Evaluation of the correlation of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio with prognostic classification systems in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients.

We aimed to evaluate the use of cost-effective NLR (Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio) in determining the prognosis and recurrence risk of thyroid papillary carcinoma patients. This retrospective, cross-sectional and single-center study was carried out in the Department of General Surgery, Istanbul Gaziosmanpasa Training and Research Hospital. Between 2018 and 2021, who were diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer and underwent total thyroidectomy, and patients who underwent total thyroidectomy due to multinodular goiter were analyzed. For patients in the malignancy group, the NLR cutoff value was determined as 1.73, the sensitivity was calculated as 51.77% and the specificity as 86.15%. NLR in the malignant group was found to be 9.5 times higher than the NLR in the control group (Odds Ratio: 9.5). A statistically significant difference was found between NLR and papillary thyroid carcinoma prognostic classification systems (AJCC/TNM, AMES, and MACIS). NLR medians differ according to ATA recurrence risk classification (P = .020). According to the results we obtained in our study, we believe that cost-effective NLR can be a useful indicator in terms of predicting malignancy in a patient with thyroid nodule and in determining the prognosis and risk of recurrence in patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma.

The effect of the Covid 19 pandemic on the number of patients treated for acute and complex acute appendicitis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the increase in the number of complicated cases in patients who underwent surgery for acute appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic and the previous year. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective examination was made of the files of patients who presented at the Emergency Department and were diagnosed with acute appendicitis and underwent surgery within 24 hours or were followed up between 11 March and 1 June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the same period in the previous year. The patients in the pandemic period were named the pandemic group (PG) and the patients from the previous year, the control group (CG). The definition of complicated appendicitis included peri-appendicular abscess and perforated appendix. RESULTS: The number of patients in the PG was 38.33% lower than in the CG. The duration of symptoms was 2 days in the PG and 1 day in the CG, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). The mean neutrophil count was determined to be higher in the PG than in the CG (p=0.018). The rate of perforated appendix was determined to be 10.9 higher in the PG than in the CG. CONCLUSION: The number of patients presenting at the Emergency Department reduced during the pandemic, especially during periods of lockdown, and it was seen that fewer but more complicated patients presented at our centre. KEY WORDS: Acute appendicitis, COVID-19, Perforation.

Is It Necessary to Specifically Define the Cause of Surgically Treated Biliary Tract Infections? A Rare Case of Raoultella planticola Cholecystitis and Literature Review.

Raoultella planticola is an aquatic and soil organism that does not notoriously cause invasive infections in humans. Infections in the literature are limited only in case reports. We present a very rare case of R. planticola cholecystitis. A 71-year-old female patient with abdominal pain was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. Patient received intravenous antibiotic treatment, but the treatment failed and the patient underwent an open cholecystectomy. The final pathological result was gangrenous cholecystitis complicated with R. planticola. Eventually, the patient recovered with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Patients with acute cholecystitis are usually treated without any microbiological sampling and antibiotic treatment is started empirically. To date, there have only been 5 reported biliary system related R. planticola infections in humans. We believe that Raoultella species might be a more frequent agent than usually thought, especially in resistant cholecystitis cases. Resistant strains should be considered as a possible causative organism when the patient's condition worsened despite proper antimicrobial therapy. It should be considered safe to send microbiological samples for culture and specifically define the causative microorganisms even in the setting of a cholecystectomized patient.

Anatomic localization of the popliteal artery at the level of the knee joint: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

PURPOSE: The anatomic localization of the popliteal artery in the mediolateral plane at the level of the joint line was investigated on axial knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to study anatomic variations. METHODS: The transverse and central axes were described on axial MRI scans of 334 knees. The distance between the popliteal artery and central axis was measured; the course of the central axis bisected the posterior cruciate ligament in almost all of the cases. The differences in popliteal artery localization according to sex and side were analyzed. RESULTS: Whereas popliteal artery localization was lateral to the central axis in 94.3% of cases, it was on the central axis in 5.7%. The popliteal artery localization was not seen on the medial side of the central axis. There was no significant effect of sex and side. CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic surgeons performing posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction or interventions on the posterior horns of the menisci should bear in mind that the risk of arterial complication may be greater for cases having the popliteal artery on the central axis. In conclusion, preoperative evaluation of the popliteal artery with MR axial scans, especially in pericapsular arthroscopic procedures, may prevent popliteal artery injuries. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, diagnostic study of nonconsecutive patients.

Importance of identifying the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in total and near-total thyroid lobectomies.

In our clinic, near-total thyroidectomy is the principal surgical procedure performed for benign thyroid diseases. We conducted a single-institution study on 176 consecutive patients who underwent near-total thyroidectomy due to various thyroid diseases. We compared the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury between total and near-total thyroid lobectomy sides in each patient. Our hypothesis was that the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after total thyroid lobectomy would be similar to that of near-total thyroid lobectomy when the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified during surgery. The temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rates on the total and near-total thyroid lobectomy sides were 3.9 per cent (7 of 176 nerves) and 2.2 per cent (4 of 176 nerves), respectively. The difference was not statistically significant. Permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy did not occur in any of our patients. In conclusion, the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in total versus near-total thyroid lobectomy is not different when the course of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is identified during surgery.

Near-total thyroidectomy could be the best treatment for thyroid disease in endemic regions.

HYPOTHESIS: Near-total thyroidectomy, on the basis of its low morbidity rate, is an appropriate treatment option in the surgical management of various thyroid diseases in an endemic region in Turkey. DESIGN: Single-institution study of patients with various thyroid diseases treated by means of near-total thyroidectomy within 2 years in an endemic region, with comparison of the results vs the complication rates of bilateral subtotal and total thyroidectomy reported in the literature. SETTING: Tertiary academic referral center. PATIENTS: One hundred fifty-two patients who underwent near-total thyroidectomy for various thyroid diseases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surgical treatments of various benign thyroid diseases were compared according to the complication rates and the achievable benefits of the procedures. RESULTS: In our clinic, near-total thyroidectomy was the principal surgical procedure performed for benign thyroid disease. The temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy rate with respect to the nerves at risk was 3.3% (10 of 304 nerves), whereas temporary hypoparathyroidism was 7.2% (11 of 152 patients). Neither permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy nor permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred. In 1 patient, wound hematoma developed and required re-exploration. Seroma in another patient needed no medical or surgical intervention. Neither wound infection nor mortality were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Near-total thyroidectomy achieves a lower complication rate of hypoparathyroidism and a similar complication rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and recurrence when compared with the rates reported in the literature for total thyroidectomy. It is an effective and safe surgical treatment option for various benign thyroid diseases.

The clinical value of leucocyte count and neutrophil percentage in diagnosing uncomplicated (simple) appendicitis and predicting complicated appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish the diagnostic value of leucocyte count and neutrophil percentage in both diagnosing simple appendicitis and predicting complicated appendicitis. METHODS: The patients who underwent appendectomy with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) between January 2011 and December 2012 were studied retrospectively. The data of total WBC count, neutrophil ratio, and physical findings were analyzed. Sensitivities and specificities of leucocyte count and neutrophil ratio were calculated. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-nine patients, diagnosed with acute appendicitis, were operated. Simple appendicitis was detected in 82.4% of the patients and complicated appendicitis in 17.6%. Leucocyte count had low sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing acute appendicitis (67.5% and 36.3%, respectively). Neutrophil ratio had a sensitivity rate of 60.1% and specificity rate of 90.9%. Complicated appendicitis was more common in male patients. Leucocyte count was statistically higher in patients with complicated appendicitis. CONCLUSION: Two inflammatory markers, leucocyte count and neutrophil ratio, were evaluated for diagnosing acute appendicitis. Neutrophil ratio had higher sensitivity and specificity for acute appendicitis. On the other hand, increased leucocyte count and male gender was found to be a risk factor for complicated appendicitis.

Prolene mesh migration into the rectum after sacral colpopexy presented with frozen pelvis.

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common gynecological problem. Repair with synthetic materials such as prolene mesh has become a popular approach in prolapsus surgery. Migration of synthetic materials can cause serious complications. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 69-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of sensation of fullness and a feeling of a foreign material protruding during defecation. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy. Prolene mesh was detected in sacral region but resection of the mesh could not be conducted because of dense adhesions causing frozen pelvis. The migrated prolene mesh was resected transanally. DISCUSSION: Genital prolapse or genital hernia is described as the protrusion of pelvic organs along the vagina. It is one of the common gynecological conditions that affect the quality of life in women. Mesh migration is a well-known clinical pathology. CONCLUSION: Mesh migration is a serious complication after sacral colpopexy. Surgical resection of migrated mesh can be difficult due to dense adhesions.

Vasculo-Behcet's disease mimicking a metastatic neck mass.

This article presents a case of Behcet's Disease (BD) with vascular involvement of the neck, which mimicks a metastatic neck mass in the initial presentation. A 58-year-old man presented with dysphagia, weight loss, bulging on the lateral wall of the left pyriform sinus, and a firm and fixated neck mass suggestive of metastasis. Computed tomography of the neck demonstrated a solid mass, around the bifurcation of the carotid artery together with a pseudoaneurysm of the left external carotid artery. The mass was about four centimeters in diameter and extended to hypopharynx medially. Biopsy from neck mass and hypopharynx revealed no specific pathology. During follow-up the firm and fixated mass changed into a completely pulsatile one in the following three weeks. Reassessment of the patient's past history in detail revealed that he had had recurrent oro-genital ulcers, arthralgia and recurrent skin lesions. The pathergy test was positive. The patient was diagnosed to be BD and treatment consisting of colchicine 1 mg/day, peroral was started. He had a favorable outcome after treatment and was asymptomatic at follow-up of 24 months. It is unusual for BD to present as a neck mass but yet it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of neck masses. The present case report demonstrates how such a mass may mimic metastatic tumoral involvement and cause diagnostic dilemma.

A randomized prospective study of complications between general surgery residents and attending surgeons in near-total thyroidectomies.

PURPOSE: Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and hypoparathyroidism are the most common and serious complications after thyroid operations. Surgeon experience has been defined as a significant factor in the number of complications occurring in thyroid surgery. There has so far been no prospective randomized study that compares the complication rates between residents and the attending surgeon in statistically similar patient groups in which all of the patients undergo the same type of thyroid surgery by the same surgical team. In this prospective study the performances of residents and attending surgeons were evaluated and compared according to the complication rates in near-total thyroidectomies. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-two patients underwent near-total thyroidectomies between April 2001 and May 2003. The number of randomly selected patients operated on by residents at the level of postgraduate year two, under the direct supervision of an attending surgeon, and the number of patients operated on by attending surgeons were 78 and 74, respectively. All patients had preoperative and postoperative videolaryngostroboscopic examinations of the vocal cords and serum calcium level evaluation. RESULTS: The rates of temporary vocal cord paralysis with respect to the nerves at risk for residents and attending surgeons were 3.7% and 2.7%, respectively. The temporary hypoparathyroidism rate was 8.1% for attending surgeons, whereas it was found to be 6.4% for residents. Neither any cases of permanent vocal cord paralysis nor permanent hypoparathyroidism were detected. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the complication rates in near-total thyroidectomies performed by residents and attending surgeons are similar. Thyroid surgery can therefore be safely and effectively performed by residents under close supervision.