker in the evaluation of adrenal tumors.

Preliminary whole-exome sequencing reveals mutations that imply common tumorigenicity pathways in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 patients.

BACKGROUND: Whole-exome sequencing studies have not established definitive somatic mutation patterns among patients with sporadic hyperparathyroidism (HPT). No sequencing has evaluated multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1)-related HPT. We sought to perform whole-exome sequencing in HPT patients to identify somatic mutations and associated biological pathways and tumorigenic networks. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing was performed on blood and tissue from HPT patients (MEN1 and sporadic) and somatic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were identified. Stop-gain and stop-loss SNVs were analyzed with Ingenuity Pathways Analysis (IPA). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was also assessed. RESULTS: Sequencing was performed on 4 MEN1 and 10 sporadic cases. Eighteen stop-gain/stop-loss SNV mutations were identified in 3 MEN1 patients. One complex network was identified on IPA: Cellular function and maintenance, tumor morphology, and cardiovascular disease (IPA score = 49). A nonsynonymous SNV of TP53 (lysine-to-glutamic acid change at codon 81) identified in a MEN1 patient was suggested to be a driver mutation (Cancer-specific High-throughput Annotation of Somatic Mutations; P = .002). All MEN1 and 3/10 sporadic specimens demonstrated LOH of chromosome 11. CONCLUSION: Whole-exome sequencing revealed somatic mutations in MEN1 associated with a single tumorigenic network, whereas sporadic pathogenesis seemed to be more diverse. A somatic TP53 mutation was also identified. LOH of chromosome 11 was seen in all MEN1 and 3 of 10 sporadic patients.

Adrenal metastectomy is safe in selected patients.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of adrenalectomy (ADX) for adrenal metastasis is not established. We evaluated outcomes after ADX for patients with adrenal metastasis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 90 patients who underwent ADX for metastatic disease. Overall survival (OS) after ADX was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Clinical factors were evaluated for associations with OS using a Cox regression model, and with operative factors using the Wilcoxon two-sample or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The most common primary tumor types were melanoma (35, 39 %) and lung cancer (32, 35 %). A total of 49 (54 %) patients had isolated adrenal metastasis; 55 (61 %) underwent laparoscopic resection (LADX). Median OS was 2.46 years (range < 1 month-15 years), and 5-year survival rate was 38 % (6 % standard error). Most patients experienced disease progression (56, 62 %) despite achieving disease-free status following ADX (78, 86 %). When compared with the open approach, LADX was associated with smaller tumor size, as well as reduced blood loss, operative time, and length of stay (all p < 0.0001), and no difference in OS (p = 0.4122) or complications (p = 1). Isolated adrenal bed recurrence was similar in LADX (N = 3, 5 %) and open ADX (N = 2, 6 %) (p = 1), and did not affect OS (p = 0.2). Larger tumors were associated with shorter median OS (p = 0.0014). CONCLUSIONS: ADX for metastasis can be safely performed in selected patients. Some patients with adrenal metastasis achieve prolonged survival following ADX. Compared with an open approach, LADX has no measurable oncologic disadvantage, minimizes morbidity, and should be considered when tumor characteristics permit.