Guided intraoperative scintigraphic tumor targeting of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer: a single-center report

ABSTRACT Objective: Our aim was to present our experiences related to performing neck surgery using the guided intraoperative scintigraphic tumor targeting (GOSTT) procedure for patients who had locally recurrent or persistent differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) and who had undergone previous thyroid surgery. Subjects and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 11 patients who had locally recurrent or persistent DTC, who had undergone previous surgery, and for whom reoperation was planned for metastatic cervical lymph nodes (LNs). We performed the neck surgery using the GOSTT procedure on all patients and at a single academic institution. Results: The 11 patients had a total of 26 LNs, as marked with a radiotracer, and those LNs' mean size was 14.7 ± 8.2 mm (range: 5-34 mm). Histopathological examinations revealed DTC metastasis in all 26 of the preoperatively marked LNs. Of the 11 patients, only one needed a reoperation in the neck; she had another successful surgery (also using the GOSTT procedure). In the evaluation of the patients' final status, all were disease-free in their necks. There also were no GOSTT-associated postoperative complications. Conclusion: The GOSTT procedure is a useful, successful, inexpensive, and comfortable procedure for marking and mapping metastatic LNs, especially in DTC patients who have undergone previous surgery.

Influence of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis on the risk of persistent and recurrent disease in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and elevated antithyroglobulin antibodies after initial therapy / Influência da tireoidite linfocítica crônica sobre o risco de doença persistente e recorrente em pacientes com carcinoma papilífero de tireoide e anticorpos antitireoglobulina elevados após a terapia inicial

Abstract Introduction In patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who have negative serum thyroglobulin after initial therapy, the risk of structural disease is higher among those with elevated antithyroglobulin antibodies compared to patients without antithyroglobulin antibodies. Other studies suggest that the presence of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is associated with a lower risk of persistence/recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Objective This prospective study evaluated the influence of chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis on the risk of persistence and recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients with negative thyroglobulin but elevated antithyroglobulin antibodies after initial therapy. Methods This was a prospective study. Patients with clinical examination showing no anomalies, basal Tg < 1 ng/mL, and elevated antithyroglobulin antibodies 8-12 months after ablation were selected. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A, with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis on histology; Group B, without histological chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. Results The time of follow-up ranged from 60 to 140 months. Persistent disease was detected in 3 patients of Group A (6.6%) and in 6 of Group B (8.8%) (p = 1.0). During follow-up, recurrences were diagnosed in 2 patients of Group A (4.7%) and in 5 of Group B (8%) (p = 0.7). Considering both persistent and recurrent disease, structural disease was detected in 5 patients of Group A (11.1%) and in 11 of Group B (16.1%) (p = 0.58). There was no case of death related to the disease. Conclusion Our results do not support the hypothesis that chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is associated with a lower risk of persistent or recurrent disease, at least in patients with persistently elevated antithyroglobulin antibodies after initial therapy for papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Resumo Introdução Em pacientes com carcinoma papilífero de tireoide e com tireoglobulina sérica negativa após a terapia inicial, o risco de doença estrutural é maior entre aqueles com anticorpos antitireoglobulina elevados em comparação com pacientes sem anticorpos antitireoglobulina. Outros estudos sugerem que a presença de tireoidite linfocítica crônica está associada a um menor risco de persistência/recorrência do carcinoma papilífero de teireoide. Objetivo Este estudo prospectivo avaliou a influência da tireoidite linfocítica crônica sobre o risco de persistência e recorrência do carcinoma papilífero de tireoide em pacientes com tireoglobulina negativa, mas com anticorpos antitireoglobulinas elevados após a terapia inicial. Método Esse foi um estudo prospectivo, no qual foram selecionados pacientes com exame clínico sem anomalias; tireoglobulina basal < 1 ng/mL e anticorpos antitireoglobulina elevados 8-12 meses após ablação. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: Grupo A, com tireoidite linfocítica crônica no exame histológico; Grupo B, histologicamente sem tireoidite linfocítica crônica. Resultados O tempo de seguimento variou de 60 a 140 meses. Doença persistente foi detectada em 3 pacientes do Grupo A (6,6%) e em 6 do Grupo B (8,8%) (p = 1,0). Durante o seguimento, as recidivas foram diagnosticadas em 2 pacientes do Grupo A (4,7%) e em 5 do Grupo B (8%) (p = 0,7). Considerando tanto a doença persistente quanto a recorrente, doença estrutural foi detectada em 5 pacientes do Grupo A (11,1%) e em 11 do Grupo B (16,1%) (p = 0,58). Não houve nenhum caso de óbito relacionado à doença. Conclusão Nossos resultados não apoiam a hipótese de que a tireoidite linfocítica crônica esteja associada a um menor risco de doença persistente ou recorrente, pelo menos em pacientes com anticorpos antitireoglobulina persistentemente elevados após a terapia inicial do carcinoma papilífero de tireoide.

Análisis de factores de agresividad de microcarcinoma papilar de tiroides / Features influencing aggressiveness of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Background: the risk factors determining the aggressiveness of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) are not well known. Aim: to determine if tumor size, along with other features of the tumor, influences its prognosis. Patients and Methods: we analyzed the medical records of 147 patients (age range 16-92 years, 93 percent women) at the Clinical Hospital of University of Chile who underwent thyroid surgery and in whom at least one focus of PTMC was found. We determined the association between different clinical characteristics and the presence of capsular invasion, lymph nodal extension or recurrence. Results: a tumor size over 5 mm, a follicular subtype and being aged more than 45 years, were significantly associated with the presence of capsular invasion. The latter two variables were protective. In the multivariate analysis, only a tumor size over 5 mm was significantly associated with thyroid capsule involvement. Conclusions: a tumor size over 5 mm is associated with capsular invasion in PTMC.

Introducción: los factores de riesgo que determinan una conducta agresiva de microcarcinoma papilar de tiroides (MCPT) no se conocen. Nuestra hipótesis es que el tamaño del tumor, posiblemente junto con otras características del cáncer puede influir en el pronóstico de esta patología. Material y Método: se analizaron las historias clínicas de 147 pacientes que se sometieron en nuestro hospital a cirugía de tiroides y en los cuales se encontró al menos un foco de MCPT. Resultados: se determinó la existencia de una correlación entre las diferentes características clínicas y la presencia de invasión capsular, la extensión ganglionar linfático o la recidiva. En el análisis univariado, el tamaño del tumor mayor de 5 mm, se correlacionó significativamente con la presencia de invasión capsular (p < 0,05). Entre las variables estudiadas, sólo un tamaño superior a 5 mm se asoció significativamente con el compromiso de la cápsula tiroidea en el análisis multivariado. Conclusiones: aunque en general el MCPT se comportan con baja agresividad, se encontró que aquellos que son mayores de 5 mm a menudo tienen invasión capsular, que se ha relacionado con aumento de la agresividad y recidiva. Se recomienda un tratamiento orientado según la presencia de factores de riesgo como las que se describen aquí.

Del macro al microcarcinoma tiroideo: cambios en las características de presentación del cáncer de tiroides en un centro universitario chileno en 20 años / From macro to micro thyroid carcinoma: records of a clinical hospital from 1991 to 2010

Background: The prevalence of thyroid cancer has increased, particularly in nodules smaller than 10 mm, probably due to the growing use of routine thyroid ultrasound. There is controversy about the biological behavior of micro carcinomas and the relevance of their early detection. Aim: To characterize the clinical presentation of thyroid cancer over 20 years in an University medical center and to evaluate the differences between macro and micro carcinomas. Patients and Methods: We reviewed 1547 surgical biopsy records of thyroid cancer in our institution obtained between 1991 and 2010. Results: We observed a sustained increase in the rate of thyroidectomies for thyroid cancer (per 1000 surgical procedures) in the study period. Papillary, follicular, mixed, medullary and anaplastic carcinomas were observed in 95, 3, 2, 0.5 and 0.1% of biopsies, respectively. The incidence of tumors of less than 10 mm (micro carcinoma) also increased. Those findings were associated with a significant decrease in tumor aggressiveness, determined by a low frequency of surgical margin involvement of thyroid capsule, perithyroid tissue invasion, vascular permeation and lymph node metastases. Conclusions: The increased prevalence of thyroid cancer, especially of micro carcinomas, may reflect the greater use of diagnostic ultrasound or represent a real change in the biological behavior of this disease and our data suggest that further studies are needed to know the impact of early treatment in the outcome of those patients because of the real less histologic agressiveness of micro carcinomas.